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Reference to the news item in the Daily News of January 11, all those
concerned with the Pension's Department website have to appreciate and
congratulate the staff of the Pension's Department headed by the role
model Director-General K. A. Thilakaratne for the very informative and
detailed website they have created to facilitate all pensioners - even
to the extent of providing a site map for those coming to Colombo to
transact their business in the Pension's Department.
This is another feather in the cap of the Director-General who has
gone a long way to clear the long awaited arrears of pensions of a large
number of senior citizens who have contributed for nation building over
a long period of time.
An appreciable feature of the website is that all the information is
given in all three languages which if followed by all other sections and
departments concerned, could make Sri Lanka an ideal country with peace
and harmony.
This gesture, though small can go a long way to foster national
unity. Having used the latest information technology to reach the people
is a highly commendable gesture.
V. Sivasubramaniam, Teacher (Pensioner)
The CEB is fleecing their customers' meter readers by issuing wrong
invoices very often, invoices are given for higher amount. When the
meter is checked, the number indicated in the invoice does not reflect
in the meters. A higher numbers of units consumed are indicated thus
charging the unsuspected consumers, who are paying more for electricity
not used.
Once the CEB is informed, the officials do not admit the faults or
take any pain to check with the meter and issue an amended invoice,
instead officers in the CEB office insist that the consumers first to
pay up the invoice and in some cases, the supply is disconnected causing
hardships to the innocent consumers.
The consumers have to pay re-connection charges too. But after
investigating the over charged the re-connection charges are not
refunded.
Even when such matters are reported to the area electrical engineer,
who is the authority in the office, no action is taken against those
responsible officers, and they are safeguarded.
The fleecing of consumers is undertaken jointly by the meter reader
and the officers at the area office.
The meter readers are monthly paid employees of certain consumers who
fleece the CEB, the power pirates. It is with the knowledge of the meter
reader, that the power pirates operate and the meter reader allegedly
accepts an amount from the power pirates monthly.
There are instances where the supplies of some places were
disconnected suddenly when the meter reader demands for an increase to
his monthly 'Santhosam' and if not increased, he would report that the
meter is intact and the CEB 'officials impose fines'.
There are several places where a large amount of electricity is
consumed and only a minimum amount is charged by the meter reader. The
meter reader gets the support from the officers at the area office,
without whose support he is unable to do this wrongful act.
The CEB should step into tackle the corrupt officials, who crow on
the street shouting slogans against the CEB's corruption to cover up
their misdeeds.
The CEB should call in the CID to investigate the wealth of the meter
readers, who indulge in corrupt practices. Not only the CEB meter
readers, it is the same in the case of Water Board Meter Readers.
They too indulge in corrupt practices. Their assets too should be
investigated. The CEB Chairman had stated he wants to increase the
electricity tariff to set off the losses in the CEB. It is unfair for
the CEB to increase the electricity charges.
Instead it should investigate and take action to stop corruption that
is taking place in the CEB. Any attempt by the CEB to increase the
electricity charges is an injustice meted out against the genuine
customers.
SENIOR CITIZEN, Colombo
Professor M. Sivasuriya (DN Jan. 3) believes that the tenets of
Buddhism and Hinduism recommend people to abstain from eating meat. It
is not a cut and dry ruling as he has made it out to be.
In a newsletter of April-June 1990 of the Buddhist Society of Western
Australia, Ven. Ajahn Brahmavamso quoting from the Book of the
Discipline, Vol. 4, p. 325 narrated the story of Gautama Buddha
clarifying the position on eating meat to the monks with a
pre-condition, he said: "Monks, I allow you fish and meat that are quite
pure in three respects: if they are not seen, heard or suspected to have
been killed on purpose for a monk. But, you should not knowingly make
use of meat killed on purpose for you."
In Hinduism, it is mentioned in Manu Smruti 5-30 (the law books of
the Hindus) "The eater who eats the flesh of those to be eaten does
nothing bad, even if he does it day after day; for God himself created
some to be eaten and some to be eater."
Again the next verse of Manu Smruti (5-31) says "Eating meat is right
for the sacrifice, this is traditionally known as a rule of the gods."
The greatest propagator of Hinduism, Swami Vivekanand agrees and said:
"You will be surprised to know that according to ancient Hindu rites and
rituals, a man cannot be a good Hindu who does not eat beef". (The
Complete Works of Swami Vivekanand, Vol-3, page 536) On page 174 Swami
says, "There was a time in India when a Brahmin could not be a Brahmin
if he did not eat beef."
When it comes to food, we are all part of the food chain and nothing
is wasted in this self-sustaining world. Even our dead body is finally
eaten away. Vegetarianism is a noble thought, but we cannot champion
high ideals without dealing with the inevitable reality of
less-than-ideal circumstances. Eventually, pragmatism always outweighs
idealism.
TUAN RIZA RASSOOL, USA
I have been appointed to the post of contract basis English teacher
in a difficult area school on 27.05.1997 through a competitive
examination held by the Zonal Education Office, Kalmunai.
The appointment was given to me by I. M. Issadeen, Zonal Director of
Education, Kalmunai. My appointment letter No: KM/GA/G/34 and I attached
to the Al-Munawwara Vidyalaya, Sinna Puthukkudiyiruppu, Pottuvil.
During that time, I got a lower salary and I couldn't manage my costs
with this amount. So, I didn't get my salary but continued in the duty
on a humanitarian basis and as social work. My attendance registers
available at the same school.
I possess all the relevant certificates and qualifications in
connection with the appointment and I mention them as follows;
1. Certificate in English from South Eastern University of Sri Lanka
2. Credit pass in English at the GCE O/L examination
3. Certificate in Advance Computer Application for management at the
Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA) Colombo.
4. Computer Diploma in Movimondo
5. Three-day training programme for the relevant field in Technical
College, Sammanthurai.
6. One day seminar for human rights and laws by National Youth
Service Council
7. I worked as a volunteer English teacher at the Maruthamunai
Al-Manar National College from January 1, 1995 till 1996.
Eventhough, I have more experience teaching English, I didn't receive
permanent appointment. Therefore, I am suffering from untold hardships.
Hence, I sent an appeal to the Ministry of Education of the Eastern
Provincial Council regarding my permanent appointment but I did not
receive any response from them. So, I visited the same Ministry and
asked them about my permanent appointment.
One of the officers told me that permanent appointments had been
given to the teachers who were continuously working for more than 180
days and got an allowance from their department for six months. It is
this reason why I was refused my appointment.
But there are instances of giving appointments for those who have
lesser qualifications than me.
I am interested in teaching English and also willing to work in any
part of the island. Therefore, I humbly request the relevant Ministry
and Department to consider my appeal and genuine grievances and provide
me a permanent appointment.
MOHAMED RIYAL
I wish to bring to the attention of President Rajapaksa the plight of
commuters and residents of Kandy due to the congestion caused by the
Katugastota bridge. During peak hours and school times, commuters spend
a minimum one hour crawling at snails pace due to the blocks caused by
the narrow bridge.
A normal trip of 20 minutes from Kandy to Katugastota can take
anything between 1 to 1.5 hours. Construction of a new bridge adjacent
to the old one commenced about three years ago but has come to a
standstill today.
Complaints to the relevant authorities do not seem to have any
effect, hence my appeal to the President to please look into the matter
and expedite construction of the new bridge.
ROSHAN DODANWELA, Kandy
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