Political bickering and unpatriotic utterances of some political
party leaders are an anathema to national unity and integrity. The
communal equanimity and innate scene of unflinching patriotism and
national integration should be the slogan of the day.
When the future of the country is at stake due to prolongation of
terrorism and external enemies. It is the bounden duty of all citizens
to strengthen the hands of the President, who has an unblemished record
of unprecedented achievements and clear vision.
The invaluable support of the valiant, dedicated Armed Forces and the
other patriotic agencies, we have almost come to the final stage of
Tiger annihilation and the liberation of our fellow countrymen, Tamils,
Muslims, Sinhalese and others from the cruel clutches of the inhuman
terrorists.
It is pathetic that the Opposition leader is trying to demur the
national agenda and chip the powers of President Mahinda Rajapaksa who
is doing an exemplary devoted service to the nation.
Furthermore, the leader of the Opposition forgets the introduction of
the executive presidency and the undemocratic, illegitimate behaviour of
the first incumbent happened with his knowledge and intimation. The
decentralisation of political power goes hand in hand with economic
decentralisation.
The incoherent speeches of the leader of the Opposition nakedly
exposed the pathetic condition of his party which is in a dolorous state
with a galaxy of complacent cheer squads.
Though the President's courage, enhancement pacifies the masses, same
commendation could not be given to all his subordinates, among many a
gentlemen of sterling qualities, there are black sheep, self seeking
corrupt elements too.
At the commencement of the Second World War, Sir Winston Churchill
succeeded Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in Great Britain "Fellow
countrymen, dear citizens I have nothing to give you, I can give tears
and heartache only.
We shall work together and save our great nation and Motherland from
the evil forces of dictatorship". His clarion call responded by other
patriotic citizens.
The UK Labour Party leader cum leader of the Opposition - Clement
Attlee together with other leaders joined the great coalition Government
under the leadership of Sir Winston Churchill and thereby galvanised the
will of the people and saved democracy and human dignity from tyranny.
The time is not opportune to discuss the misdoings; ingratitude
actions of certain high-ups in the Government.
Weakening the Government means opening the flood gates to the enemy
and instigating the people. Remember what John F. Kennedy said, "Don't
ask what they have not done to you ask your consciences, what you have
done to save the Motherland from economic peril and from national
disaster."
When the LTTE sympathisers and fellow travellers in the guise of
fighting for human rights and go to law courts they obviously forget
their sacred loyalty to the country of their birth or adoption as true
and trustworthy patriots. They must be ever prepared to support and
defend the country in a national crisis, even sacrifice their lives.
JINADASA NIYATHAPALA, Ex-MP for Kotte and Colombo
District
The only way one can describe the vehicular traffic on the Parliament
Road, especially in the evenings is mayhem.
The short distance of two to three kilometres from the Kanatta
junction to the Nawala Road Junction, believe it or not, invariably
takes 45 minutes or more, purely due to the lack of traffic control at
the latter junction. I am talking about traffic on normal days.
I just do not want to even think of the stress, the time waste, the
petrol consumption etc. on days when Parliament sits. It defies
description.
The pity is that this situation has been existence for years with no
attempt being made to resolve the problem. The powers be, the Traffic
Police at Welikada Police Station in this instance, only needs to
co-ordinate the large number of cars that travel towards Kotte by
assigning just a few policemen during the rush hours at the turn off to
Nawala.
In other areas in the city, I have even seen innovative policemen
opening an additional single lane on the opposite side of the road for
the heavy traffic, the separation being done with traffic cones.
At least for the vehicles turning to Nawala, such a lane could be
opened.
I am sure if the OIC of Welikada police station, ironically located
just in front of this enormous traffic fiasco, bothers to give a little
bit of thought to this problem, no doubt a solution will be found.
UPALI WICKRAMASINGHE, Kotte
We have to stop the destruction of nature and indigenous people.
Recently published New Scientist has an excellent and shocking article
on this: 'I saw that on the banks of the Indragiri River on the edge of
the Kerumutan peatlands.
'Here, Kuala Cenaku, a community of 7000 people, has for centuries
harvested rattan and honey, cut a few trees and planted rubber trees on
what they regard as their lands. 'Then last year loggers arrived,
claimed the land had been given to them by the Government, and cut down
the forest for five kilometres South of the river.
'Kuala Cenaku's forest is now a wasteland of charred wood on drying
peat. In places the Duta Palma group has planted palm oil trees. Yet
community head Mursyid Muhammad Ali said his people had scared off the
planters and are determined to take the land back.
At the jetty, I saw a boatful of new rubber seedlings for restoring
the forest.'
DEREK WALL
Haji Seyyd Moulana of Thulhiriya writes that non-Muslims should bear
up 25 minutes in 24 hrs of a day calling Muslims to prayer.
Any devout person following a religion does not need a reminder to
pray (five times during each day) over a loudspeaker. An alarm clock
will suffice or a reasonable memory, or habit.
It is sad that in Kandy, the home of the Sacred Tooth Relic venerated
by 70 per cent Sri Lankans, the call for prayers for Muslims 5 times a
day is a let down to devout Buddhists, over loudspeakers! No, no, please
don't change this much needed halt to Islam and loudspeakers.
RUPA GAMLATHGE, Thulhiriya
There is a trend today for foreigners to enter the country on a
'Tourist Visa' and get employed in an NGO/NGO or in the UN in the East
or the North and then apply for the work permit.
If there is a delay in obtaining the work permit, he or she will go
to India or the Maldives and enter the country on a fresh 'Tourist Visa'
and continue to work.
In any other country such a person will be deported and never be
allowed to enter the country again.
This type of person deprives the locals of the opportunity to these
jobs.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should check the Passport for any
'Tourist Visa' entry and not allow such applications for work permits.
This type of ruse deprive the local unemployed.
A DEPRIVED CITIZEN
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