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| Sunday, 15 August 2004 |
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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.
Justice delayed, justice denied It is nearly one year since the former government took a decision to pay an enhanced pension to the pensioners in keeping with the levels of 1996 December. The present government too was kind enough to increase the pensions to the levels of 1997 January. However, nothing practical has happened other than in the Galle region where enhanced pensions have been paid with arrears. In the other regions few selected favourites have been paid the enhanced pensions. Since the declaration of the enhanced pensions few thousands of pensioners have passed off peacefully reducing the burden on the government, and everyday this number is on the increase. Payment of enhanced pensions to a section of the pensioners has exposed the government to a threat making the pensioners qualified to go before courts on Human Rights since a prima-facie case has been created by the government for them on discrimination. In a HR case all what has got to be proved is that one has been treated differently from others. L. U. Samarawickrema, Poor turn-out at P.C. elections At the last Provincial Council elections a large percentage of the people refrained from voting and an unbelievable percentage of votes were spoiled in a country where the literacy rate is more than 85%. This is a deliberate exercise to show disillusionment in Provincial Councils and political parties that vie for superiority. If this is a deliberate act executed by the silent voters to voice their resentment it needs careful consideration. Therefore I would suggest the authorities to have a special cage in the ballot paper printed in red where the voters can mark their disapproval with the present system. P. A. Binduhewa, The president has suggested that even the Opposition should sit with the Government to finalise the peace talks. This is a hundred per cent democratic issue. The best method now to be implemented is the formation of a peace assembly of the whole parliament and discuss all points regarding the peace process, and finally put to the parliamentary assembly for a decision. The U.N.P. was trying single handed for two years to reach a settlement, but failed. Now, the President has made the golden suggestion and, all political parties should agree to implement same. The Opposition when in power during the last two years, visited America and England several times, discussed the problem but there was no outcome. This national problem cannot be solved by the Government in power, but finally should be decided by the House of Parliament. H.M.G. Herath, Pension complications could be clarified On the eve of the last general election the government in power proclaimed the anomalies of pension scales would be rectified and in fact held 'a symbolical presentation of renewed pensions' to a few pensioners selected at random. Patently, it was an election gimmick that petered out subsequently. The old pensioners were hoping against hope to receive their overdue enhanced pensions. In this respect, the pensioners gratefully remember how they received the arrears of the cost of living allowances under the administration of Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranaike, the head of the P.A. government. The number of pensioners who retired before 1996 is not a large number as some conjecture. For example, one who retired in nineteen seventees, would have been sixty years old (it was compulsory for a government servant to retire at the age of sixty.) Such a government servant must be 60+34 up to date. How many are surviving, in ninety and over today ? Just a few. Therefore, those who retired in seventies; most of whom are feeble, sickly and senile should be paid, their arrears of pension at least on humanitarian grounds, the sooner the better; on the same basis those who retired in eighties, must be in the age group of (60+24) about eighty four today. Their plight must be considered next. There might be a large number in the final stage who retired in ninetees. If payments of pension arrears on the basis of age, on three steps, seventees, eightees and ninetees the problem could be sorted out expeditiously. Harping on the fabulous number of pensioners fabulous, who retired before 1996 is paranormal. A pensioner, Biochemical test not available in State hospitals I refer to the article which appeared in the Sunday Observer of July 25, under the title "How biochemical tests can diagnose heart attacks" by Senior Consultant Cardiologist Dr. D. P. Athukorale. Dr. Athukorale in his very informative article states that "Tcoponin Test" should be done in all patients suspected of heart attacks, in order to confirm the diagnosis. According to Dr. Athukorale, Government Hospitals, including the National Hospital, do not have facilities to perform this life saving test. If this is so it is a very unfortunate situation, which needs immediate attention of the Minister of Health. Dr. Athukorale further states that the facility of Tcoponin Test is available in a number of private hospitals. This, it appears, compels some of the poor patients who can ill afford medical bills, to turn to private hospitals to get this Test done to save the lives of their loved ones. The Test, it seems, cost around Rs. 1200 and if the Test is to be repeated, it is a heavy expenditure for the poor people especially the middle class. Our National Hospital and the Teaching Hospitals have been doing a great service. If the 'Tcoponin Test' is a life saving Test that should be performed on all Heart patients, it is a matter of concern to the Health Ministry to take early steps to introduce this facility in the National Hospital and Teaching Hospitals as early as possible. Maj. Gen. M. T. W. Ponnamperuma (Retd), Declining standards in public service Since gaining Independence in 1948, upto about the late 50's the Public Service in our country seemed to be a distinctive honourable service for the public. It was an era when public service was praised for its discipline, honesty and punctuality and was even considered the best service in Asia. It was an era when public servants commanded respect of the public for their service with commitment and dedication considering themselves as servants of the public who were paid for their services by the public. It was an era when any official communication to any ordinary citizen of this land, started with a courteous "Sir" and was signed off by the head of the department, with a humble "I am, Sir, your obedient servant". But today this old order has changed yielding place to a new generation of highly politicized public servants who could be better called as "Masters of the Public". Today the self-respect and dignity of the public servant have strikingly eroded. He has more or less become the "slave of the elected politician of his electorate" or branded as the "servant of the ruling party". In short, political patronage and subservience to the ruling regime, has become the driving force in the