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| Sunday, 20 March 2005 |
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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.
Millions of us watch with sympathy and deep concern for Sri Lanka's people as the Island makes strenuous efforts to recover from the tsunami. Many of us believe Sri Lankan women are an essential ingredient in successful recovery and movement forward to prosperity and peace. I hope Sri Lanka will actively seek out both the views of women and also make many appointments of women to positions of authority in the recovery process. It is an international concern that neither the Norwegians, nor the Tamils or Sinhalese sides have conformed to the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 which calls for far more women at the top table in peace negotiations and peacebuilding. Tim Symonds, Executive Director, All packed up and ready to help I have organised a small group of carpenters who will be arriving in your country on April 3. We are a small team of Architects without borders who hope that our small effort will help alleviate the suffering of many by helping to rebuild some of the housing destroyed. We have never traveled to Sri Lanka before but we are all very excited about this trip. We will be leaving Fairbanks, Alaska, USA when the temperature is about 40F. Your temperature will get some getting used to but we look forward to being there. My 15-year-old son is one of the carpenters coming with us and he is particularly excited about being able to contribute and visiting your country. See you in April. Thom Foote, Fairbanks, It is sad that the use of the sea and beach of this Island had been the monopoly of a few citizens in this country and some foreign tourists. It is nothing but fair by all the citizens in this land and for the state to impose a restriction of 100-200 metres by the sea coast, which will also serve as a safety zone against tidal waves and the like. This coastal belt should be available for free use by all. Imagine what adventures and holidays it can be for a family to hike on foot or bicycle and camp out at specified locations, and then continue the journey the next day. Wherever bridges are not available ferries can be used. In sandy areas camels and ponies can be made available for transport. Bullock carts, hackeries and elephants can provide variety at other locations. Restaurants and camps to suit any purse can spot the route of hike by the sea belt. Locally produced goods and handicrafts can be displayed for sale at authorised locations, which will provide employment to a large number of residents in the respective areas. G. P. Dhanatunga, The present two-year Diploma in English, conducted by the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL) is conducted only at the Nawala Regional Study Centre and not at other centres. There are many who wish to follow this course but they are unable to come to Colombo as they live in far-away areas. Therefore the University authorities should conduct the Diploma course at other study centres too. L. W. G. C. Kumara. 'Buffer' arguments All the arguments and counter arguments about buffer zones are futile, for in Sri Lanka all the so-called laws are in the statutory books and very seldom implemented by the authorities. For example in Pettah, can a pedestrian walk on the pavements? It has been captured by hawkers as much as 90 per cent of the space. There are many hundreds of violations where the concerned authorities turn a blind eye. My argument is not whether it is 100 or 200 metres law, does it matter because we very well know that it is not going to be implemented. So before we enact new laws let us enforce the existing ones. M. Roshan Razak, Re: "More bribes for visas" allegation The Embassy's attention has been drawn to a letter sent by Mr. Nimal Perera of Dehiwela, under the title "More bribes for visas", which was published in the Letters to the Editor column on page 12 of the Sunday Observer of March 6, 2005. The Embassy wishes to inform that no such case has been known to the Japanese Embassy as alleged by Mr. Nimal Perera. Furthermore, it is a serious concern to this Embassy that the specific name appeared in the Sunday Observer without responsible investigation by your newspaper. Hideaki Matsuo, First Secretary, Cultural and Information Affairs. Editor's Note: We regret the error. We apologise to Mr. Luduwyke for any pain of mind caused to him and to the Japanese Embassy for any embarrassment caused. |
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