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| Sunday, 28 April 2002 |
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Letters |  |
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Please forward your letters to [email protected] in plain text format within the e-mail message, since as a policy we do not open any attachments.
Got a comment to make? A thought, observation or experience to share? A response you can't resist.... Then Readers' Forum is the space for you. Send in your letters C/o Readers' Forum, 'Sunday Observer', Associated Newspapers Ceylon Ltd., No. 35, D.R. Wijewardene Mawatha, Colombo 10. You can also e-mail us on '[email protected]'. The letters are subject to editing and should include full name and address and signed by the author. All letters are subject to editing. Voting by conscience and secret ballot It is indeed a critical move for peace and prosperity if the proposal provision for voting in the Parliament, abiding by the conscience is implemented, especially in respect of the unsolved core national issues. This proposal was made by independent citizens earlier, but unfortunately it was not met with success. At the same time it is vital that the voting in the legislature be done by secret ballot. After all, MPs are elected by the secret ballot of the people. Therefore, if and when necessary, the same facility should be resorted to by MPs in the House to avert any difficulty arising out of open ballot. The protracted suffering of all communities has been mainly due to the intransigence of some parties, who have not adopted a humanistic approach. The conscience is the voice and command embedded by nature in all men and women to overcome the evils encountered in society. Accordingly, may there be the necessary empathy emanating from the ethnic communities, who are still uncompromising with their sectarian demands. D. KURUNERU, The encroachment of unlicensed commercial ventures into residential areas along the Biyagama Road has caused much inconvenience to residents. The area from Peliyagoda to the Kelaniya Temple Junction are the most affected. Several residents have complained to the National Environmental Authority and the Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha that unlicensed commercial ventures have encroached into residential areas causing environmental and noise pollution. Repair works along the main highway near Pilapitiya to Containers, Long and heavy vehicles etc., have caused a dangerous traffic congestion and hardships to elderly pedestrians and school children. The nuisance caused by these workshops using primitive tools for repair works creates an intolerable noise and disturbs the peace and tranquillity of the area. Discarded tyres and tubes lying in and around the premises have become a health hazard resulting several cases of dengue being detected from the area. Garbage remain uncleared. The Local Authority and the Urban Development Authority haved demarcated areas that prohibit commercial ventures in residential areas. Nevertheless unlicensed businesses still continue. The new Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha should re-activate the earlier complaints and fulfil its obligations and ensure a clean administration. CONCERNED RESIDENTS, Provide new bank branch office Government banks are institutions, that provide people with financial assistance (loans) and a place where people have to do their financial transactions. The common man depends on the banks for his financial problems and thus essential bank branch offices are situated in places, easily accessible to people. Due to the security situations in our country the people in the uncleared areas face severe hardships in their daily life. Close to 40,000 residents in villages such as, Kuruman Velly, Porathivu, Palugamam, Eruvil, Palayadivattai, etc. in the eastern province use the Bank of Ceylon, Kaluwanchikudy branch office, for their needs. These folks are farmers, and during cultivation and harvesting periods, they flock in hundreds to this small branch office for their transactions. Further more this branch office has been functioning in a private house since its inception. As there was not enough space to accommodate all customers inside the office, people stay outside the office for long hours. The efforts taken by the present government to promote peace and development in the country is commendable. We request the government to construct a new Bank of Ceylon branch office at Kaluwanchikudy, with necessary facilities to help the people and to solve their grievances in this regard. K. SOMASKANDAMOORTHY, Attempts to cripple the peace process There appears to be a coordinated, and well-orchestrated campaign to 'cripple' the ongoing and strenuous attempts by the Prime Minister (and others who have our country at heart) to bring about peace in our troubled land. Those responsible for this rabble-rousing foray must be given short shrift by the Government and maybe even indicted for treachery and treason, well before the real negotiations begin with the LTTE. All previous efforts to bring about a negotiated settlement were failures, again, because of these undesirable elements in our society. The fact, that people of this ilk have held sway causing mayhem and dissension throughout our history, is evident when reading any authoritative book be it Robert Knox's "Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon" or any factual fiction (using an oxymoron) written by scholars of repute, about the Kandyan Kingdom, the Kotte Dynasty or any other period. It is possible, that it is this flaw in our collective persona that prompted Bishop Reginald Heber (1783-1826) to comment: "What though the spicy breezes Blow soft o'er Ceylon's isle Though every prospect pleases And only man is vile:" It is necessary to understand the meaning of at least one expression on everyones' lips i.e. MoU (Memorandum of Understanding). This in fact, is merely a prelude or preamble, rather like an introduction to a discussion. The fact that there are signatories to a MoU is not an indication of its validity/legality in a court of law: it is in reality a set of guidelines and a framework rather than a legally binding document. It was in the past a business instrument used by multi-national corporations and commercial houses before acquisitions and mergers; in recent times it has been used by international facilitators like the Norwegians to settle similar disputes in other parts of the World. What is disheartening though to those who prepare these documents in great detail, is the fact that in the final analysis (more often than not) the negotiations fail at the Table. It should be our prayer however that the peace negotiations will be successful and that Sri Lanka and her citizens will once again be treated as men and women of culture as befits our