It appears that, finally, the new Minster of Tourism has thought out
a new strategy to develop the tourism industry in the country.
(Reference DN Feb. 19).
Such a plan should have been done a long time ago. Any way, it is
still not too late, if the envisaged plan is going to eventuate to be a
strategic and sensible project development.
As reported, the plan seems to contain most, if not, of the core
elements. However, very little is reported on the development of a
policy framework support the development vision.
The policy framework is exceedingly important and a lot of energy
must be spent on that so as to succeed in achieving the desired goals.
Policy development must be based on through research and must end up in
'cutting corners' because of all sorts of pressures from the interested
groups or individuals.
It must be a national policy with a bi/multi-partisan support. Given
the kind of projected investment over a period of ten years, the
underlying policy framework should be capable of withstanding any
possible changes in the political environment.
One other key components appears to be missing from the broader plan
as disclosed in the press is the absence of strategy to develop a
research facility on tourism.
Surely, if the industry is hoping to attract two million tourists by
the year 2016, which is a good thing to do, a research arm is a
fundamental necessity.
It should not only be instituted but also be staffed with a highly
trained research staff to carry on with research on international
visitors, national visitors and on visitor destinations, etc.
Perhaps setting up an experts committee on this matter should be a
priority. Ministry may also approach international support from
countries such as Australia, China and from the EU countries.
It is imperative to meet the expectations of the tourists through a
continuous quality improvement process for the goods and services
offered. Unless the 'house is in order', no amount of advertising will
attract the visitor, the paying guests!
SIRI GAMLATH - via email
Where was former Minister Mangala Samaraweera in the previous regime?
Did he ever speak out against unethical Cabinet papers the former
President shoved through without giving Ministers' time to study them?
(Reference DN Feb. 17)
How about the special privileges given to her close friends by
creating new positions like the Presidential Media Advisor with
extensive Government expenditure to support a very close friend of her's?
Did that help the war effort unlike the appointment of Gotabaya
Rajapaksa an experienced war veteran with proven combat experience? He
has already proven to be better than previous Secretaries of Defence
whose sons made tons of money on contracts.
How about the French Horses that were bought (not suited for the
tropics) for the Police at her insistence? How about French trains that
don't run for the Railways, on dubious contracts where she over-rode the
technical committee which deemed them unsuitable? Where was his concern
for transparency then? Are any of those locomotives running today Mr.
Samaraweera?
How about him being part of the select elite kitchen Cabinet in her
government? If it was ok for him to be part of a loyal coterie, then why
is he shouting now? Is it because he is opposed to a kitchen Cabinet on
principle or because he is left out ?
Who is actually making a difference in the war effort? President
Mahinda Rajapaksa's brother is. Mangala should remember all the partying
he did with the Arrogant house of Bourbon when bombs were going off and
when military camps were being overrun.
There were times they behaved like Nero the great Roman when the
country was besieged.
Don't think we have forgotten the arrogant accusatory statements made
undercover of Presidential immunity, and the abuse hurled on even
legitimate leaders like Karu Jayasuriya or Ranil Wickremesinghe on
stage.
Her favourite line was to say api langa file thiyanawa. She used all
her privileges to the maximum and abused people left, right and center.
That President travelled overseas too many times at State expense
compared to all the others before her. She ruled over the Cabinet
without even a discussion or debate on many issues.
Did Mr. Samaraweera shout then? Or, was he perfectly content to be
part of that special cabal that mismanaged the nation? How about the
scandal with purchasing old British Airforce C-130s with cracked engine
cowlings?
How long were those kota uda? How about the Bushmaster gun deals? How
about attempts to buy an obsolete British troop ship (Sir Galahad?)
through her friends acting as agents through a high up Naval officer?
Perhaps a dip in the Temple Trees swimming pool built while the
nation was at war helped Mr. Samaraweera forget his noble principles and
village origins.
Everyone knows he is an honourable man even if he spent State money
to extravagantly refurbish his offices and fix lifts in his official
residence. He cannot be blamed for that, because the President was
spending public money on refurbishing mansions too.
So he had to follow her example. But he is indeed one of the most
able and honest ministers and should become part of the Mahinda
Chintanaya again.
Anura Bandaranaike has realised the arrant ways of a Feudal lord and
apologized for his conduct even if he has not done anything to deserve a
Ministry given his desire to be outside Sri Lanka more than in. Mangala
Samaraweera indeed is a capable Minister who is an asset to this regime
as well.
R. F. GUNASEKERA - Mihirigama - via email
I would like to respond to the letter written by Upali de Silva,
Secretary General, Sri Lanka Banks' Association (DN Feb. 12) in response
to my letter on the above subject (DN Feb. 3).
He cites the Shop and Office Employees Act to justify the closure of
banks for business, after declaration of February 5 as a Bank Holiday in
lieu of the National Day falling on Sunday February 4, as a 'fulfillment
of a statutory obligation'.
According to Section 7, Subsection 2 of this same Act, it is clear
that one does not necessarily have to close the banks (even thought a
holiday has to be declared on another day in lieu of the National Day
falling on a Sunday), if it is agreed to pay the stipulated remuneration
for employment on the day so declared to be a holiday.
It is also interesting to note that this Act does not allow
declaration of a holiday in lieu of a Full Moon Poya falling on a Sunday
- perhaps because Full Moon Day activity cannot be conducted on a Half
or Quarter Moon Day! Does not the same principle apply for the National
Day, or as to that matter, for any other specific commemorative day?
If one is not blind to the precarious economic state of the country
and not ignorant of the remedial measures needed, 'fulfillment of
statutory obligation' could still be effected with an altruistic
interpretation of the Act and selecting the best option given in the Act
in the national interest, without disrupting the smooth functioning of
the administrative machinery of the country. This is an urgent need of
the hour.
Dr. L. A. W. Sirisena - Colombo
I refer to the letter titled 'Why Holocaust only for Jews?' by
Saybhan Samat of Rajagiriya (DN Jan. 30).
The Jews are given most remembrance in the holocaust because of the
sinister reasons they were exterminated. Other victims of other
holocausts have been killed by greed, fanatical politics and plain
masochism. These are all age old vices which should be addressed, and a
special day of each year given for such remembrances.
When the Jews were killed, it was because of a newly founded Nazi
ideology based on the Darwinism theory; that human descended from apes,
the survival of the fittest, and that certain races are superior to
others.
Such a theory though seeming logical and rational can be
misinterpreted by many, and misused by racist murderers to suppress and
annihilate. The Jews are a race which has proved their higher intellect
throughout history, and one must then wonder how Nazi ideologies fitted
into their extermination.
I think that it has been recognized that this new form of evil could
stay with humankind for a long time unless organisations like the UN
stepped in and declared the sheer idiocy of this delusion, and suppress
such ideas by remembrances of the Jewish holocaust victims.
Only in a true repentant spirit of remembrance, can such a dangerous
concept be gradually eradicated from human thought and history.
RAMONA T. FERNANDO - USA - via email |
