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| Sunday, 17 August 2003 |
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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.
SLT's slow speed (Narrowband) ADSL service I am one of the victims of Sri Lanka Telecom Limited newly introduced ADSL Internet service (According to SLT ITRANET). I have obtained ADSL service from SLT on June 6, for my residence. I found that this was no better than analog internet we already have. But I was impressed by the way SLT introduce ADSL in their brouchers and other advertising materials. Streaming media, fast Internet access (not Intranet) compeering ADSL speed with analog Internet speed are the key topics SLT mainly used to impress ADSL applicants. I had an idea of ADSL providers in foreign countries and the quality of the service that they provide. Before I applied for ADSL service from SLT, I crosschecked what SLT had advertised about ADSL and the service they intended to give us by comparing with other countries and there were no difference between SLT and them. Without any hesitation I forwarded my ADSL application and apply for ADSL from Sri Lanka Telecom Limited by paying Rs. 2,400. But as I started to use ADSL, this was very slow and the quality and the speed was not the same as SLT advertised. During the day time speed will drop to around 40kbps and this is a very common situation in SLT ADSL Service. So I contacted Sri Lanka Telecom Limited and complained about this to Head of ADSL unit on mid June 2003. And he seemed to be very relaxed about this situation and replied "We provide 512kbps speed only for SLT web site and not for the internet" and also said, SLT cannot offer broadband speed (512kbps) to the Internet because, SLT cannot bear the line rental that they have to pay for foreign Internet providers for accessing Internet backbone. At that stage I had only one choice and I have made a complaint to the CEO of Sri Lanka Telecom by registered post on July 20. And still I haven't received any reply or acknowledgement to my complaint yet. So I complaint this to Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRC) and the director replied to my letter within three days and TRC held an inquiry on June 16. First TRC wanted me to explain what I have written in my complaint and I showed and explain how SLT misled me by advertising services that they cannot offer. This complaint contains full of technical stuff and I showed TRC how SLT block and degrade ADSL speed and where the exact bottleneck lies. Not only myself, SLT had let down all ADSL customers because they never listen to their subscribers. But, advertise services that they never willing to offer. This is how they hunt customers by cheating and advertising the qualities of worldwide ADSL concept and make subscribers to believe that SLT is ready to serve them like how foreign providers cater their ADSL customers. But once you get the service you will realise. This not the first time SLT distract customers by advertising services they never offer to public. I still believe TRC will conduct a fair inquiry on this issue and protect all Sri Lankans consumer rights. Specially protecting consumers from Telecom providers by regularly evaluating the quality of the service that they provide to its subscribers. Then I don't have much options rather than reporting this to the governing authorities and waiting for their verdict. Unfortunately in Sri Lanka there is no customer based organisation to make a noise in situations like this and if we had one like that, providers like SLT cannot mislead subscribers as they want. As long as there were no customer resistance, providers can go-ahead with their own substandard services. Quality Is not there. And the best part of the story is, if ever I decided to terminate the ADSL service, because if its low quality, SLT never converts my line back to normal telephone line. In the sense, If I don't want ADSL still I have to pay 2,700 as a rental. I had this problem already with my ISDN line. This is a real trap. Not only a trap this is first class violation of consumer rights. Are we going to let these kind of things to happen in the future ? Or do we have a right to protect our consumer rights ? At least I must get good service for what I pay for. Now, you may have the same problem. If you believe your ADSL service is not up to the stranded, or you haven't got any quality service for what you pay, join with us and we all can make a big noise in this issue and that will help all IT users in the country to get quality ADSL service in the future. If you agree, please e-mail me with your details and problems. Remember, to develop IT in the country SLT must broaden the boundaries rather than narrowing. We all talk about global village and E-business but I wonder how this giant telecom provider is going to contribute in this manner by introducing degraded Internet services. Sanath Siriwardena [email protected], 'Religious leaders please take action' - a response This is in response to the article by Dr. Mareena Reffai of Dehiwala titled "Religious leaders please take action" in the Sunday Observer of August 3. I appreciate her observations highlighted about obscenity, I wish to add more as follows: The Censor Board