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It is very disappointing that the name of our capital city is
projected outside Sri Lanka as a Western name bonded to colonialism. It
is not surprising the colonial masters adjusted the simple Sinhala name
to Colombo to suit their tongue which we all seem to carry on in
apparent ignorance.
In stark contrast to the majority of the mass of the country who call
the Capital in its true Sinhala rhyme Kolomba, internationally it is
called Colombo as of having an Italian connection. It is pathetic to
note that we ourselves in Sri Lanka call it as Colombo whenever we
switch to English, be it in speech or writing.
Nobody outside Sri Lanka knows the Sinhala origin of the capital’s
name but does assume that it is related to the country’s colonial past.
I have met many a person outside Sri Lanka who thought that we were
under the Italians as to the reason why our Capital is named as Colombo.
Colombo is a popular Italian name and there are towns and airports in
Italy and elsewhere bearing the name Colombo. There is the popular
Colombo detective series we all like.
It is also not helpful at all that a country that is notorius for
violence and drug trafficking, Colombia rhymes close to Colombo. When
violence is mentioned in the international media, it may take more than
a while for somebody to clarify/digest whether it is in Colombia or
Colombo. Many may misunderstand the violent news as coming from Colombo
especially in the current context.
Many other countries have had the problem of colonial names in the
past but have shed them away rightly with their progress and we should
not look beyond our close neighbours, India in this respect who replaced
Western names like Madras, Bombay, Calcutta with Tamil Nadu, Mumbai and
Kolkata respectively.
It is high time our leaders albeit belatedly come to understand this
great wrong to our country and take immediate measures to get rid of a
last vestige of colonialism. We Sri Lankans should be ever grateful to
Mrs. Bandaranaike for getting rid of the name Ceylon that called our
country in the past. It may come as another feather in the cap for the
present Government if they rectify this national issue.
I request earnestly the President Rajapaksa and the other national
leaders to rename Colombo with a true Sri Lankan name which could be
pronounced easily as soon as possible.
NIHAL JAYASURIYA – UK
Recently the supermarkets have got together and said that they have
stopped giving shopping bags for goods purchased from them, and
customers should bring there own bags or they will charge for the bags.
I think this is the first time in any part of the world that any
business establishment has done things like this.
It is very unfair by them to do so. They should remember that they
are doing business and not giving a free service. If they are so keen
about environmental hazards, why are they selling the bags. They can
have alternate arrangements by way of respecting their customers.
One supermarket had claimed that they need 3.5 million bags per
month. But with the present method now they save over 2.5 million rupees
which brings them additional profits and by asking customers to buy the
bags they make profit again by selling the bags at higher prices.
This is mainly an eyewash to make profits and not because they are
concerned over the environment.
This method is completely wrong and as a customer I strongly ask them
to make immediate arrangements to issue paper bags or any other
alternative and not to put the customers into any inconveniences and I
would like the Consumer Protection Authorities to look into this matter
and advise them.
If they do not bring any solution to this matter I think we, as
customers should not go there for any purchases. The items what they
have are freely available anywhere and we as customers have all the
right to demand for a proper packing for the goods we have purchased
from them. If by any chance a small time shop keeper had charged from
the customer for a bag for purchase of a milk powder packet, I think the
price control would have charged him for selling at a higher price. Here
no one is taking any action because they are big time shops.
ROSHANALI HASSANALI – Dehiwala
Making the Mahinda Chinthanaya Programme of the President a reality
in main townships and densely populated areas, with the intent to reduce
traffic congestion, late Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle’s introduction
of Steel Flyover bridges to this country is historic.
Following the opening of the first stage of Kelaniya Flyover late
Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle said similar flyovers will be constructed
in the near future.
The late Minister stated during his speech on that day two more
similar flyovers will be constructed immediately one on Galle Road at
Panadura and one on Negombo Road at Hendala Junction near Nilmini
Cinema.
These locations are selected by experienced RDA engineers after a
careful study of the road network and the traffic flow.
Colombo-Negombo Road is used daily by the public and main junction
crossings at Hendala, Mahabage, Kandana and Ja-ela caused much
inconvenienced over the years.
