Organization of Professional Associations

Manipulators want desalination to make fast buck

We are living in an era where people have no regard for the environmental protection or respect to each other due to selfishness.

The main culprits were certain administrators.

They robbed the masses and destroyed the environment implementing various haphazard developments. As a result they destroyed the virgin forests and the valuable water springs in the forest reservations.

The so-called industrialisation also destroyed the quality of good water streams and rivers of the mother Lanka by allowing to freely discharge the untreated affluent of industrial waste water and solid waste for quite a long time due to ignorance of decision-makers.

This is mainly because the developing countries have become the dumping yards of garbage of the West.

After the damage is done, authorities and the Ministries try to make a big fuss by trying to enforce the laws, rules and regulations as if they have got up from a deep slumber.

The practice of disciplined life, friendly environmental behaviour had been preached by the Buddha about 2553 years back. He had Himself respected the Bo-Tree which had given shade and shelter to Him to attain Enlightenment as a mark of respect.

It is very clear that that we have dug our own grave due to greediness of going after fistful of dollars of the West.

I would like to inform that we do not have to go for desalination in the near future as exclaimed by a politician recently over the television. because water is still not polluted up to that level.

We could still manage for a quite some time if the present wastage of water in the distribution system could be arrested by the Water Supply and Drainage Board which amounts to 40% to 45% of the production due to leakage.

As a by product if you could produce desalinated water from a thermal power plant there is no harm in producing desalinated water for consumption for a near by hospital or to an institution to meet the demand.

It is not economical at all for a country like Sri Lanka at a time where the cost of living is sky high and there is no acute shortage of water to go for desalination because well water and rain water can be easily used for washing and gardening purposes.

Minister Dinesh Gunawardena is well aware of the need for rain water harvesting for consumption and even home gardening in the rural and the urban sector.

Desalination is a process that refers to any of the processes that remove excess salt and other minerals from the water in order to be converted to fresh water to make it suitable for animal and human consumption. But generally it is an expensive process.

From sea water only 30% can be recovered at a high cost.

The cost of desalination is generally 4 to 5 folds more expensive than treating slightly polluted stream or spring water.

* Methods adopted

Distillation -

1. Multistage flash distillation

2. Multi-effect evaporator

3. Vapour - compression evaporation

4. Evaporation/condensation

* Iron exchange

* Membrane process

1. Electrolysis reversal

2. Reverse Osmosis

3. Nanofilteration

4. Forward Osmosis

5. membrane distillation

* Freezing

* Geothermal desalination

* Solar humidification

* Methane hydrate crystallisation

* High grade water recycling

In the Maldives of course they had to go for desalination with the increase of the population as they could not cope with the rain water harvesting only for drinking purpose. They do not have any streams or rivers at all. The only source of natural fresh water available is the rain water and there is little bit of shallow ground which is floating as a lense on the surface of the sea water.

We have ample freshwater streams, rivers and reservoirs which can be treated with lesser cost with filtration and chemical treatment with conventional methods in Sri Lanka. We have little bit of problems with the well water in the coastal belt due to salinity.

Therefore, foolish ideas of having a dream of going for desalination should be given up for the sake of the public. Protect our rivers, streams, wells and water springs and the virgin forests in our motherland.

God will give all of us the lifeline of water free of charge. I wish to bring the attention of the President to keep an eye on the vicious circle who is trying to fish in troubled waters at a time where the country is going through various difficulties.

ENG. M.D. KARUNARATNE, Reference Wikipedia

Questions & Answers

Transfer of asset by Last will

Question: The deed of my flat is written in my name. I have, however, written my will bequeathing everything to my wife after my demise.

Is this adequate for her to own the flat after my demise or is there a necessity for me to get the deed re-written in our joint names.

What would be the approximate cost of doing the latter?

N.K. Rajan - Colpetty

Answer: After your demise, your Last Will will necessarily be subject to a 'Testamentary Case', which unfortunately could be a time-consuming and expensive matter.

You will be well-advised to gift the flat to your wife by deed subject to your life interest or to take effect on your demise.

The cost of this depends largely on the Notary who attests the deed and the value of the Property.

If you call over at the Public Interest Protection Counselling and Arbitration Centre (PIPCAC) of the OPA with the relevant documents you be advised further regarding this matter.