consisting of long experienced social workers and religious leaders has authorised 14 movies for adults only. Intelligent people are not least concerned whether the Censor Board authorises this type of sex films of adults. But they do not ban advertising and exhibition of disgraceful, disfigured huge pictures on walls in every nook and corner, very specially on TV channels because home screen is open for all family members. Advertising agencies should understand that exhibiting a half naked picture of a female with a piece of soap, tin of powder or any other trade item will not increase the rate of sale of product rather than demoralising the entire society including the schoolgoing little children. I would therefore request all religious leaders and the Minister of Cultural and Religious Affairs to take a serious view on this uncivilised culture in our country. Mahinda Perera, Memories of Bridge on the River Kwai - responses Mr. D. Peiris is correct regarding the facts in his article. There was never a Gregory Peck in the above film. Gregory Peck and Win Ming Tang - a Burmese (Myanmar) actress starred in the Purple Plain, which was shot in Ceylon before the 'Bridge on the River Kwai' was filmed. The record Oscar winning 'The Bridge on the River Kwai' was shot in Ceylon in the mid fifties. It was produced by Sam Spiegel, directed by David Lean. Alec Guiness, Jack Hawkins and William Holden were the main actors. It was an almost all male war film. Sesu Hayakawa of Japan also acted in the film along with a few minor roles played by our own Gamini Fonseka and Ms. Geddes who comes as a nurse. The film was photographed by Jack Holleyard assisted by our top cameraman Willie Blake (who incidentally was behind the cameras of Dr. Lester Peries', Rekawa and the first Sinhala epic - Sandeshaya. Dr. Peries correct me, if I am wrong). While shooting a British prisoners of war marching scene someone wanted an appropriate tune. One of our Burger boys who was one of the many in such scenes, whistled 'Colonel Bogey March' a then popular tune on our Radio Ceylon. It became the theme tune of the film and became an instant hit in the radio waves of all the countries where the film was screened. Some of the films in which Gregory Peck appeared were shown in Sri Lanka bringing much enjoyment to many. Gregory Peck's films shown in Sri Lanka were 'Purple Plain', 'The Million Pound Note', Guns of Navaronne', the beautiful comedy 'Roman Holiday' with Audrey Hepburn, 'Purple on Black', 'Boys from Brazil' as the infamous doctor Mendgeles, and the award winning film 'To kill a mocking bird' - where he stars as a white lawyer defending a black man. I am sure Mr. Peiris and many more - old and young film lovers would like to see some of Gregory Peck's masterpieces on our TV channels including 'The Bridge on the River Kwai'. Sripathy Jayamaha, Discrimination against vegetarians Several articles were published in the past pertaining to the advantages of being a vegetarian. However, I regret to note that we vegetarians are discriminated against when meals are served at hotels (buffet) or even at private parties. I give below the following: 1. Inadequate vegetable items are served (Non vegetarians could consume both vegetarian and non vegetarian foods. Whereas vegetarians could enjoy only vegetarian items.) 2. Separate serving counters are not maintained. Since all items are served together even the smell of non-vegetarian items makes vegetarians uncomfortable. 3. Information pertaining to items are not properly displayed (There are cases, where vegetarians have to return soups and food items after being served) 4. Items like soup, polsambol, curries and seeni sambol etc contain non-vegetarian items. (Maldifish) 5. Deserts mostly cakes, puddings etc. contain eggs. 6. In several cases, I observed that non vegetarians take items, which are reserved for vegetarians only, whilst they wait in the queue for their turn. Very often vegetable short eats are finished early because of consumption by non vegetarians. You will appreciate that my intention is not to insult Sri Lankans but wish to ensure that everybody enjoy their meals without discrimination. I suggest the following: 1. Vegetarian items have to be defined properly. i.e. it should be free of maldifish, egg etc. (In some foreign countries like France there are vegetarians who do not consume milk, cheese etc.) 2. In the case of hotels separate meal tickets be sold. It is better to give discounts to vegetarian meals, which will make the offer attractive. 3. Separate food serving centres be arranged. 4. Separate plates be used (for example aluminium plates or plates covered with plantain leaves could be used) 5. Waiters issue the plates to guests on submission of tickets. (I have seen this practice in the hotels) 6. Proper display of the description is arranged. This will also help the guests to select items, which are suitable to their health. 