entire public service. We often witness how acolytes of the ruling party with the blessings of the politicians, crash into police stations and threaten to release their henchmen-thugs, or even dictate terms to heads of institutions how transfer appointments, promotions etcetera should be done on behalf of their coterie, over-riding or over-ruling all accepted norms and procedure to be followed. Punctuality is almost at a very low level in all departments. Late attendance followed with tea-breaks and staggering of office hours during lunch interval have become a mockery of justice much to the dissatisfaction of the public who wait with patience to get their day-to-day matters attended to for long hours. This pathetic state of affairs could be well seen if one visits a Divisional Secretariat or any other State Institution during any working day. Then what about the late-comers to office and the number of man-hours lost? Members of the noblest professions - the doctors openly engage in private practice during hours while helpless patients suffer in silence between life and death in state hospitals while those who could afford seek private medical attention. Illicit felling of trees in our forest reserves too continue unabated. Interested parties are given their blessings by certain divisional secretaries and politicos, thereby forcing Forest Authorities either to withdraw or else abandon their investigations consequent to political or top-level connivance and coercive suppression. Public service expected from the Police is questionable. Public confidence in this prestigious institution has significantly eroded with many irregularities and lapses - mainly due to politicians tinkering and interfering with this Law-enforcing agency. Don Sarath Abeysekera, We the Muslims, especially the women greatly appreciate the fact the JVP has suggested that the Muslims school girls be given extra material for the Hijabs. We see this as a sign of their recognition of the needs of the society. Though various motives are insinuated by different people, we the Muslims owe you a big thank you - as well as bouquet for the fact that you people did not bow down with blind subservience to what is happening in France. Modesty is part and parcel of our good upbringing - when one takes away the right to be modest they take away basic goodness of the society.The more the women cover, the better the society becomes. Besides wearing hijab is the right of an ethnic group of this country. Let's not bow down to anyone who wants to uncover women for their own vicarious pleasure. Three cheers for the JVP for being bold and concerned. Dr. Mareena Thaha Reffai, Either knowledgeability or law ? Today government is keen in passing a Bill in the parliament against the unethical religious conversions. Parliament Act or a law can do very little regarding a personal matter like religion. But a lot could be done by making public knowledgeable in religion. We had learned Buddhism for eleven long years in school. But there's a question whether do we know the real depth and the philosophy that it conveys. As we have experienced the method of teaching. Buddhism in schools is in a very dull and a conventional technique. At the moment there is an attitude among the students that Buddhism is a subject that has to study by heart. According to my knowledge Buddhism is a very logical and a scientific philosophy, therefore there's nothing to study by heart just to understand the interconnection between the basic principles that it deals with. Though we are Buddhist by birth, we lack the ability to analyze the main principles in Buddhism and how it blends with the modern science. For this we should possess a sound knowledge about the Dharma. And also at present there is a great enthusiasm among youth to understand the Buddhist teachings and to observe them for the well-being of their lives. But does the prevailing programme in schools and in Dharma schools fulfil this need? Hence we see the necessity of a very effective method of teaching Buddhism in schools as well as in Dharma schools. And also we need a very active and a practical programme of teaching Buddhism simply but with necessary depth to the youth. In my view I propose that this can be achieved more forcefully through media especially in audio visual medium, while taking immediate steps to strengthen the Dharma school system. Dinushi Dikowita, "I couldn't agree more with W.A.T. Leslie Fernando, whose article titled 'Demeaning Religion' appeared in the Sunday Observer of July 11. Vesak celebrations should not be held in churches, which are consecrated to God. However, I disagree with the statement he has made about the 'Fundamental Christian Sects'. I happen to be a Christian, who tries my best to live according to the teachings and commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Mr. Fernando might say that I am a fundamentalist). You may have heard of stories of people being unethically converted by offering money and other benefits but no one can convert the heart unless the person really wants to be converted. I am a convert. No one offered me money, I received peace when I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour and I live by the grace of God. I will share my experiences with others because I want them to have the same peace and joy which money cannot buy and yes if they have a need I fulfil it as best as I could because the Lord Jesus said 'Love the neighbour as thyself'. I gain no profit by anyone's conversion to Christianity because in Christianity one is not rewarded upon merit. If one wants to change their religion, that is their right, none of us are supreme beings, we cannot tell another what to do or whom to believe in. No matter what happens around you, only you decide what your religion and who your God will be.' Therese De Silva, One of the main sources of revenue for any government is the Inland Revenue Department. But does the Inland Revenue Department go out onto the field and find out who really should pay taxes and what their income is. The answer is a big 'No'. The officials of the Dept. of Inland Revenue sit in their air conditioned offices and are quite happy accepting the declarations and returns sent by the tax payers. The authorities are only concerned about collecting tax from fixed wage earners in the private sector - the bank clerks, hotel staff, sales representatives to name a few. Why don't our revenue officers go to Courts and see how much lawyers charge. They can go to the private channelled consultation chambers and see how some specialists charge 'double' the rate and see over 40 patients per session. The warded patients have to pay Rs. 1000 per visit. Then there are these tuition classes for small groups of 10-12 students. The teachers charge Rs. 450 to 600 per student for 2 hours. There is also a registration fee of Rs. 2500 per student. If the Commissioner General of Inland Revenue is short of staff why doesn't he ask for 1000 graduate trainees who will go out and net at least another 10,000 new income tax-payers. Tilak Fernando, |
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