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| Sunday, 16 June 2002 |
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Letters |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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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.
The government publications bureau The bureau serves as the source from which all government publications could be purchased or be available for reference. The Bureau could also serve as an archived for official government documents and all other government publications and in Colombo in this day and age, an air-conditioned atmosphere seems to be a must if "preservation" is needed. Certain types of paper and manuscripts would need more care than others. Having had to visit the Bureau more than once, my concerned observation is that a big all-round improvement is necessary. Everything about the building is what it should not be and should certainly remind one of what possibly was a slightly improved air-raid shelter of 60 years ago. There is a dusty and musty odour probably emanating through nature's method of getting rid of 'undrained' precipitation. The furniture is half broken, books, papers, publications are stacked and strewn all over the floor, the surrounding are neglected and badly need a thorough clean up. With the disorganization evident, I don't think any librarian-ship is possible in the true sense of the word. The bosses do not seem to understand basic housekeeping nor are they providing adequate facilities to run and establishment of this importance in a fit manner. Several major adjustments and 'streamlining' will help the public in their wants and needs, and they will then be in a better position to be helped with the mattes for which they come to the Bureau. I came across an energetic (Public Servant) who stood out like a beacon in the mucky sea of public service. This servant is designated storekeeper, and we understand has his first in law from London but joined government Service in deference to his father's wishes. His efficiency is such that he can quote chapter and verse from almost every government publication. We reliably understand that the Evidence Ordinance has become a document 're-shaped' through his own initiative. He can quote much more in the same manner - various acts of Parliament, amendments with dates, gazette notifications - anything important concerning the material in his charge. He deals with several customers simultaneously and is cordial and friendly - he is an amazing individual and his qualities, talent and style have 'touched' his staff as it appeared to me. Hopefully, may this note serve as a tribute to this highly efficient, exemplary, public spirited public servant and hope that his employer, will also recognize his talent, help him to advance personally and seriously consider incentives such as promotions, pay increases, scholarships, etc., as a reward for his outstanding contribution to the Bureau. The example he displays, if emulated even by a few key public servants would change the whole nature of the administration in the country as far as the Public is concerned. M.G.H. Fernandopulle- Nugegoda
A new levy has been introduced by the Employees' Trust Fund (ETF) Board to the effect that if an employee wants to get his ETF contributions refunded within 14 days from the date of application, he must pay Rs. 1,000 to the Board just to expedite matters. What an absurd decision for a labour organisation such as the ETF to make taxing the poor worker who had served for many years, when it comes to refund his dues after retirement? Why is this practice not implemented by the Pensions Department? Why should a worker, who had retired from service or has left the service, pay Rs. 1,000 to get a refund of his ETF contributions expedited, having invested his money in the Trust Fund as provided by law? Is it not an indirect form of gratification not amounting to bribery? Even a poor man, keen in getting his money early, will not hesitate to pay Rs. 1,000, but is it proper for a statutory organisation to insist on so? I think, in fairness to employees, the ETF Board must be more reasonable in arriving at such decisions. Needless to say that the fault is the Board's inability in promoting expeditious transaction of business, by not allowing lethargy to dominate among the staff. Heads of Departments should use their executive powers, shoulder their responsibilities and get their subordinates to do their work, without any room for complaint, or confine themselves to red-tape. Public should not be harassed by merely shunting them from pillar to post. If applications for refund of ETF contributions are hand-led expeditiously, there cannot be any delay in refunding the money. The wonder is how Rs. 1,000 can perform the miracle of avoiding delays. Whether the levy is made or not, the money has to be refunded. So, why the delay? The imposition of the levy only results in some files gathering dust unless divine providence comes to the rescue. Let the management, in the sense of egalitarianism, take into heart, and refund the ETF contributions without undue delay, without insisting on a 'gratis', and without discrimination between the able and the unable. Aryadasa Ratnasinghe- Mattegoda
