|
I refer to the letter 'Waste but nobody cares' (DN of March 7) in
which the 'Wanton wastage of street light burning precious power' has
been very clearly published with pictures taken by that concerned
patriotic citizen.
I have been highlighting about this matter through all the English
dailies since early 1981, the first being to the Daily News on
18/04/1983 under the caption 'One switch for road lamps' when news items
appeared in regard to this wastage of electricity for which we the
tax-payers are directly or indirectly paying for.
In all my letters I suggested that the CMC need not depend on Street
Lamp-Lighters (SLL) in this electronically or technologically developed
era. But the CMC, that is being governed by the same set of
administration, never heeded in implementing those suggestions nor any
explanation published for the inability of putting them into practice.
To bring to light the recent 'don't care attitude' of the CMC, I
published a couple of urgent and important matters in the English
newspapers hoping that the CMC would take positive action on them.
But seeing them to be negative, I spent my time and money by sending
such paper cuttings to the Presidential Secretariat anticipating action
by the CMC.
Another letter sent to the CMC through the Minister of Local
Government was of same fate. The watchful President's decision to
appoint a competent authority to the CMC is most welcome.
One of my suggestions was to fix a main switch for the lamps of a
stretch of road or an area at the residence of a patriotic citizen, at a
commercial establishment, State institution, police station, religious
place or petrol shed, so that it could be switched on around 6 pm, and
off around 5 am or so without allowing the street lamp lighters to do it
at 4 p.m. and 10 a.m. respectively.
One could imagine the colossal wastage of several thousands of street
lamps burning in the city during unwanted hours or rather competing with
the sun both in the evening and the following morning.
Coming to the matter of SLL, most of them are not to be seen
attending to their duties while some others on rainy days are at home.
By this, because of the darkness the unmindful pedestrians have to fall
into either man-holes or any other openings on the roads that are left
unattended.
I have also been suggesting to remove all the unused, damaged and
dismantled vehicles lying on the road for a long period that hampers for
CMC scavengers to do their sweeping and cleaning of drains while being
an obstacle for the motorists and other road users too.
It is an undeniable fact that most of the officers of various
departments in the CMC are a 'scared lot' to the employee for different
reason and hence no proper administration.
Having being disgusted with no action at all for anything by the CMC
even in the past, I also suggested in the Daily Observer of 29/01/1986
under caption 'Appoint more CMC Commissioners' that three Assistant
Commissioners be appointed each one to handle five zones and the
Commissioner to be designated as Commissioner General to make the city
danger-free, disease-free, clean and beautiful. But who cares?
Last but not least, your editorial on the same day March 7 under the
caption 'City Father' is timely, effective and should be an eye opener
to all those who are connected to the CMC affairs and the information
that the 'President was scheduled to have a meeting to decide the fate
of the Council' gives us a great solace.
NAZLY CASSIM, Colombo 13
The Cost of Living is a burning problem for the majority of the
people in the world. But no Government can bring down the Cost of Living
as the people expect.
Only the individuals and family units can cushion their CoL if they
really wanted. It's something the people should be addressed. Cut down
your expenses individually or as a family. Then the CoL will not be a
grave problem.
For instance, in this country there are well over eight million cell
phones in use. In some families the father, mother and three school
going children all have cell phones, in addition to their landsets.
The monthly bills come to well over Rs. 10,000. If they take this
seriously I suppose they can save at least Rs. 8,000 per month.
Children don't go to the nearest schools though they have all the
facilities, but to some school situated 20 or 30 miles away. The private
vans monthly charges go beyond Rs. 4000 each.
If the children are admitted to a closer school, the travelling
expenses would be less. Then come to the tuition mania some children
need tuition in Maths or English. But the parents send their children
for tuition for all subjects. If tuition can do wonders, why is the O/L
and A/L results not been a 100 per cent success over the years?
Tuition is not what they need but supervision and guidance which the
parents could do at home from tuition expenses. One can save three to
four thousand rupees if you use your brain than to go by others. Next
come to home gardening.
This too, if done in a systematic way can save a few points of the
CoL. Then come to food habits. If you change them to suit your
environment then you can save some money too. With all these one family
can save well over Rs. 25,000 on unnecessarily spending.
Why not ponder over this?
D.M.P.B. Dissanayake Kegalle
It is our duty in a country with a rich cultural heritage, to perform
religious ceremonies to invoke blessings, to our soldiers, our
President, and all those who are making an untiring effort to bring
peace to our country.
The whole crew of Batti the tele-drama, currently shown on ITN, along
with a few well-wishers, recently went to the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy,
to perform religious rites.
Seth Pirith was chanted at the Bo Maluwa and Pujas were offered at
the Dalada Maligawa. It was indeed a night to remember as 2,000 Pahans
were lit by the whole crew which brought a glow of light and as preached
by the Buddha, should bring peace to our Motherland.
Undoubtedly, this is the first time a Pinkama of this stature was
performed by any artist to invoke blessings to the country at the Dalada
Maligawa. Actor Roger Seneviratne has done much merit by organising this
ceremony, and making it a reality.
May the merit thus acquired, bring peace to our Motherland.
Anandi Kulatilleke, Mt. Lavinia
The Cabinet had taken a decision as far back in April 2006 to issue
railway warrants to senior citizens over 60 years in the same manner as
ordinary railway warrants are issued to Government pensioners by the
Divisional Secretaries.
However the authorities concerned viz. Ministry of Social Services
and Social Welfare, National Secretariat for Elders, Ministry of
Transport/Sri Lanka Railways have not implemented the above decision by
issuing instructions to the Divisional Secretaries on the procedure to
be followed by Senior Citizens in obtaining the above facility.
Hence, Senior Citizens who are not Government pensioners are unable
to avail of this concession.
I wish to request the relevant authorities to issue necessary
instructions in this regard to the Divisional Secretaries and also a
notice is published in the newspapers of this facility for the
information of the Senior citizens concerned.
H.W. GOONESEKERA, Panadura
Beggars and garbage together with mosquitoes are the 'Trade Marks' of
Sri Lanka. For mosquitoes, there are the anti-malaria and anti-filariasis
campaigns, housed in huge buildings (money is spent only on buildings,
but not on work for eradication).
For garbage, there are the Municipal Councils.
Here also, money is spent on buildings but no proper plan or work is
done to keep areas clean.
It is indeed a pathetic situation - this is mismanagement of monies.
L. DE SILVA
|
