• Right to breathe clean air

• Disgraceful behaviour at chat show

• Plantation industry analysis

• Colombo-Kandy expressway

  
   

Right to breathe clean air

Lionel Wijesiri's article (DN 21.2.06) prompts me to write this as the air pollution around my home at Thalawatugoda is worse than that of the urban areas.

Vehicles going towards Colombo from Malabe, Athurugiriya etc. ply along Hokandara Road, which is comparatively narrow considering the heavy flow of traffic during rush hours.

A large number of heavy vehicles such as lorries, trucks and tippers too use this road. In order to let the heavy vehicles pass, people have to stop walking and step aside. The vehicles almost brush past people going along the road.

As the road runs uphill the vehicles need more power. The drivers do not seem to have any concern about the pedestrians. They run emitting thick black exhaust fumes right on their faces. Some of these vehicles are not road-worthy and no one seems to be concerned of this offence.

Although my home is a few yards away from the road, the dust gathered on everything inside the house is black and oily.

Even the best of washing powder leaves a black stain in the duster. The curtains in the house get blackened in no time. The floor has to be mopped again and dried just before any visitor is expected or else their feet will be black.

This dust deposits on vertical surfaces as well. Touching the walls leave fingerprints that are difficult to clean.

Need I say what is deposited in our lungs as this is the foul air we are compelled to breathe.

I hope this letter will catch the eye of the authority concerned, and some measure is taken to control this menace such as banning or fining the vehicles that profusely emit black exhaust fumes, so that this grave health hazard can be reduced to some extent.

A. GUNARATNA -
Thalawathugoda

Disgraceful behaviour at chat show

I happened to watch the 'Janahanda' political chat show recently. As usual the participants started with a hint of decorum and soon resorted to unethical and disgraceful behaviour.

The good action-packed doctor representing the leading Opposition Party literally led from the front - yelling left, right and centre at every possible turn, gesticulating with his fists, hands and body, hardly giving the speaker holding the floor any chance to speak.

Most of the other speakers too fared no better - although they were in any way no match to the doctor. With all participants shouting vociferously at the same time, the viewers could not understand who was telling what - for it was one barrage of verbal nonsense emanating from the filthy mouths of our politicians.

I wondered if the poor moderator would get punched in the crossfire across the table from some of the players since they seemed angry and emotionally charged.

Since nothing seems to have changed for the better in these so called chat shows I hope someone in authority would educate the moderator the accepted norms of conducting debates and meetings.

He should know that (a) Only one participant should be allowed to speak at one given time, (b) He should bravely intervene and stop any other speaker disturbing the person holding the floor. What obviously happens is the moderator turns a blind eye - thus allowing cheap arguments and counter arguments to take its own course in order to cater to the 'Gallery'. Of course, the viewers at home would welcome some fun.

But please do not bait the general public with a cheap presentation. It's counter productive to the TV channel and to the participants as well. The political parties should do well to instruct their nominees to behave with dignity and responsibility at such chat shows. Let us hope that 'Janahanda' will henceforth cease to be a 'Janakalagottiya'.

PRIYA PEIRIS -
Moratuwa

Plantation industry analysis

An article on our plantations which appeared on February 20 in a daily deserves the attention of all the patriots because the plantations had been the life blood of this country for well over a century. The researchers who published this article should be highly commended and congratulated for the forthright manner in which they have analysed the disastrous situation facing the industry, though belated.

If corrective and timely measures are not taken as spelled out by the researchers, the doomsday of the industry is not very far away. The writer has been a consultant to the Ministry of Plantations attached to the Plantation Management Monitoring Board up to 1995; therefore I feel I am qualified and competent to comment on the disastrous situation that is looming large.

Up to the end of 1994 the management of these Regional Plantation Companies (RPC) was closely and adequately monitored by a panel of knowledgeable and competent planters in tea, rubber, coconut and minor crops and the subject of monitoring was ably handled by late Elmo Abeysundare. Consultants visited the RPC estates every 6 months to look into every aspect of the industry with special attention to replanting and infilling with a view to maintaining economic viability of the estates and the factory modernisation in keeping with modern standards to compete with newly emerging tea producing countries.

Our visit definitely had a salutary effect on the managements who were deviating from accepted procedures in all aspects of planting, manufacture including housing, labour welfare etc. During my visits I had the unpleasant task of reporting very adversely on the management of estates by a very powerful C.E.O. who derived quick profits at the expense of well managed estates that were handed over to them by the Sri Lanka State Plantations Corporation.

When this was brought to the notice of the Minister, he took action to terminate his services, even today these estates have not recovered anywhere near to their original position, due to the severe setback of mismanagement. We urge the new Minister to pay serious attention to these problems. Apart from this, we would earnestly appeal to the Minister to have a suitable mechanism to recommence the monitoring of the norms stipulated by the authorities when RPC estates were handed over to them for management.

The new Minister is not conversant with the plantation industry therefore he should be cautious in the selection of personnel to high office to manage State property.

Before I conclude, may I confess that very few plantation companies are doing their best to keep these national assets afloat, despite economic and other constraints they should be identified and financially assisted by the Government to take over other estates that are not doing well. The situation is very critical and all must put their heads together to prevent a serious collapse of the industry.

KINGSLEY GOONETILLEKE -
Nawala

Colombo-Kandy expressway

There are three factors important to a country's economic development. Namely political stability, good infrastructure and a capable workforce. We do posses a capable work force. But lack the other two.

Since 1983 there has been no political stability. A carefully handled peace process will hopefully bring the tigers to a democratic process bringing economic progress not only to the Southern provinces but also to the rest of the country.

General infrastructure has been deteriorating since late 60's. Reliable train lines are still missing. But it has been gradually improving lately. Due to the introduction of cellular networks, telecommunication has improved. Building expressways will certainly complete another part of it, communication.

Well laid expressways are in no way built with the intention of getting the tourist fast to Kandy as it is being reported but mainly to help get the produce to the ports for export and markets with less spoilage of produce. The British did not build the road and rail network for them to get to holiday destinations but to get the tea and cinnamon to Britain fast.

A well-known architect recently suggested to replace the Colombo-Katunayake expressway plan with a Colombo-Anuradhapura-Trinco expressway and have connections to it from Katunayake and Kandy. I personally think this is a better idea. I would also say that connections to Jaffna and Batticaloa would have been also useful. It is still not too late to modify the plans.

However, if the Government decides to go ahead it is still better than nothing. Extension can always be made in the future. We have been lacking these expressways all these years. Initially one was to be built in the sixties, but due to political haggling and kickbacks received they were on-and-off the program up to now. I do sincerely hope that this time it will not be discontinued as before.

Immediately after the Tsunami there was a report saying that the US will fund an extension of the Colombo Matara rail road up to Batticaloa. This would have improved the economy of that part of the country. I haven't read anything about that since then. The authorities should make use of this offer and get that project too off the ground as soon as possible.

Let's hope that these expressways, devolution of limited power and recently detected oil reserves and the peace process will bring political stability and economic boon to the country.

RANJIT WIMALARATNE -
 Austria