• Three-wheel mafia

• Tobacco and Alcohol Control Authority Act

• Help to disarm terrorists

• Traffic lights - bad to worse

• Free text books

• UNESCO gets wiser and suspends Chandrika

Three-wheel mafia

An advertisement under the heading 'Providing the Nation and us an invaluable service' (DN Oct. 25) was a sentiment expressed by the Three-Wheeler Association. However what was extolled in the ad was something more like those sanctimonious assurances of the Private Bus Owners Association that we the commuters are heirs to.

Instead of praising themselves, it would be a favour done if the Three-Wheel Association could inform the public the fare chargeable for a kilometre. In the area I live in, we are charged Rs. 50 for a kilometre distance.

Even after the reduction of the price of petrol, some three-wheel drivers have reluctantly reduced the fare to Rs. 45. Recently to travel a few kilometre distance I was ripped off for Rs. 200 and there was no question of a reduction. Possibly had I remonstrated, I would have been at the receiving end of some choice language. And had I travelled by bus it would have cost me only Rs. 9.

Fixing of tamper proof meters is one way to help the public and prevent extortion, and it therefore should be made compulsory by law.

The bus commuters commend Minister A. H. M. Fowzie for his brave attempt in taming the Private Bus Owners mafia. We would also thank the Minister to regulate the fares of the three-wheelers. Today anyone who is unfortunate to travel by a three-wheeler has to give into extortion, face abuse and humiliation at the hands of these thugs.

When the private buses were introduced it eased unemployment but its after effects is a deadly mafia.

Initially the three-wheelers have eased unemployment of many a youth. However, it has brought indiscipline and thuggery and given away to another mafia which if not contained, would be as deadly as the private bus mafia. One hopes this would catch the eyes of the Minister and his officials to give speedy relief to those who by unfortunate circumstances are compelled to travel by three-wheelers.

N. D. CHANDRASEKERA, Nugegoda

Tobacco and Alcohol Control Authority Act

Hats off to the President who brought this Tobacco and Alcohol Control Authority Act. (Reference DN Dec. 21). He is a true leader who wants to save our land.

IRFAN SADIQUE, via email

Help to disarm terrorists

Sri Lanka is advancing and the world knows that the people must rally and support the Government, whether Sinhalese, Tamils, Malays or others. (Reference DN Dec. 21).

National interest comes first. This is a very serious state of affairs and the people must understand this and that the LTTE is losing in every sector including internationally. No talk or dialogue is required.

Destroy them. Don't let them sleep. Twenty years is too long. They are desparate and will do desparate things, time is of the essence. Action speaks louder than words.

EDDY, via email

Traffic lights - bad to worse

The pathetic state of the signals on R. A. de Mel Mawatha and St. Anthony's junction was brought to notice through the letters to the Editor (DN Dec. 10), which still needs to be taken up by the Traffic Police. There is no rocket science behind this, it's a matter of switching off the signals at peak time.

This is a proven remedy, because when the signal was down during the past couple of weeks, the traffic flow was absolutely smooth, and no sooner it began last week here starts the traffic.

All motorists who drive on this road in the morning will agree with me on this.

M. S. OOWISE, Colombo 6

Free text books

Children get the text books for use as a source of knowledge but I agree the fact that they misuse them. How do I know that because I was a teacher and I have seen that. (Reference DN Dec. 20).

Honestly they sometimes throw it across the class room like a frisbi, sometimes they talk to their friends by throwing books. How many books are defaced, ruined, cartoons drawn in these books, none other than by those who use them. I am sure the parents are unaware of them and even teachers are unaware of this vandalism. Those days, I had to buy my text books and didn't throw them or ruin them.

Today the children have computers and online facilities. If they really need to learn something more about a given subject, just type a word or two about it, then search, virtually thousands come up. But the question is do they use the computers for education? Not really, the children go for games, hit the rabbit or the bear or keep on jumping or shooting like a bandit. One cannot stop them but must encourage them to use computers to educate themselves.

Today books and computers are working together to educate the children, just books only time is long gone. Let's make the best use of it than abusing the system.