ancient civilisation, by nationals of all countries that make up the Globe. It is the belief of a section of Sinhala nationalists (who take great pains to disabuse others that they are not racialists) that Prime Minister Mr. Wickremesinghe has given in to the Eelamists. It has also been suggested that he has been influenced by the Norwegians when giving his approval to the MoU. The fact that he has mentioned that there will be a Referendum and now as an additional measure of reassurance a broadbased parliamentary committee to ensure that the Sovereignty of the country is not jeopardised, however seemingly falls on deaf ears. It is ironical that the new saviours of the Sinhala race, are the JVP who were more sympathetic to the LTTE than even their most ardent supporter and camp followers, not so long ago. Their volte face is easily explained; they want power at any cost even of lives and institutions. Their philosophy and criminal activities in the early 70s and late 80s is nevertheless fresh in the minds of all middle aged responsible and respectable people in the country. It is unlikely that they would, despite their current rhetoric, change their policy and stance as they yet pay reverent homage to the founding father of this insurgent movement the late (un)lamented Wijeweera whose lifestyle was totally inconsistent with his ideology. The choice before the people today is therefore very simple, a cure or a festering sore. At this stage it is well to reflect on the words of Abraham Lincoln during his second inaugural address on 4th March 1865 where he said: "With malice towards none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in: to bind up the nations wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan, to all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations. B. J. KARUNATILEKA, Ward 59 at the National Hospital I wish to draw your attention to an extremely important issue regarding mental health in Sri Lanka, Ward 59 at the National Hospital, Colombo. I happened to be at the National Hospital, Colombo at Ward 59 with a patient. I am very sorry to say that there are only 10 beds for males and 10 for the females. It is really a pathetic situation regarding mentally sick people affected by depressions.This situation is very common in Sri Lanka now. So I feel that there should be at least a two storeyed building. I hope the Department of Health and other social service organisations can focus their attention on this subject as the poor patients have to wait for months in the so called waiting list. It is a great necessity to expand this place as soon as possible, as there are so many effected with depression and other mental illnesses. So I hope that this thought will be taken into proper consideration and given due thought by the authorities concerned. I feel that there should be separate wards for males and females. They should also have male staff for males and female staff for females. I am sorry to say that the person who is looking after the patient is not given at least a chair to sit near the bed! As you know it is a great burden to look after such patients. The staff at this Ward is doing an excellent service, which we all should appreciate. I would like to mention that even the nurses and attendants too should be given a proper training regarding the patients. I hope and pray that this letter will be an eye-opener for the authorities who are dealing with mental illnesses. MRS. J. SAMARASENA, Colonial powers and Christianity The Rev. Bishop Oswald Gomis in his article in the Sunday Observer of 31st March appears to take pride in telling readers that there was a Christian presence in Asia long before the arrival of western colonial powers and their missionaries. Anyway it is a difficult proposition to distance the Church from colonial powers who plundered and committed atrocities in the name of civilising the so called pagans. The Rev. Bishop refers to what happened in antiquity over 1500 years ago and what took place in those ancient times have no relevance today except for historians. What happened about 500 years ago is recent history. For example, the world knows what happened to the very ancient and peaceful civilizations inhabiting the huge landmass now known as North and South Americans. The inhabitants were called savages and pagans, their gold religious artifacts were plundered and driven to extinction. This at the hands of the rampaging western colonial powers without a word of protest from Christian theologians. this is recent history. The same fate befell to a greater or lesser degree to peoples in Africa, Australia, New Zealand to name a few countries. Harping on the facts of antiquity has not much relevance, but the manner of the spread of Christian faith during modern times is not a cause to be proud of. DE SILVA, Have people forgotten the past? Have people forgotten the brutal killings of the 'genocide-maniacs' of the 1980's? I most humbly appeal, to the younger generation, to ask their elders, as to how the innocent citizens suffered, at the hands of those blood-thirsty 'leeches' of the recent past. They took the law into their hands. They themselves were the judge and the jury. They passed the judgement, in a split second, and carried out the same in a split second, sometimes with their 'High Order' - "no decent funeral, but should be dragged to the grave." Many service personnel, high professionals, Buddhist Prelates and other civilians too paid the supreme sacrifice. They were all innocent citizens of Sri Lanka. By a single chit, they disrupted the essential services of the country. Such were the 'peoples saviours,' now clever 'street-actors.' What sacrifice have they done in this separatist-war? They want to drag it, not to end it. Has any of their breed, paid the supreme sacrifice? When the circumstances are such, do they deserve a single vote? People must learn lessons from the past. CITIZEN, After the introduction of Intercity Express Bus Services to various long distant towns, the accident rates have gone up. In my opinion it is solely due to inexperienced bus drivers who do not have much driving experience. Therefore I appeal to the authorities concerned to have rules drafted to qualify the drivers these Intercity Express and thus reduce road accidents too. ASOKA JAYAWEERA, On late P. de S. Kularatne - a reply I wish to draw your kind attention to the brief article(31.3.2002) referring to the birth date of the late Mr. P. de S. Kularatne, a prominent Buddhist Educationist, during and after the Colonial Era. There was no reference in the article to the contribution he made to Education at least through the numerous schools he served. That brief article is not a compliment to the readers of your much awaited and esteemed Newspaper and should be corrected. A FRIEND |
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