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| Sunday, 12 June 2005 |
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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.
The Indian Government has taken a prudent decision to ban all scenes showing smoking, cigarette packs or tobacco advertisements in movies and TV programmes, stepping up its war against tobacco use. This decision has angered film-makers in the prolific Bollywood movie industry. According to the World Health Organisation, India was the first nation to ban tobacco on screen. The Tobacco Control Foundation of India, an anti-smoking lobby, said it believed India was a pioneer in taking such action. Activists say that the impact on film-makers' artistic freedom was a small price to pay as it would help to prevent smoking and the huge costs on treatment "There are many other ways of showing tension than showing somebody smoking a cigarette. You can chew a lip rather than a cigarette." India has already banned all direct tobacco advertising as well as tobacco sponsorship of sports events. Why not Sri Lanka who ratified the FCTC in November 2003 (the first Asian country), follow this path soon? Manjari Peiris, Be Sri Lankan and buy Sri Lankan I am glad to hear that one of our very own Sri Lankans has started a motor car industry which is as good as imported Japanese and European cars. I saw the specifications and the pictures of the selection and was surprised to see the quality of the cars now manufactured in our own country. This is the right time for the government to encourage our own people to start similar businesses like this and cut down imported cars allowing Sri Lankans to buy locally manufactured cars for lower prices. I think the government should cut down all the taxes for those locally produced cars which allows our ordinary people to buy a small car without paying huge amounts of money to buy an imported car. This way we can save a lot of foreign exchange draining out of the country to import foreign cars and spares. Well done Dr. Lawrence Perera, we are proud of you. Sisira Chandrasekara, How is it possible that Janaraja, the temple tusker, was commandeered to take part in a perahera, when he was suffering from ear and foot infection? We insist that the new animal welfare regulations being drafted should include a legally binding provision of a welfare/medical scheme for these hapless animals, including the temple elephants, who are all hired out. Something of what they earn so laboriously should be spent on their comfort. Evidently, Janaraja was in silent pain, until he went berserk. To force a sick elephant into a perahera and then subdue his resultant revolt with seven mahouts armed with whips, chains and we do not know what else, smacks of rank violation of the Buddha's call for compassion towards all living beings. Prema Ranawaka-Das, Daily, we read the massive profits of Sri Lankan companies. Our Stock Market is supposed to have impressive gains. Yet, Sri Lankans are on bended knees, begging bowl in hand, sycophants to foreign donors. In comparison, Indians have self-respect. Their poverty levels are similar to Sri Lanka; yet they managed their own tsunami relief operations, politely telling foreigners to go away. The so-called business titans of Sri Lanka should quit boasting about empty profits. If these papier-mache, cardboard heroes really want to show corporate profits they should collectively and singularly build the homes and infrastructure destroyed by the tsunami. Corporate Sri Lanka, no, do not pass the buck to the Government. The Government has proven incompetence in tsunami relief operations. Profits are good. As a stockholder, I appreciate the regular checks. But corporate responsibility is a greater virtue, certainly more viable than the next SUV or five-star hotel. Professor (emeritus) Dr. Gamini Weerasekera, Since independence in 1948, Sri Lankans have been suffering and have gone through from bad to worse in our daily living conditions, the escalating cost of living, is becoming more and more difficult to exist. The party politics have ruined peace in our country, creating animosity against every community, all what the politicians want is power irrespective of what happens to the people and the country is no concern for them. War ravaged countries in the world Japan, Germany, Korea, Vietnam and recently India have developed their countries and have achieved a better standard of living for its people, by telling the truth. Let's give a few minutes of our time to the following words of wisdom and try to develop the country together for the future generations and lessen the burden of the people: To thine ownself be true. Give strength where there is weakness. Hand that gives gathers. You will never, never put a good man down in life. The hand that helps are holier than the lips that pray. Ingratitude is an unpardonable crime in society. We must leave this world better than it was found since we are only passengers in transit in this world. F. A. Rodrigo Sathianathen, It is disappointing to note that the Philatelic Bureau is still showing its inefficiency and disregard for the young philatelists of Sri Lanka. It has been brought to the notice of the relevant ignorant staff at the Bureau that 'Commemorative issues' should be well within the reach of collectors (Rs. 50 stamp for Vesak, why?) and to overcome this ignorance/arrogance I understand that the senior philatelist have had made representation to the authorities and started issuing a set of 'definitives'. It is most disappointing to note that they are unable to even reprint the unavailable definitives (eg. 50 cts stamp not available in the post office for the past six months) and make available to the public the necessary stamps which is the only job they do other than the 'safaris they undertake' at the expense of the public. Causing much inconvenience to the public and their own postal staff at the post offices. What is the so-called 'Pilatelic Advisory Committee' upto? N. V. H., Ratmalana. |
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