Age limit for issue of Sri Lanka passport

Question: I am 41 years old. I want to get my Passport but I am confused about my age, whether I am over aged. Could you tell me please which country has age limit and explain it.

mvsamanta@yahoo.com

Answer: There is no age restriction to obtain a Sri Lanka passport as long as you are a citizen of Sri Lanka. Don't consider yourself over age at this prime age of 41 years. The Immigration office is in Punchi Borella and you have to collect an Application Form from them in order to apply for a passport.

You have to produce your Birth Certificate, your National Identity Card (NIC) and if you are a married female, your Marriage Certificate so that the passport can be issued in your married name. For any further clarification you can ring up Tel: No. 5329000.

You can apply for all countries passport. There is no age limit to visit any country but if you want to migrate there are age limits for different countries and also different limits for different category of migration.

Non receipt of Credit Card statement

Question: I hold a Credit card issued from a recognised bank and have been receiving my Statements of Accounts regularly. But, since August 22, I have not received any Statements of Accounts in spite of my several letters and telephone calls.

What further action can I take please? Can I stop payment until I get their official Statement of Accounts?

T.C. Badoordeen - Athurugiriya.

Answer: We understand from the bank concerned that they have sent you the November statement and you are a good customer according to them.

However, we note that the Bank has not been good to you. As long as there is a transaction (use of the Credit Card or settlement). The banks send monthly statement without fail.

If there is no transaction during the month then the bank does not send a statement. Could there have been a problem with the post or any change of address? However, non receipt of statement is no excuse for non payment.

If you stop payment you will be the looser as the bank will add on interest and late payment charge. As per the terms and conditions you would have received it is totally in favour of the bank.

Employees Trust Fund claim - Lot number 2007/39179 - dated 07.10.2007

Question: Recently, I became aware that I can claim my ETF contributions made during my previous employment.

So, I obtained a claim form from the ETF office in Colombo about two months ago. To complete my claim form, I visited the Sri Jayewrdenepura University (where I served as an Academic Staff Member during the 1975-1991 period), and obtained the relevant details and the approval from the University Registrar and handed over the duly completed claim forms to the ETF office at the Labour Secretariat at Narahenpita.

According to records, payments made by the Sri Jayewardenepura submitted to the ETF Office on October 7 2007, for which I was given a reference number termed as Lot Number 2007/39179.

A few days ago, when I rang the ETF office to find the situation of my claim, I was informed that I had collected my contributions on the 31st of December (or some day) during the year 1989.

In fact, she also suggested that I may have forgotten that I did so. This is surprising, since in 1989, I was still serving the Sri Jayewardeneprua University, and the University officials would not have entertained a claim from me, without which the ETF Office could not have processed my application.

Further, if I had been paid earlier as they claim, they would have issued a Cheque or sent a Cheque to my bank account, as they would not have settled this claim by paying cash. So it may not be that difficult for them to trace this payment, if they did so.

I resigned from the Sri Jayewardenepura University only in 1991 after being offered a post in a British University.

On my return to Sri Lanka, in 1996, I assumed duties as the Professor of Physics at the Sabaragamuwa University where I serve at present.

As such, I would appreciate very much, if you would kindly look into my details and if possible discuss with relevant officials at the ETF office and make the necessary arrangements for me to receive this claim at their earliest convenience.

Prof. I.K. Perera, Uva Campus, Buttala.

Answer: We are sorry for the delay in answering your question as we had to follow up your case with the ETF Department over several weeks. Now we are able to bring you the happy news that your matter/claim has been sorted out and you are entitled to Rs. 44,973/17.

You have to check if this amount is correct. Your papers are now with the Audit Branch as per standard procedure and your payment will be ready in a week or two.

You may now follow up for your Cheque. Our contact person at the ETF Office is Ms. Maureen Fernando (Tel. 2581704 Ext. 438) who was very helpful.

Our thanks to her for all her assistance.

*****

Send in your questions

"The Organisation of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka (OPA) will cover questions in all professions and subjects of common interest to the public in the "Daily News OPA at Your Service" page every Thursday. Please make your question brief.

Questions can be directed to the OPA on

e-mail: opaorg@dynanet.lk,
opa@sltnet.lk or
opasrilanka@gmail.com
Fax: 2559770 or write to the Professional Centre, 275/75, Prof. Stanley Wijesundera Mawatha, off Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7.

OPA open forum

The committee on Transparency and Accountability in use of Public Funds and Combating Fraud and Corruption (TAPF and CPC) will conduct an open forum titled "Fighting Corruption in Sri Lanka through an Intelligence Network".

By Ajith Rohana Colonne at the OPA Auditorium on January 7 at 6 p.m. OPA Centre members, members of Member Associations and the public are cordially invited.