One who wishes to travel to the Katunayake Airport will know how long
it takes to reach the destination even during holidays due to heavy
traffic. Would be passengers are advised by their airlines to keep extra
hours whilst travelling along the Katunayake Airport Road.
Having seen and experienced the long traffic delays and loss of time
Minister Fernandopulle decided to introduce this Flyover project at
Hendala junction.
We earnestly request acting the Minister of Highways and Road
Development not to change the priorities but to give prominence to this
vital project.
M. TISSERA – Kandana
At the height of the anti-capitalism drive the 1st class in the
railways was abolished, except for the Observation saloon.
I think it is time that Minister Dallas Alahapperuma reintroduce the
1st Class and combine the present 2nd and 3rd Classes to a new Economy
class with a suitable adjustment of the fares, so that there will be
only two classes like in the Airlines and encourage the tourists to
travel 1st class in comfortable airconditioned coaches.
This can be done at the present time as the introduction of new
coaches and rehabilitation of the tracks and stations are on the cards.
Upali Thenuwara Boralesgamuwa
Sports is meant to be a healthy activity, teaching the participants
diligence, training, will power and team work, while improving one’s
health.
However it is a pity it has been corrupted to be so commercialised
that money spinning, cheating and selfish activity are the norms; where
the middle men make dirty money while the players are made to sell their
own team, their own country and even their own citizenship for money.
What’s the use of so much money if you cannot enjoy them with your
loved ones and the countrymen - I can never understand how these
cheaters lose the true meaning of sports, some at the zenith of their
career.
All these happens at this 21st century where the man is supposed to
be so advanced in intelligence. Now to add to this we have the decadence
of sexing sports phenomenon.
(Weekend newspaper, August 24).
There is a move to change the dress of the women to bring more
interest to the game.
In other words, the interest is not in the game, rather watching the
women’s body through tight fitting clothes and exposing the legs.
Not that it is new.
Look at all the women who are participating. Many are in their
bikinis’. As if one cannot run faster if you are dressed decently. This
is while the men are fairly decently dressed with loose longer shorts.
If men can run with them why not the women?
We are not animals. We call ourselves human beings. We are supposed
to have intelligence, shame, self respect and decency. What is happening
to our generation? Where is all the so called knowledge taking us? We
are becoming more and more like the animals, instead of rising to become
decent higher beings.
We are being led by a few decadent men and following suit without
giving it a second thought.
The wise men and women, the intelligent ones, just look on without a
hum of protest, just letting the vice get worse and worse.
Where will all these end?
DR. MAREENA THAHA REFFAI – Dehiwela
Of all the exposured detections done in the past 2-3 decades by the
many inspectorates, as arms of our various Government and municipal
authorities on the consumer and grocery fronts, the attempted racket of
surreptitiously introducing ‘nongu,’ the similar looking succulent
fleshy pulp onto the exotic lobster dishes served in the bigger hotels
was noteworthy in the detection.
Here’s more of the good work done over the years by the smart
inspectors:
a) The well-known ‘feather touch’ manipulation of the many sales
(beef) ceasing
b) Pure tea packets minus fluff
c) Chillie, salt, gram minus fine seasand/sauces minus pumpkin pith
d) Correct weighted sugar, spice, coffee etc. satchels
e) Aereated waters (bottles) changing sizes conveniently to
equate/balance price adjustments now controlled.
f) Dilution and adulteration with freely available water and if need
be some dubious mixtures on liquid/semi-liquid products such as bees
honey, ghee squash and cordials and of course liquors kept under regular
control.
How about the negative side. Why the ‘blind eye’ and total
indifference on the uninterrupted supply of the nefarious carbide
processed fruits to all our Colombo and suburban markets are not
understood? The fruits are unnatural and putrid and insipid to the taste
especially the papaw fruits with its inside in jaundiced colours
moonscaped in fungus ‘crest’.
How about the health hazards?
Behind the scenes fat of the land: gentry found in all walks and
levels of our Sri Lanka scenario and society seem to be in control of
the fruit monopoly, mafia style possibly.
