Of destination boards and communal harmony

Transport Minister Dallus Alahapperuma is no doubt a go getter. Since assuming the mantle of Ministership he has adopted a no nonsense attitude towards getting the much maligned passenger transport service back on rail.

He has got tough where necessary with the authorities, staff and the trade unions and minced no words in calling a spade a spade when confronted with inefficiency and lethargy and has taken to task those found wanting.

He began by cleaning the Augean stables so to speak by ordering the removal of his posters and that of all politicians inside buses and trains so that their interiors would be devoid of litter.

He has now ordered that all public transport carry their destination boards both in Sinhala and Tamil in furtherance of the Government's National Language Policy.

This certainly is a good beginning in the current process of reconciliation between the communities and for fostering a common bond and understanding that had been strained over years due to discord and mutual suspicion.

In fact there was a time when all buses carried their destination boards in all three languages. This not only helped the commuters from the minorities but also was a reflection of the absence of division on ethnic lines at the time.

Not only buses but even leading trade establishments in the Pettah and the Fort carried their name boards in all three languages. Today only a very few of these have Tamil, after the July 83 riots.

The Minister made the point that Tamil was the mother tongue of a part of the population who had the right to communicate with the State in their language. He said they ought to respect this right of the Tamils and Muslims and lamented the missed opportunities to earn the confidence of the minorities through such policies.

True, the present conflict has progressed too far to expect a rapprochement by the mere accommodation of Tamil in destination boards of buses. But the Minister's gesture speaks volumes for the opportunities lost to build bridges between the communities in the past due to petty differences.

Now that realisation has dawned all necessary steps should be taken to speed up the process of reconciliation. True, this would take time given the ramification of the problem.

But a beginning has to be made and the Minister has perhaps given the lead in this respect. He made the pertinent point that in terms of the National Language policy all notices and announcement of the Government must be published in both Sinhala and Tamil.

This while addressing the convenience of the minorities would also infuse in them a sense of belonging. In this regard the new circular offering incentives to duel language proficiency for the public servants is a step in the right direction.

This is also an opportune time for the Government to consider seriously implementing the National Language Policy with the gradual weaning away of the Tamils from the LTTE.

While on the subject of public transport, much needs to be done to rectify the deterioration of this sector. It hardly needs reiteration that the public transport sector is in need for a massive overhaul.

The Minister would be the first to acknowledge that indiscipline is rampant on our roads with bus crew a law unto themselves.

A frequent complain is there are no buses after late dusk on certain routes putting commuters into much inconvenience.

Not a day passes without one reading about some fatal road accident involving public transport due to reckless driving by those who are not competent to sit behind a wheel.

Road rules are being violated by speed fiends with impunity threatening life and limb of pedestrians. Belching jalopies are another problem that pollute the environment posing serious health problems. Public transport is a most vital aspect in a fast expanding commercial milieu. The Minister we trust would make every endeavour to ease the burdens on the travelling public.