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I fully agreed with the views expressed by the writer Dr. Leo A.
Fernando on the above subject in the Daily News of 4th instant.
Calculating the rates by NWS&DB for over 20 unites is very unfair. In
this regard, I wrote a letter to the NWS&DB Galle Office on May 15,
2007.
The reply I got was if over 20 units consumed, then the rates
calculated from units 15.
My case is this. For the month of 7.3.2007 to 5.4.2007 for 22 units
the bill was Rs. 285. But for the earlier month for units 21 the bill
was Rs. 112.75. In this way, the calculation is not for the benefit of
the customer but for the benefit of the Board.
In the old days, we can remember that the water was given
free-of-charge and in towns every junction there were water taps for the
benefit of the people. But the consumer of water is now very unfairly
taken for a ride.
Unit rates over 20 should be calculated from unit 21 as suggested by
the writer.
P. L. SOMASIRI - Galle
Even with neutral umpires, the questionable and shocking decisions
still seem to continue all over the world. The ICC then seems to remove
the umpires from the elite panel for their mistake. This has not solved
the problem but only added more pressure on the umpires. I refer to the
Australian home games over the past three years.
The shocking decisions seem to have favoured the Australian team
regardless of who the opposition is and it is not that the Australian
team needs this.
Australia is the best team in the world. It is now time release the
pressure on the umpires by providing each team with three or four
referral opportunities in each innings to have their unsatisfactory
decision referred to the TV umpire.
This will provide the right balance as the opposing captains will not
request every decision to be referred but the most certain.
Batsmen too can request for a TV replay if they are certain they are
not out. (e.g. Kumar Sangakkara being given out on 195 and the umpire
later saying sorry could have been prevented and a great moment enjoyed
by millions of cricket fans all over the world is a very good example)
The fielding side too does not have to abuse the batsman for not
walking when the umpire has got it wrong and given the batsman not out.
The fielding captain has the opportunity to utilise one of the three
or four-referral opportunities at his disposal.
This will not cause time to be lost in the game, as all teams will
want to preserve allocated referrals for decisions that are really
certain to have been wrong.
DUDLEY SENEVIRATNE – Australia
There has been a rapid increase in crime in Sri Lanka. Law and order
have deteriorated to such abysmal depths, that criminals are having a
field day. This is now a lucrative profession and most of the criminals
get off scot-free and lead affluent lives.
Abduction of children: There were two instances of abduction of
children from the Kalubowila hospital. The first, Ape Baba about one
year ago and found recently. The other a day old infant a few days back
and found by the police. In this instance, three hospital employees have
connived. The security in the hospital should be strengthened to prevent
such abductions.
Rape: Rape is a frequent occurrence with a large percentage of
females employed. They are vulnerable and at considerable risk and
harassment from perverts. There were some instances of rape followed by
murder.
Recently an Advanced Level student was raped and killed when
returning home from school on a lonely road. A young girl, employed in a
factory went to Negombo hospital for treatment. She was raped and killed
by a medical officer an internee.
A fair percentage do not complain of such offences, because of the
social stigma for the rest of her life. Some others refrain from
complaining, because they do not want to face the ordeal of a protracted
trial, cross-examination by the defence and undue publicity.
Up to the early1980s, those found guilty of rape were given both a
term of imprisonment and corporal punishment to be carried out in the
prison. I have supervised such corporal punishments.
Gang robberies: Gang robberies which were isolated incidents in the
past are a common feature in the country today. According to the police,
there are a fair number of gangs operating in Colombo and the suburbs.
Business establishments, jewellery shops, pawn shops, cigarette vans
and transporting monies for payment of salaries are the normal victims
of these criminals.
Drugs: Pedalling drugs is the most lucrative trade in the country and
those involved live in mansions and get about in plush limousines. This
has become a canker in society, ruining individuals, families and the
country. Some of them have political patronage.
Army deserters: Before the ethnic conflict, all those recruited to
the Police, Army, Navy and Air Force were checked by the police in
regard to their conduct and family background. A deserter was swiftly
rounded up, brought before a Court Martial and sentenced to prison. Now
some deserters leave with their weapons.
Thousands of deserters are at large, with training in sophisticated
weapons, with no prospect of suitable employment.
They resort to crime to attend to their needs and families as well.
With the involvement of army deserters in criminal activities, it is
observed that the Island Reconvicted Criminal is in a parlous state.
They have no jobs to keep the house fires burning.
I would like to make the following suggestions:
1. A Presidential Task Force consisting of suitable eminent persons
and implement strategies to mobilise the assistance of the judiciary,
the Police and Prisons and Non Governmental Agencies, to formulate the
policies of the Task Force to combat crime.
2. There should not be political interference in respect of
responsibilities and duties of the police. As the IGP recently stated,
police should take action against the sharks and not the sprats.
3. The Government should take suitable action to prevent politicians
from patronising and protecting criminals.
4. The judiciary should dispose of cases swiftly. Recently the
Attorney General has suggested to dispense with non summary proceedings
in the Magistrate’s Court. Similar steps should be taken for quicker
disposal of cases, resulting in a large percentage of convictions.
5. The problem of Army deserters should be solved. Either they should
be absorbed to the Army or action taken to rehabilitate them.
6. Drug addicts should be sent to Drug Rehabilitation Centres for
treatment and not to prisons.
Law and order in a country is a sine qua non for economic prosperity.
When Lee Quan Yew became Prime Minister in the middle of 1960s, the
first thing he did was to promulgate the Temporary Criminal Law
Provisions Act and clamped down the secret societies and their criminal
activities and then developed the economy of the country.
We should follow suit. Sri Lanka should not be called the Chicago of
the East.
EDITHER PERERA - Retired Superintendent of
Prisons
I read the reply sent by one Divakara dated January 4 with so much of
interest for a letter sent by one Sirima of Borelasgamuwa on the above
topic.
I thought that I should voice my opinion too, on this very
interesting topic, specially because I am also a woman. Firstly I should
ask Sirima whether she is really a woman for condoning violence against
women or whether she is out of her mind.
Because being a woman, I cannot understand why she is approving
violence on women. Even though in the Old Testaments, it justifies the
ill-treating of women, when it comes to New Testament and during Jesus’
time, Jesus treated men and women equally.
When a woman was caught and brought before Jesus, claiming that she
has committed adultery, Jesus told the crowd, if there is anyone who has
not done any sin, to throw the first stone and then the crowd went away
leaving the woman with Jesus. Jesus treated the woman well, pardoned her
sins without condemning her.
Everyone is equal under God’s eyes, that is what the New Testament
says.
PRANEETHA PERERA – Moratuwa
While fully agreeing with the views expressed on re-introduction of
Blue Book for Government employees by Lionel Leanage of Ambalangoda on
December 22, I would like to add that in the presence modern techniques,
gathering and presenting of data should not be confined to the mere book
form.
Blue Book information should be in a Blue CD consisting with voice,
moving pictures, handwritings, achievements, hobbies, personal views and
other relevant data which will be useful to the public.
It should take the form of an interesting interview before a movie
camera. The use of CDs and DVDs should not be confined to entertainment
only. Recording of modern living history too can benefit by new
techniques.
CHANDRASEKARA - Etul Kotte
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