Recently I came across an advertisement inserted by a leading fashion company in a Sri Lankan English medium magazine. This advertisement which meant to advertise a fashion company, depicted a picture of a beautiful woman seated along with a cigarette between her lips. It was strange and ridicule that it did not promote fashion of that particular company, but it advertised cigarettes! Throughout this country cigarette promotions are being done in the form of life styles. The most deceptive kind of strategy is to creep through cigarette advertisements along with glamour and cool life styles. I am not sure as to many of the people in this country know about it. Tobacco industry continually associates smoking with other attractive and pleasurable things in this world such as, clothes, perfumes, sex, music, etc. The reason behind this is tobacco itself is not a pleasurable thing. To circumvent the situation, without the knowledge of those who market other products, they surreptitiously do product placements. Unknowingly or knowingly they have given free publicity and popularity to a product which is unpleasant smelling, looks people older than they are, makes people impotent etc. The sight of this particular advertisement recollected me of a crafty campaign, which is being launched in Sri Lanka by the tobacco company to induce Sri Lankan women to smoking. The method through which the women in United States had been induced to smoking is similar to the one this fashion company has followed. I think it will be beneficial for everybody to learn that in developed countries rates of smoking are declining and that people in developed countries have launched massive campaigns to reduce the consumption of cigarettes. The reason behind them is not only death due to smoking, but also that it deprives one's beauty. I have my doubts as to cigarette had become a part of promoting lifestyle, when the most important thing in lifestyle being beauty is destroyed through smoking, although it is not so in the other parts of the world. People in developed countries believe that those who smoke do not decide to do so independently, but on exaggerated industry promotions. My friends and I wondered if this particular company had been entrusted with the assignment of influencing the Sri Lankan women to smoke as it had happened in the United States. Still I believe that this fashion company has not yet become an executioner. I say so as each and every person who had been promoted to smoking had to compensate severely before they died. JEEWAKA MAITHRI- Nugegoda
Sri Lanka railways on the decline - a reply In your issue of 19.05.02, "Pro Bono Publico" has written a lengthy account on the above subject, but has not stated/pointed out the causes which led to the decline, or the remedial measures which should be taken to put the railway to right. The causes which led to the decline of the railway are legion, running back to 1970 May. Enumerating the causes would run into hundreds of pages. To put it briefly the problem is mainly due to the railways being modelled on the British system, having been introduced by the Britishers when the island was a British Colony. Britain specialised in running branch trains instead of direct trains, and today all their branch lines are closed down, Sri Lanka Railways did the same thing in the Avissawella-Yatiyantota Branch line being closed down, the entire KV line was closed down and reopened up to Avissawella, the Uda Pussellawa railway being closed down, the only existing branch still in existence is the line from Kandy to Matale, on which no direct trains to or from Matale are run to Colombo or elsewhere. There have been more general managers from 1970 to date than there were from 1864 to 1970. Only one GMR contributed towards improvements between 1970 to-date. He introduced direct trains from Matale to Matara and vice versa, which service is now non existent. He also introduced a direct service between Vavuniya to Matara, and broad gauged the line from Maradana to Avissawella, without discontinuing the running of the narrow gauge service. The railway is full of inexperienced clerical oriented personnel at the top, square pegs in round holes, who lack practical operational knowledge and experience, as well as technical know-how, which has contributed in no small measure to its present unfortunate decline. G. M. C. Bartholomeusz- Peradeniya.
The driving conditions in Sri Lanka are getting worse and it is time that something is done to improve them. Driving conditions are awful not because of poor roads but because of careless, inconsiderate, and dangerous drivers. The failure is primarily due to leniency and a lack of enforcement by traffic police but also a lack of other control measure such as too few lane dividers, and traffic lights. There are too many drivers whose dangerous overtaking is hazardous to oncoming traffic. Drivers run red lights, overtake on the wrong side, drive too fast, fail to stop for pedestrians at pedestrian crossings, tailgate, and other reckless driving habits. Even in situations when I have pointed out dangerous diving to the police the response has been nonchalant and submissive. Once, when I pointed out that a van was driving on the opposite side of the road, against oncoming traffic the policeman responded, "What can I do?' - an appalling response from a law enforcement officer.I am 24 years old and have been visiting Sri Lanka every year since I was 9 months old. My family lives in Sri Lanka. I can remember how serene Sri Lanka was when I was young. The way people drive in Sri Lanka is one factor that is ruining Sri Lanka's reputation as a beautiful country with a gentle and warming culture - the serendipity of Asia. I think there are some Sri Lankans who have lost the pride for Sri Lanka that our older generation had. The driving conditions in Sri Lanka are a first impression to visitors. However, I am not writing for the sake of tourists. Sri Lankans, especially young children should not be subjected to such dangerous conditions. The acquiescent actions of the police should be replaced with a more severe approach to traffic violators. Dangerous drivers need to be stopped. A hard line approach will make Sri Lankan roads safer.I trust that you have taken this letter seriously and will respond with affirmative action. I thank you sincerely for the time and trouble taken to understand the concerns of a proud Sri Lankan who, though lives abroad, is happy to call Sri Lanka his home. HARRIE P. VISCHJAGER- USA.