The collections are done from wayside village out-lets in lots at
‘sweet’ prices (sic!) to be disposed profitably at fancy prices and that
too mind you by the fruit (unit) to us the always burdened citizenry.
When are we ever going to taste the once pristine delicious mouth
watering famed fruits of the tropics exclusively blessed with that
God-given juxtapose of the ‘sweet and sour’ blend?
W. MEADOWS – Dehiwala
I was quite pleased to hear that almost all the stray dogs in Colombo
were caught and kept in a place till the SAARC Summit was over - to
avoid the unpleasant movement of stray dogs.
Even in other cities like Kandy, the menace of stray dogs is looming
large, causing nuisance to all the people moving about in the town.
Let the Municipal Authorities catch the dogs and put them in an
enclosure to be given to those who need the watchdogs.
Though killing of the stray dogs seems to be against the religion,
yet an alternative should be done to put an end to the stray dogs’
menace.
A dog bite is very dangerous to all and therefore, let the Municipal
Authorities take some drastic measures to end this menace.
M.Y.M. Meeadh – Kandy
I wish to mention that devils do not haunt the cemeteries, but we
find living devils prowling the roads and streets of our land.
These sadistic inhuman vultures definitely need punishment such as
public canning or face the death penalty.
We commonly hear and read about rape which is increasing. The
newspaper headlines we daily read are as follows.
Neighbour allegedly rapes widow, grandfather allegedly rapes
granddaughter, father rapes daughter, uncle rapes niece, Trishaw driver
rapes schoolgirl, tutor rapes student etc.This has become a very common
inhuman act, which goes unnoticed due to our stupidness and sheer
ignorance of the leniency of the law in our land.
The victims mostly are murdered and thrown or ditched to the jungles,
streams, rivers or beside the road.
The death sentence was halted in 1977 and it has been 31 years.
Since then the crime rate has reached zenith point.
The human rights organisations make a big hue and cry when the death
sentence was in force, what have they to say about the loss of lives and
the trauma the victims and their kith and kin have to face and undergo.
It is high time that the President enforces the death penalty, as too
many innocent lives are lost daily due to these inhuman devils.
I would like to conclude by mentioning let us not mix religion,
politics and the law of our land, as no religion permits these inhuman
acts taking place except in the forest or the jungles where human
habitat is not in presence.
Li Kuang Shu – Kandy
I mention this through experience and sans any prejudice; say ten
years ago it was the other way about.
I could call both State Banks in Borella, they are so customer
friendly. There are two private banks (facing each other). I spoke with
the lady manager (not there now) of one in order to open a current A/C.
I was not even offered a seat but rejected while standing as she said
that I don’t run a ‘business’. I complained to the big boss who wrote
back, kindly. I am a shareholder too.
The other bank where I hold an account; I once inquired my balance on
phone to which they had deducted Rs. 5. Now the lines remain engaged
from 8.55 a.m.
I therefore called Head office as they are on-line, to get my
balance, the lady put me on hold for four minutes and cut the call.
I have complained. They are making millions or more annually and this
is the poor service they render.
Let me thank these State Bank officials who work tirelessly, They are
even deprived of a pension which they highly deserve.
H.W. Colombo 9
Ours is an agricultural country, hence the above should be given
priority making our economy stable. To make the above a reality, all
tanks which are presently abandoned should be identified and renovated
to meet the above requirement.
Many such tanks are available on some plantations as well, some of
which are allowed to remain dry, which is surprising, as water is a
source that goes together with cultivation.
Accordingly, I suggest that all local authorities conduct a survey to
ascertain this position, thereby taking necessary action to give life to
those valuable resources, by providing necessary assistance where
necessary for the implementation of same.
This exercise would encourage the Government’s food drive, for which
the above is a must, where the above commodity is freely available in
abundance during the two monsoons provided adequate tanks are available
for the accommodation of same. With the change of weather patterns,
water would become a very precious commodity in the future, that needs
harvesting when available, to be used when necessary.
Similar to the filling of paddy fields for other purposes, retaining
dry tanks should also be prohibited, if our country is to be developed,
because a vision without a proper mission would not bear fruit, similar
to the ones introduced in the past.
TOMMY WANIGESINGHE Kurunegala
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