7. Adequate waiters are kept who could monitor the required procedure. This will ensure that the non vegetarians do not serve vegetable items from the vegetarian's counter and vice versa as well. Some people may argue that this practice may keep them in embarrassing situation when mistakes are done innocently. But we could remember that we Sri Lankans who gained freedom about 55 years before follow dress code, table manners etc. So following this extra step will not cause much difficulty. It should be advisable for the hotels to introduce new vegetarian recipes. I remember in India where most of them are vegetarians, hotels from time to time introduce new recipes to ensure maximum customer satisfaction. The press also can help by publishing new vegetarian recipes. I sincerely appeal to Sri Lankans to ensure that more vegetables are served when having private parties. It may be difficult for Christians and Muslims who consume more non-vegetarian items in general but it is easy for Buddhists and Hindus. S. R. Balachandran, I am a Dialog GSM customer. I have credit limit of Rs. 3000. Every time I pass the limit the network disconnects my outgoing service without any prior notice. This discourteous attitude of GSM continues always despite my repeated appeal to them to send at least sms about impending disconnection. the hardship customers undergo as a result of this unnoticed disconnection, the dialog megalomaniacs do not understand. Customers have their busy schedule and forget about settling phone bills. The basic courtesy is to send a reminder and disconnect thereafter. It is absurd for global network service behave in this unruly manner towards customers. When we settle bills also they say we get the connection back immediately. That is only in words not in deeds. Recently I found that my out going was debarred. I was out of Colombo at that time and I needed my out going facility for the rest of the day and I couldn't call any body from my mobile phone. Immediately I originated a call from a booth to a friend who went to Dialog and made some payment for Rs. 1000. Promptly he had gone to other section and informed the payment made and they assure connection back immediately. Until following day morning I didn't get the outgoing facility. When I phoned them to inform this trouble it automatically goes to recorded message mode and it says: "All operators busy. Please hold on." And then we hear their funny music for hours and hours while our phone bills go increasing, because I can't call from my dialog. It's debarred. I have to go to some other land phone and complaint. No one to receive our SOS complaint. All agents at that end are busy according to the recorded message. How comes all the agents are busy all the time I called. I intend referring this matter to my lawyers to demand damages from the Dialog GSM for the pain of mind, agony and loss of reputation. I underwent on account of their unruly manner in which they treated me while being their customer. This is not the first time for me. Number of times. This may be the case with other customers. But they may not have time to write or to expose this Glittering Selfish Megalomaniac (GSM). I have lost my patience. I can't tolerate anymore. That's why I am exposing and seek redress through this forum for me and for other customers of my calibre. S. M. Rousdeen, Landfills to handle solid waste The sheer need for a number of strategically located modern landfills has been amply illustrated over the last 30 to 40 years. This need is something that has been continuously overlooked by authorities all these years and is still unbelievable that the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has not been able to understand this and work out suitable steps. From time to time, publicity has been given in the local media for various proposals to handle and dispose growing mountains of solid waste in the country. Suggestions have also been made that incineration is the best method to overcome this problem. Anyone with a basic knowledge of the amount of semi dry and wet garbage collected daily would understand the sheer madness in suggesting incineration. Any efforts to incinerate these colossal mountains of wet garbage should be rejected, if one understands the amount of energy that would be required to go into incineration. Can Sri Lanka afford the colossal cost for energy to have enough incinerators so required ? Incineration is certainly needed to dispose of certain types of dangerous waste matter like hospital waste and medical laboratory wastes and the waste matter from slaughter houses and funeral parlours where regular embalming is undertaken. In considering a suitable incineration plant, one has to study and analyze to understand how to select and build a system designed for full flow combustion machinery that would not cause any major hazard of air pollution. There are modern incinerators for all types of waste but these systems have to be designed and manufactured to suit individual situations and cannot be bought off the shelf or guess work. Incineration is definitely needed to dispose of biomedical waste, chlorinated liquids, acid gases. There is no keeping away from the fact that Sri Lanka needs strategically located landfills before this country is ruined completely due to lack of proper waste management. If this is not seriously understood and tackled, we, of the present generation, will be guilty of the heinous crime of denying to the future generation most of the natural blessings we still enjoy as an Island. Milton Manamperi, |
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