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This refers to the news item published in the Daily News, dated
November 15, 2007 captioned ‘Lankan maids suffer abuse in Middle-East -
Human Rights Watch’.
The report seems to be perfect. If you take the wages of a maid in
Saudi Arabia, the 30 cents per hours estimation provided by HRW is
correct. The maids have to work more than 16 hours per day on the basic
salary of SAR 400/month.
If you take out 8 hours for basic duty, the additional eight hours
that the maids put into work should be considered as an overtime that
has to be paid 150 per cent from the basic salary, as per the law of the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Are they paid?
The majority of maids are not reporting the verbal abuses and
maltreatment due to fear of their employers and their hardship at home
country. Some even adjust with the sexual abuses and harassments they
undergo on daily basis at the employer’s hand.
Also, it is true that our Government is welcoming the remittance send
by them but does little to safeguard the workers’ interest. Unless the
authorities bring about a change with regard to their wages and
condition, nothing will improve in our domestic workers’ problem.
Now, this problem has come to HRW and thereby we lose our country’s
reputation in international level. Some elements may even take advantage
of the report of HRW to compare the situation with our current political
problem.
MOHAMED
Riyadh
During weekdays thousands of vehicles invade the roads of the city.
Most of these carry merely a passenger or two but the traffic congestion
caused by vehicles is enormous. As a country struggling for development,
delays in reporting to work or school, transportation of goods may
jeopardise the economy.
If a city transport service consisting of buses operating only within
the city limits is commenced, the number of passenger carrying vehicles,
can be limited. Outstation buses could be halted at certain bays at city
limits, and the passengers can get on the city transport buses to
complete their journey. This bus system could also be used by people who
travel within the city.
The city transport system could also facilitate schoolchildren with
special buses carrying passengers only to defined schools. A single bus
can be given a route covering several schools. Parents will only have to
reach the outskirts of the city to catch the school bus, thereby
reducing the congestion seen during school hours.
Several months ago, I read with interest article written by a Sri
Lankan residing abroad, about using ferries to carry people, Ferries
have the distinct advantage of not being confronted by other vehicles.
The duration taken for the journey can be properly predicted. Ferries
are fuel efficient and can carry a large number of passengers.
These can transport people from one coastal city to the next. (e.g.
from Kalutara/Panadura to Colombo) At the arrival bays, a suitable city
transport system can commence. The infrastructure cost for a ferry
service is very much less than for railways.
Our country cannot afford overhead bridges, high tech underground
railway (tube) services or highways. But an efficient city transport
service with very little infrastructure can benefit many people who do
daily travelling into the city.
DR. HIMANTHA ATUKORALE
Radawana
May I express my humble point of view on the recent imposition of
time limit on the use of the loudspeakers. The control exercised over
the use of a loudspeaker, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. is a welcome measure in
view of the fact that sound pollution is reduced.
It is true that the loudspeaker is frequently misused by advertising
agents throughout the day and night in densely populated cities and
towns in Sri Lanka.
But the fact remains that religious places like Buddhist temples,
Kovils, Churches and Mosques use the loudspeaker purely for the purpose
of announcing their religious messages.
As a Muslim, I wish to bring to the earnest attention of the right
thinking men and women and the enlightened legislators that in the
mosque of each Muslim village, the call for prayer (Azan) is announced
aloud to the Islamic devotees with the help of a loudspeaker five times
a day.
At every time only three minutes are taken to announce this call for
prayer. Altogether, 15 minutes are taken for this loud announcement.
As a result of the recent legislation of limiting the use of loud
speakers Muslims lose the only chance of using the loudspeaker for Subah
(dawn) prayer by 4.45 a.m. which takes only three minutes for this
announcement.
Therefore, on behalf of Muslims living in Sri Lanka I sincerely
appeal to the President and other enlightened rulers to consider the
sacred religious factor and grant three minutes concession to announce
the call for Subah prayer by 4.45 a.m.
M. Y. M. Meeadhu
Hemmathagama
The Swarnavahini main news bulletin recently revealed that the
Traders’ Union of Galgamuwa had unanimously decided not to sell
cigarettes at their outlets in the entire Galgamuwa town.
Swarnavahini should be commended for bringing such positive and
soothing news to its viewers. Also the initiation taken by the Traders’
Union at Galgamuwa is a good example for other traders in this country
to follow.
According to the teachings of the Buddha whatever the trade one is
engaged in should be a justifiable one; by selling poison to human
beings, the seller will ultimately be ruined. You reap what you sow.
In the meantime we learn that the manufacturers of this poisonous
product have got animated over this initiation and started counteracting
them by trying to set up their own retail outlets for the purpose of
selling poison.
We learn that several medical professionals are very much keen and
involved in this good work. We invite the others who are not yet
involved to join these medical professionals as doctors are the most
trustworthy group in relation to health aspects.
It is up to the media to be strictly vigilant of such attempts and
the National Authority on Tobacco Control (NATA) should take
precautionary steps and block all the loopholes in the Act.
MANJARI PEIRIS
Maharagama
Why is everyone only talking about ‘disgraceful wedding dresses’?
What about disgraceful wedding saris?
I have seen some women wearing their sari blouses so small, I wonder
how they get into it.
They also wear their sari so low and it looks so unappealing. So,
please think before you talk and don’t worry about how people dress
because there are more things that you should worry about in Sri Lanka.
Just worry only about what you do and how you live and don’t worry
about others. Here is a good advice “before you criticize others,
observe what is going on around you”.
KUMARI GUNAWARDENE
Thank you for your above captioned editorial. I wrote once before
criticising your editorial on the contribution of Sri Lankan
‘expatriates’. This time I wish to commend you on the editorial on Sri
Lankan experts.
As one of the few Sri Lankan experts in the field of foreign
investment attraction, I had difficulty working in Sri Lanka because of
petty politics. I am now giving that expertise to the Australian
Government.
I firmly believe that the Sri Lankan authorities should respect the
sons and daughters who have excelled to the point of winning overseas
recognition, give them the credit that is their due and retain them in
the country to help with the country’s development.
Romayne de Alwis
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