On track to the future

A front page news item in yesterday’s issue of the Daily News disclosed that more railway stations would be added between Polonnaruwa and Batticaloa and that the train service itself would be improved between these two key points.

This is a welcome move, especially in the context of the Government’s Eastern Resurgence programme and the Batticaloa Polls which will be held on March 10 to elect representatives to several local bodies including the Batticaloa Municipal Council. This will lead to the restoration of full civil administration in an area which had been suppressed by terrorism for a number of decades.

These two factors - rapid development and civil administration - will be an impetus for forging greater links between the Eastern populace and the rest of the country. One example is the creation of a larger market for Eastern agri produce.

Now that more paddy lands have been made available for Eastern farmers, it is only a matter of time before a bigger harvest is obtained from the region. And rail freight will be an ideal solution for transporting such rice stocks to Colombo and other cities.

In fact, we have not yet realised the potential of the railway for goods transport. A goods train can haul a far bigger payload than even the longest multi-wheeler land vehicle. It will also be far more cost effective.

Transport Minister Dallus Alahapperuma has translated words into action, bringing in a substantial number of power sets and carriages to improve the rail service, still the most affordable form of public transport.

The public would not certainly mind paying a few rupees extra for a faster, cleaner, more comfortable train service. There should be a strict maintenance programme for the new power sets and carriages to ensure that they are always in a prime condition to meet the expectations of the commuters.

Much has been written about electrifying Lanka’s rail system. The authorities must seriously consider the possibility of electrifying a few of the busiest routes. A subway system for Colombo and suburbs, which has already been proposed, will be a boon for travellers who now have to wriggle into jam-packed buses and trains at rush hours.

A computerised ticketing and reservation system for the train service is also essential. Sri Lanka should work closely with India on the proposed Trans Asian Rail Network, which will link 27 Asian countries. Just imagine embarking a train in Colombo and disembarking in Beijing. And if all goes well, it will be a reality by 2025. Railways can indeed be a harbinger of amity, locally and globally.

Ending piracy

The landmark Court ruling on the unauthorised production and sale of Mahagamasekara’s songs and the acclaimed film Sarungale on CD/VCD is a step in the right direction. The notion of Intellectual Property is still not ingrained in the collective conscience of the population and this judgment will serve as a reminder that those who openly violate existing intellectual property laws cannot go scot free.

Sri Lanka, along with Malaysia and China, has become a hotbed for piracy. The latest Hollywood and Bollywood movies are available on DVD for as little as Rs.120 on sidewalk stalls, which is a crime by any means.

Sinhala films and Sinhala MP3 CDs are also available at these illegal outlets. And if you think that such stores are confined to the pavements, just enter any shopping mall in the City and visit the DVD shops, where pirated copies go for as little as Rs.200 with plastic cover.

What is surprising is that Police are turning a blind eye to such blatant violations of copyright laws. Ironically, we have seen policemen themselves perusing these VCDs and DVDs rather appreciatively.

An original DVD costs anywhere between Rs.750 to Rs.2,000, which is plainly not affordable to the majority of the people. They cannot also afford satellite and cable channels, which show the latest films.

With theatre tickets costing more than Rs.100 each, that option is also out for most families. Thus there is a thriving market for illegal copies. This is where original content provide should step in to provide originals at lower, more affordable rates.

Customs and law enforcement authorities should maintain vigilance to intercept stocks of pirated DVDs and CDs entering the country. In a novel initiative, Malaysia has deployed so-called DVD dogs to catch DVD smugglers. Such steps, though seemingly extreme, should be taken to end the menace of piracy.

Sri Lanka has a raft of strong intellectual property laws which are rarely observed. The recent Court case proved that artists and copyright holders should take a pro-active stand on this issue. If they themselves let pirates have a field day at their expense, it is unlikely that law enforcement authorities will be keen to take action. Artists, copyright owners, original content producers/importers and law enforcement authorities must work together to stamp out the piracy of copyrighted material.