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The residents of Molpe warmly appreciate the action taken by the
Mayor of Moratuwa Samanlal Fernando for the steps taken for stopping the
piling of garbage in a highly residential area.
This piling took place for years and the residents clamoured for a
resolution but to no avail. It’s not the residents who put the garbage
but the outsiders. They bring garbage in van loads and in cars and dump
it. It became a real health hazard and small children were the victims.
This was brought to the notice of the Mayor Samanlal Fernando who
took prompt action.
Residents also thank the area Public Health Inspector Kosala
Munasinghe for his cooperation towards this matter.
DILWIN MENDIS -
Molpe, Moratuwa
As reported in the newspapers the Supreme Court has ordered that
loudspeakers cannot be used between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. without an order
from the courts and that too only for special religious or national
occasions.
Police Headquarters also has sent out a very comprehensive circular
to all Police Stations setting out the procedure to issue permits for
the use of loudspeakers, which briefly is as follows:
1. The applicant must inform the MO branch of the Police of his
desire to use loudspeakers indicating the place, date and time, well in
advance of the date.
2. The Police is to ascertain from the people in the surrounding area
of the place at which the loudspeakers are to be used, if anyone has an
objection to same, and if so why?
3. The permit is to be issued only if the people in the area are not
objecting.
This is no doubt a very good arrangement. In other words to use a
loudspeaker between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. a court order is required and at
other times, a Police permit is required for each and every occasion it
is used for which the Police has laid down certain conditions.
Recently, I made a statement to the Police at 11 p.m. about the use
of loudspeakers in a nearby temple in violation of the court order.
However, the loudspeakers were on till morning.
This happens only in places where loudspeakers are permanently fitted
to a high post or building and the microphone and amplifier is in the
premises. It is obvious that neither a court order nor a Police permit
is obtained to operate the loudspeakers.
All that need to be done is to switch it on and use it. This can be
done at anytime in the day or night. If this is done, it will be a
violation of the law and more so if it is between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. it
is a contempt of court.
The permanently fixed loudspeaker equipment should be banned and
everyone should apply for the permit for each and every occasion the
loudspeakers are to be used, otherwise a person who would wish to use
loudspeakers for an occasion and does not possess his own equipment is
at a disadvantage.
Since he will have to follow the procedure to conform to the rules
and regulations, while those who have permanently fixed equipment will
not only circumvent such regulations but can also become a nuisance to
the neighbourhood.
ROHANA SOYSA –
Panadura
There are thousands of Sri Lankan expatriates working abroad who
badly miss the opportunity to watch a good Sri Lankan TV channel.
Expatriates of many other countries have a number of channels from
their home countries to watch over Satellite television.
The Government should step in and make the two State owned TV
channels Rupavahini and ITN available free to air on Satellite TV
throughout the world.
It will strengthen the connection to the home country for Sri Lankans
abroad and also give the opportunity to keep them informed of events
back home. It will also help to counter the misinformation campaign of
separatists and give the correct situation in the country to the world.
K. E. –
UK
I fully endorse Gamini Ranjit’s view (DN Jan. 19) that we should aim
to reduce our reliance on foreign aid, but I disagree with his
impression that foreign aid is akin to a form of charity with strings
attached.
I still remember Henry Kissinger on a visit to Bangladesh during the
Nixon era, on a promotional tour on the back of a huge grain aid to them
after floods had destroyed their crops.
Kissinger was already on the airport tarmac when he was summoned to
return to the USA and the aid to Bangladesh was also immediately
rescinded.
The reason? Bangladesh had the courage to vote against the USA in a
vote in the UN on another Arab/Israeli conflict. Bangladesh paid a heavy
price for their courage but I was proud they held onto their dignity.
By the same token recently in the UN President Mahinda Rajapaksa
voted against the West on several issues, including Palestine, Pakistan
and Iran. I do not agree with some of them but I have the greatest
admiration for his courage, given that, as claimed by Gamini Ranjit, we
have come to depend on the aid from the West as a source of regular
income.
Thankfully the West has come a long way from the Nixon era and I
doubt very much they will penalise Sri Lanka. We contribute
comparatively nothing to effect climate change, yet destined to suffer
the consequences alongside those in the West who have been polluting the
atmosphere for hundreds of years.
SHAIK ANWAR AHAMATH
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