Let's hope the children make the best of both, books and computers.

DR. HECTOR PERERA, via email

UNESCO gets wiser and suspends Chandrika

There is a saying 'better late than never' and it would have definitely been wiser if the relevant officials of the UNESCO had first checked the credentials of our former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and her suitability for the post of Consultant-UNESCO, before they made their commitment.

The fact that she is the younger daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike is the highest qualification she has and she has been selling this, without any feelings of remorse at the injustice she does to her late parents.

Those parents are still highly respected in Sri Lanka unlike the daughter who has proved her incapability as well as unsuitability to govern this country towards decent politics! Her 11 years as our Executive President has been an utter and total disaster and it is known to all that she certainly is no respecter of persons or principles or the law of the land. Abuse of power was so rife, that we just watched in horror!

Under normal circumstances, we Sri Lankans would have been happy that one of our countrymen was offered a post at UNESCO but knowing fully well, that she does not have the qualifications to take on such an assignment and do justice to the UNESCO, we were quite surprised that a UN organisation had taken a decision without checking her credentials.

In an earlier article too, the writer mentioned that her charm can be most dangerous and as suspected, she did manage to lie her way into being accepted as a worthwhile personality.

There is no doubt whatsoever, that with the UN Diplomatic Passport in hand, she would have done the rounds in South Asia and used the opportunity to do counter productive propaganda against Sri Lanka and the incumbent Government rather than sticking to her Terms of Reference(TOR) for the UNESCO assignment.

As we have read in news items recently, we have taken note of the fact, that she has returned to Sri Lanka, to create political turmoil for the SLFP, which she thinks is her God given inheritance! This is certainly not what the UNESCO assignment is all about- it is about helping to educate children in developing countries, devoid of politics or personal agendas.

The Sunday newspapers of December 17 carried many articles like UNESCO suspends Chandrika-Complaints of human rights violations, CBK's UNESCO post at stake etc., giving the warning signal that her assignment with UNESCO will terminate even before commencement!

In the Sinhala language, there is a very descriptive proverbial saying that a crab placed in a pot of water, will swim happily in the water only until the pot begins to boil- "lipe gini molawana thek diye saliye, sapeyak yayi kakuluwa diye keliya, Epamane thopa sithathoth no hakiliye, Sapeyak nam nathi kamrase keliye." (Lowada Sangharawa - Ven. Veedagama Maithri Thera).

Chandrika Kumaratunga is like the crab in the pot of water and now the water seems to be boiling for her. What we do, will bring about our own downfall- no one else must be blamed for one's misfortunes.

In a Sunday newspaper article UNESCO suspends Chandrika - Complaints of human rights violations it states (quote) "A letter sent to Ms. Kumaratunga's London address states that these accusations against her could undermine the objectives" of UNESCO.

In that he asked her to change her arrangements concerning her plans to visit Asia................" and further down the same article it states "Given the sensitivity of your mission with its subject area Director General Matsuura has said, "I am concerned that the perceptions held by these human rights groups could undermine the objectives of a future relationship and your generous desire to further the work of UNESCO in South Asia in a mutually beneficial way...........in the light of these developments; I must also re-examine the proposed arrangements with you; however, I will revert to you as soon as possible on the outcome of this reconsideration."

Mr. Matsuura has been extremely diplomatic and polite indeed in his letter to her!

As Sri Lankans, we are ashamed that a former President of this country has brought such disrepute to UNESCO or for that matter, any UN organisation and we certainly hope that the Director General of UNESCO will be able to place the good name of UNESCO first, in his decision-making.

Credibility of a world body is absolutely essential to work in countries but with personalities like Chandrika Kumaratunga, UNESCO would have been at the butt-end of complaints from South Asian countries that would have had to deal with her since she has no understanding of the socio-religious fabric of these countries and that each country needs to be taken as a separate entity.

When she messed up education in Sri Lanka, how could she offer solace to South Asia?

Thank you Mr. Matsuura, for attempting to save the reputation of UNESCO!

Darmitha, Kotte