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I read the article by an ex-diplomat with interest. The writer brings
out a very good point but also missed out on some. The issue is two
fold: Firstly, Sri Lanka must not try to do what other countries do but
do what is in the best interest for Sri Lanka at this point of time.
Secondly, the question is not whether non-career diplomats should
head foreign missions, but whether Sri Lanka appoints the most suitable
people to critical missions around the world.
As the writer pointed out there have been many outstanding diplomats
from fields other than SLFS who have successfully headed and functioned
in missions. Each and every mission is different.
The people who are appointed to those critical missions should be
able to fulfill the essential non-consular functions required to help
pull Sri Lanka out of the present quagmire. That requires wisdom,
experience and skills.
If a person has these tools and the required training then by all
means appoint the person with clear expectations. The present issue is
indiscriminate appointment of people either from within SLFA or from
outside with none of the above and with no expectations.
LAYA ALLES
Many people abroad of Sri Lankan origin who have travelled to Sri
Lanka on holidays, have stated to me the lack of manners they encounter
on a daily basis from ordinary citizens, particularly the employees of
some State sectors. They say that employees in the private sector are
definitely more polite and helpful.
I think that this long standing problem can be remedied if properly
focused on.
The Department of Education has to be made aware of the problem.
Educators must write books on the subject, as the future of each child,
the potential to be a happy and useful citizen depends heavily on what
is taught in the State run schools. I believe the private schools are
more aware of the importance of manners.
It is not a difficult task to translate into Sinhala and Tamil some
of the books written in English on the matter of manners. Children
should be taught manners from as early as three years of age.
They will gain self confidence when taught proper manners. After a
time, good manners will be second nature to them and Sri Lanka will be a
better place to live for all its citizens. Surely there will be less
violence and more self control and discipline among our citizens.
It will also erase the artificial class structures that are built up
through ignorance.
A child from a poor home will be treated with respect if the child
learns self respect through good manners.
Classes on good manners and etiquette should be made available to
adults via the medium of TV as well as through books. Needless to say,
there are a number of articles on this subject on the Google website.
Educators can draw heavily from such articles.
CONCERNED CITIZEN
The premier Council in Colombo headed by Mayor Imtiaz and members of
the Spectacle group were elected by the voters of Colombo, because the
leader of UNP Ranil Wickremesinghe and the UNP Mayoral and Deputy
Mayoral candidates Sirisena Cooray and Azad Sally appealing to the
voters to elect the Spectacle group in order to take control of the
Council administration.
After a period of 1 1/2 years, we see a very pathetic situation where
a charge sheet has been issued on the Mayor and the Councillors by the
Chief Minister of the Western Province, charging them for corruption,
mismanagement and incompetence.
The inquiry so far has revealed a large scale financial corruption as
reported in the daily papers. Many of the officials too have been
involved in these corrupt activities, and therefore it is necessary that
action is taken against such persons by the authorities concerned.
The ratepayers of Colombo who contribute their taxes for the up keep
of the City and the Council, the staff, officials and elected
Councillors have had a raw deal as the state of the roads, street
lights, clearance of garbage have deteriorated to the worst levels in
the history of this Council.
The Engineering Division of the Council, which is responsible for
over 50 per cent of the services including the budgetary allowances has
collapsed because there is no leadership in the management of this
Department.
Former engineers, Maraasinghe Perera and Vas Gunawardene had done a
commendable amount of work during the tenure of Mayor Karu Jayasuriya
and Omar Kamil.
How long more are the citizens of Colombo expected to suffer in
silence?
It is high time that the authorities concerned, the Western
Provincial Council, the Governor and the Chief Minister must take
control of the situation and appoint people who would deliver the
services expected by the ratepayer.
M. N. JAYASEKERA - Colombo 10
It was reported in the media recently that some brands of bottled
water which are available in every nook and corner of our island have
been found unsafe for drinking after analysis by the Sri Lanka Standards
Institution.
Drinking bottled water has become the trend among the elite and the
middle classes. A quality testing officer of the SLSI has made known
that while 300 varieties of bottled water were being marketed, only 45
varieties had been tested for quality and approval by the SLSI.
The office also had suggested that the best way out of this dangerous
situation is to get back to the old way of boiling and cooling our own
water and if necessary, carrying some with us in a bottle.
It would be useful to the general public, specially the travellers,
if the SLSI could publish the 45 approved varieties of bottled water in
the media, for the information of the public.
LIONEL LEANAGE – Ambalangoda
The purpose of a police check point is to check the people entering
the security zone to ensure public safety. The police man has the rights
and authority to check whatever he thinks appropriate to make sure
thatpublic security is not compromised.
It is very correct to check for the driver's licence when someone
drives a vehicle to make sure that the individual has a valid licence
and the legal owernership of the vehicle.
It is the duty of law abiding decent citizens to cooperate with the
police respectfully who provide a very risky public service especially
under the current circumstances in Sri Lanka.
ARIYADASA YAPA
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