I am glad that Amaradeva is being felicitated in a manner that he deserves. I am equally sorry that we did not honour his great predecessor and mentor, the incomparable Sunil Santha, who laid a solid foundation for the modern artistic music. Had Sunil stuck to his training in North Indian Classical Music and the norms of the day, he would not have been banished from the Radio Ceylon and to wilderness and to that well documented tortured life he lived until his death. The "crime" Sunil committed was to attempt to create a musical idiom of our own and attempting to liberate our music from plagiarism, South Indian influence and meaningless mediocre lyrics. Sunil never lost his gift of composition. This is illustrated by the compositions Sunil created when he was away from music, Rekava (1956), Sandesaya (1960), his brief return to broadcasting in 1967, and the Seegiri Kurutu Gee (1978) are examples. If Sunil was allowed to continue his career without being banned at his prime in 1952, today we would be happily enjoying a legacy of more than thousand of his songs. Anyway we are still grateful to Sunil for giving us at least 200 songs of timeless enduring quality in that short period prior to 1952. Well, I almost forgot to mention about his voice, that unique captivating voice and his unfailing capacity to bring tears to one's eyes. One has to listen to Sunil's rendering of Attanagalu Velapilla and Thaniwu Mala to experience that sweet melancholic artistic trance, the ultimate indescribable musical experience. To me these are comparable only with the most subtle and gentlest of violin sonatas of Beethoven. Jayantha Anandappa - Australia
There is a saying that 'Those whom the Gods wish to destroy they first make mad'. It can equally be said that 'Those who wish to destroy themselves first take to kasippu.' The details of this illicit brew which may interest my readers is the experience and knowledge as revealed to me by a self reformed kasippu addict who at one time had been both manufactured and peddlar of kasippu. 'Kasippu' he says is distilled out of a hotch potch mixture containing harmful ingredients like urea which is allowed to ferment in large barrels uncovered and exposed to elements for days concealed among thicket, in jungle areas for fear of detection by law enforcing officers. The sugar content in it attracts insects and serpents which fall in die and rot inside, this devils brews is then distilled and a couple of drops of formalin used in the embalming of dead bodies, goes into the finished product in order to boost its fire power so to say. Thereafter, kasippu proper which addicts cannot resist is stored in plastic containers which again are hidden in the most unhygienic of places, little wonder then that law officers in one of their raids traced kasippu filled cans to a maggot infested cesspit. The poisonous effect of kasippu take its toll sooner than later, first signs or the beginning of the end comes in the form of a bloated belly, vomiting of blood (bleeding from the oesophagus) follows but if the addict has the will and the determination to kick the habit at this stage he may live to tell the tale as in the case of the self reformed addict mentioned here, otherwise as we have seen he succumbs to liver or kidney damage that follows the cynical stage of blood vomiting. Few tears will be shed over the demise of a kasippu addict, the society despises him and so does his own family for he had brought misery to them, his addiction to kasippu had reduced him to penury and his family needs are many as it is at the expense of their needs that he sustains his drinking habit. Kasippu is not only poisonous but also causes a craving dependency that can match with any of the hard drugs like cocaine, as such it is not every addict that can kick the habit by himself, he needs counselling and rehabilitation as in the case of drug addicts to help him free himself from the grip of this vicious habit. MERRIL GUNARATNE- Wellawa.
Preventing AIDS or encouraging free sex The Advertisement (Sunday Times 12.05.2002) showing a group of teenagers and adolescents. Making a pledge to take precautions against AIDS, is plain disgusting. That condoms, for that matter any contraceptive, given prominence to prevent AIDS also encourages illicit sex. The Media (both Print and Electronic) under the guise of freedom of expression and thought, give publicity to such unholy acts. It is ironic for man to believe, he is free to indulge in sin, that gives him license to do so, as long as the end justifies the means. Marriage and sex are considered sacred, and inviolable. Can one come to terms with the inconceivable thought, that anything is all right as long as AIDS is prevented? Sex when properly indulged in, is a blessings, and a gift of God, and an evil if improperly used. The beauty and mystery of sex and sensuality as defined by God Almighty in his wisdom, came as a blessing to Mankind. God created man and woman with a purpose. Sex is a natural instinct in man as decreed by God. The promiscuous lifestyle, that exists today, has contributed much to this. When Woman are seen ever so scantily dressed, what can be expected. Man's sensuality is natural hence it is woman who should protect herself from Man's lust. This is why Islam is very explicit, and lays stress on how woman should cover herself, and prevent man from gazing at her. If one were to look at the way woman dress today, what can one expect. Those who do not conform to moral and spiritual values and religious convictions, are today looked upon as outdated. All religions stress on the sanctity of marriage. It is for man to realize this and act accordingly. It is for him to know where the remedy lies. There is no cure for AIDS. If you play with fire, you must expect to get burnt. Man has transgressed the bounds of human decency. AIDS does not afflict man without reason, and from where does it originate? The natural and manmade disasters, we are witnessing today have overrun the world, and brought it to the brink of destruction, as man goes against God's injunctions. AYESHA YUSUF- Dehiwala. |
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