• Escalation of crimes: A threat to public security

• Eelam.... only a dream

• Widows and orphans pension

• Destroy the LTTE leadership

• Sexual harassment

• Ranil and arrack renters

• Cigarette smoking

Escalation of crimes: A threat to public security

THE killing spree within the country seems to continue unabated in this day and age. What we see and read on the news everyday for the most part is nothing but orgy of killings, thuggery, intimidations, mayhem and the escalation of violent crimes taking place at an unprecedented and alarming rate in the country.

These criminal activities seem to have already become the order of the day. The perpetrators engaged in these acts of crimes may get off scot-free because of the lack of due penalties.

Drug trafficking which is one of the dangerous businesses that comes under the anti-social activities is spiralling gradually amidst the continuous raids being carried out by the Police on the arrest of drug pushers.

Distribution of drugs is going on may be, on a large scale especially in the capital city. Likewise, the country is also rife with all kinds of corruptions on the part of the public sector and smugglings and organised crimes being perpetrated by underworld figures or armed unidentified gangs with apparent impunity.

In fact, it's a sad fact that some officers of the Police, which is the official organisation that is responsible for the protection of people and property, making people obey the law, finding out about and solving crime and catching people who have committed crime are also in cahoots with smugglers and criminal gangs for money.

Recently, it emerged that a handful of such officers who were accused of taking bribes from those engaged in anti-social activities got caught.

It's in fact regrettable to hear that only a handful of those in a most prestigious organisation like the Police department engage in this sort of activities.

This is a dangerous situation which results in an increase in the crime wave within the country and also an act that aids and abets the perpetrators. The very few in the Police service being engaged in these acts should be removed immediately.

As law abiding citizens of the country, what is expected of the boys in blue is to protect law and order and bring spiralling acts of crime to an end. It's clear that the eradication of crime is not a thing that can be done by the Police alone.

Here the cooperation between police and the public in catching criminals is an important factor and a number of horrible criminal activities have been prevented due to public cooperation. We stress the need to eradicate any kind of activity that is a threat to public security.

L. W. GAMINI CHAMINDA KUMARA - via email

Eelam.... only a dream

FACILITATORS were invited by the Government to play a substantial role with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission in about the reconciliation between the Government and the LTTE.

Whoever makes a mistake and violates the Ceasefire Agreement, the violator should be warned and brought to the notice of the international community.

It is not happening. Once, the LTTE commits a serious ceasefire violation, the facilitator discusses the issue with Thamilselvam and issue a statement condemning the LTTE.

It is the view of the right thinking people that the uncivilised barbarians cannot be brought for negotiation by facilitators, other than the TNA baby Tigers, because they are the members who introduced a barbaric murderer as their Tamil national leader.

It is part of their noble duty to bring the murderous national leader to the peace table without encouraging the Tigers to kill children, patients, doctors, nurses and combatant troopers.

Otherwise, the TNA MPs must resign from their Parliamentary seats and join the LTTE Tiger brigade to fight for a Eelam State of which is only a dream.

MAHINDA NIHAL PERERA - Moratuwa

Widows and orphans pension

I refer to the letter of N. W. Sirisena of Nugegoda titled 'Widows and orphans pension' (Daily News 1.8.2006).

According to him the proposal for senior female orphans who remain unmarried at the age of 55 years and above, to draw an orphans' pension until their demise, effective from the expiry of their widowed mother has not been implemented yet.

The budget proposals for 2005 made on 18.11.2004 included an item which stated that "if widows who receive the W&OP allowance from the Government re-marry, they be given 50 per cent of the allowance they are drawing as widows."

However regrettably, this proposal has not been implemented to date (even after 20 months). There are several cases in which the payments to the widowed husbands on behalf of their wives who had retired from Government Service and later expired are hanging in the balance for the last one and half years. I have fallen a victim to this.

All relevant information and connected correspondence regarding the payment of the pension of my wife, W. B. Iranganie de Silva, who expired on 5.1.2004 have been forwarded to the Secretary and Accountant, W&OP, Maligawatta on 11.10.2004 and on 16.12.2004 - vide copies of letters enclosed - by the zonal education officer, Ambalangoda.

