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The SLFP is commended for putting forward its proposals, although
they were overdue in excess of at least six months for meaningful peace
negotiations and international support.
The proposals appear to be reasonable and are of appeal to Sri
Lankans who are genuinely interested in peace and the integrity of the
country.
Analysing the proposals objectively, it can be said that devolution
of power to the district councils can be an impediment to overall
economic and social development as the extent of the district units do
not provide the necessary economies of the scale required for
development.
The rest of the proposals based on provincial councils however
present a viable future to our war weary nation.
The country no doubt waits in hope for the next step of the APRC to
deliver a recommendation to the Government. There is no doubt that
reaching a consensus on such diverse views is a difficult task and at
times insurmountable.
Nevertheless a practical recommendation within a reasonable framework
is an absolute necessity to avoid the current political and economical
insecurity of the country.
In case of dissention, the APRC has the obligation to present its
recommendation with the dissenting vote.
Delaying the recommendation process to reach a consensus can only
galvanise opinions and jeopardise the international faith in our peace
negotiations.
I hope common sense will prevail and the political parties will rise
above their petty rivalries and pave the way for the nation to take that
much needed step to a peaceful resolution.
JANAKI WIJEGUNASEKERA – Australia - via email
I refer to the letter published in Daily News of April 24 under the
above title for rectifying the error in the revision of one’s pension. I
understand the under payment mentioned as Rs. 300 is a mis-print for Rs.
3000.
I too was informed by the Divisional Secretariat at the 1994 revision
that I was receiving a pension more than I was entitled to.
I contacted the official and examined the relevant documents and
found that the last salary drawn had been taken incorrectly. This was
rectified and I received the due increase in my pension.
There are several lakhs of pensioners who have not been supplied with
the details of the pension revision and they are not able to contact the
Director of Pensions or Divisional Secretariat officials to check the
accuracy of the pension revision.
The officials too do not have the time to interview all the
pensioners who call over to obtain this information.
I suggest that the Divisional Secretariats be instructed to send each
pensioner the following information, so that they could consult a
knowledgeable person and find out whether the pension revision had been
done correctly. This information is readily available in the computer.
(i) Last monthly salary drawn at retirement:
(ii) Corresponding monthly salary on 1.1.1997
(iii) Additional allowance due:
(iv) Pension due on 1.1.1997:
(v) Additional allowances due from and after January 1997:
If the Director of Pensions could arrange to supply the above
information to each pensioner, he will no doubt receive not one bouquet
but lakhs of bouquets!
D. D. RANASINGHE – Rajagiriya
I have read with interest the motivational speech by the Minister of
Enterprise Development Dr. Sarath Amunugama. Belated thought, it is a
candid approach by an educated and experienced Minister which needs
careful assessment.
Dr. Amunugama has touched on a number of relevant and timely issues.
His hope that his tenure will be longer is valid for a consistency and
responsibility purpose. Unfortunately, however, some of his other
assumptions cannot be considered valid.
He is correct when he says “we cannot go on borrowing much longer”
and that “the second option of expanding direct foreign investment need
to be ‘rapid’ and given priority.
Foreign investment, in my view, should certainly be given priority
but it does not have to be ‘rapid’, it had to be well planned and
long-term. Anything done rapidly, in a haphazard manner, ends up as a
total disaster.
The Minister need not go any further than to study some of his old
files to find out the failure rate of some BOI project done ‘rapidly’.
It is a sad fact, but a rapid development project initiated such as
the hundred day Colombo City Development Project, has not seen daylight
yet.
He is also correct when he says there is liquidity in the Eastern
European and Asian sector. But he has failed to remember that this can
dry-up very fast.
This has happened not so long ago, driving Japan to offer zero per
cent interest rates and as seen this week, can send stock markets around
the world on a spin. It is true that there are many other reasons for
this.
Unfortunately, the lack of time and irrelevancy would not permit me
to go in to these in detail.
It is also true that Sri Lanka should be “thinking big”, But there is
a big difference between thinking big and attaining big! Singapore and
Malaysia grew not because they just thought big but they acted big too.
Those countries had well coordinated plans and efficient management
teams with properly laid out infrastructure to draw foreign investments.
KOSALA G. TANTULA – USA
I write to bring to your notice the shocking expenditure the State
and the tax payers of this country are called up on to bear as a result
of negligent and careless use of our roads.
While visiting a patient at the National Hospital Colombo, I noticed
a patient with all his limbs in plaster and even his jaw had shifted -
the result of a three-wheeler accident.
The front wheel of the three-wheel taxi had come off and the man had
suffered extensive injuries which will keep him at the National Hospital
for at least three months. The orthopaedic problems caused by road
accidents can be minimised if we have a better safety policy.
The doctors told me that the surgical steel prosthetics and the nuts
and bolts alone will cost well over half a million rupees.
This is money that will be paid by the Government and eventually all
the tax payers of the country.
The salaries of medical staff, the cost of hospitalization and other
charges to the State will be in addition to the half a million rupees of
tax payer’s money this man will gobble up.
I do not grudge the treatment of an accident victim, but there is the
larger issue of road safety that we should address, if we are to spend
money on education, buying desks and chairs for our children, spend more
money on improving our roads, electricity, irrigation etc.
I am told a large number of accident victims, mostly those who are
involved in some form of accident with a three-wheeler costs a huge
amount of money for the health department. Has there been any safety
criteria before we allowed these dangerous vehicles on our roads?
At first glance, the three wheelers may seem a cheaper mode of
transport, but the entire country is paying a very high price for it.
SUNIL MENDIS – Colombo
To the comments made by Malin Abeytunga regarding the LTTE and the
UNP.
What is he doing living in luxury in Australia trying to dictate
terms to us living in Sri Lanka. (Reference DN May 02) As a student in
Melbourne he should finish his studies and come back to Sri Lanka and
work for the country that gave him the opportunity to go overseas.
HARRY PERERA - via email
On the afternoon of March 27 Internet users connected to SLT and
their allied services were unable to access the Internet. Clearly there
has been a breakdown at their side. Worse, they have hardly a support
arm/s worth its name to ensure service to customers is restored quickly.
On earlier occasions when we needed their support on ADSL and other
matters, after many calls to different numbers in their telephone
system, I was asked to keep in touch with Tel. No.2466028 or their email
isdnmail@sltnet.lk - but it is a waste of time trying to get both.
As a user I am very disappointed with this callous service of the SLT.
From March 27 noon my entire In and Out Internet traffic is paralysed
and I have no one to complain to, with some form of re-assurance of
prompt relief.
V. SATHANANDAN - Colombo 3 |