This matter has been going on for the last one year and seven months without any action being taken. No consolation to be even after addressing a letter to the Secretary and Accountant, W&OP on 7.4.2006 under personal registered cover - Registration No. 1782, Ambalangoda PO, and letters to the Director of Pensions on 6.5.2006, 24.5.2006, under personal registered cover - registration number 5142, Negombo PO, 3.6.2006 and 16.6.2006 under personal registered cover No. 2446, Ambalangoda PO.

Even after the Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs requested the Director of Pensions on 14.6.2006 and on 7.7.2006 to take necessary action in the matter, the matter is being wavered and vacillated as had been done for the last one year and seven months.

DANAPALA PATABENDI - Ambalangoda

Destroy the LTTE leadership

THE Sri Lankan military should focus their attention on the LTTE leadership in the Vanni jungles, by starting a three prong war from the land, sea and air, with deep penetrating bombs to penetrate the 10ft concrete bunkers of Prabakaran's LTTE leadership.

Extermination of the LTTE leadership and the capture of these war criminals and monsters and bringing them before the international war crimes courts will be the only way to bring everlasting peace to Sri Lanka. So that the poor Sri Lankans can live in peace in a prosperous Sri Lanka in the future.

Dr. Mike Ranasinghe, USA - via email

Sexual harassment

THIS is an article I read and also forwarded to a few of my friends..... Ruah not only brings out the beauty of Sri Lanka, also the truth of it.

Yes, I remember once a very long time ago, that I personally experienced such an incident, although as said by Damien Perera, whether there would be a different view if; 'much less harassment, if girls dressed decently'.

I was perfectly dressed, but a sweet handsome gentleman in the crowded bus was displaying his private body to public view, and I was a teenager. He was right behind me. I took off my slipper, gave a good hard slap and took also the courage to jump out of the moving bus, less my slipper and walked home. This was in the late 70's, where women did not wear tight fitting clothes.

Can this perverts be stopped? I guess, it can, if awareness be taught to respect the society in general!

Ruah, please do keep rolling your typewriter, this is valuable to our future society, 'cos you see, what others think as natural. I do enjoy reading your humble insight.

NINA HARIM KAMAL - via email

Ranil and arrack renters

Lost Horizons - Rajiva Wijesinghe's article 'Ranil and the arrack renters' rings with brilliance of analysis and prose, which I had despaired reading in Sri Lanka's newsprint ever again.

I remember his response to the removal of Mrs. Bandaranaike's civic rights. I think he called it 'the first nail in the coffin of democracy', all those years ago.

How tragically true that turned out to be. I think he resigned from his post at the university soon after. Glad to catch up with his thoughts again. I will reinstate the dailynews.lk link in my Bookmarks again.

INDIRA KOTTEGODA, Australia - via email

Cigarette smoking

I refer to the letter published in the Daily News of August 15, by Dr. D. P. Athukorale in response to my letter.

I am honoured to have attracted the attention of an eminent cardiologist such as Dr. Athukorale and I am grateful for his opinion on the clinical aspects of cigarette smoking. I am sure they are very valid and beyond question.

I would however argue that there is a high incidence of allergy, asthma and other related illnesses as a result of vehicle emissions, garbage and waste burning, wood/grass burning and industrial fumes.

Are there no carcinogenic substances in these fumes? Perhaps somebody in possession of information and statistics could provide same for comparative study.

The point here is that whilst we can avoid cigarette smoke on most occasions, we cannot avoid the emissions from other sources as they permeate the air at will.

With regard to the alcohol trade, the good doctor has completely missed the salient facts of the economic, social and moral aspects of an illegal trade that encompasses a majority of approximately 67 per cent of the total market.

The finances that drive this segment of the alcohol trade are immense and have a serious impact on our daily lives. I wish to apologise, if it was inappropriate in naming the JHU in my letter.

It is my opinion that anyone promoting controls on a minority legal portion of any trade provides for de facto help and encouragement to the illegal i.e. Kassippu trade.

I am not sure whether the good doctor will support me, but I would wish to ask the question, as to what is the priority here.

D. M. BALASURIYA - Moratuwa