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| Sunday, 17 July 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.
Consequent upon the pathetic loss of lives at Yaangalmodera Level crossing and the prompt proposal of the Prime Minister to provide over-crossings at this particular site, I wish to point out that this particular crossing is not the only dangerous crossing in Sri Lanka for e.g. crossing at Kandy road in Kelaniya, Baseline road (formerly for the narrow gauge railway), Hunupitiya railway crossing connecting Kiribathgoda and Wattala which is also a very busy high traffic road and many other similar crossings in the country. May I be permitted to suggest a very simple cost effective method of protecting careless drivers crossing the railway track in spite of the danger signals and closure of the side gates. Provide two similar gates from both sides of the crossing so that no vehicle could gain access to cross the railway track. This is an immediate remedy to safeguard the lives of innocent who die in the hands of careless and reckless drivers. Lakshman, There are many organisations responsible for controlling the performance of governmental administration. Normally, laws and regulations are the best way of running all institutions. In practice, however, they break down, rendering the administrations inefficient and obsolete. This is particularly true in the financial sector. All administrators are afraid of taking important decisions for fear of being thought corrupt. Not uncommonly, innocent administrators have been punished for taking courageous decisions. One example of administrative impediments is the Central Bank, where the waiting list for relief by the depositors of bankrupt Hedeki Finance Co. is well over eighteen years. It is high time to implement wide-ranging reforms, to tackle such social problems. The first step should consist in giving administrators more authority. They should be considered honest until proved corrupt, not the other way round and should be encouraged to take decisions, even if they make mistakes. They should be given time to act before being evaluated on results and production and not on their capacity for following minute administrative regulations. D. S. Jayasuriya, The measures taken by the Ministry of Buddha Sasana to start tuition classes for O/L and A/L students at temple premises is a constructive step that builds relationship between the temple and the young. This project is to be implemented from next year. At a time when society is rife with various anti-social activities, this decision seems to be timely. It is evident that a condition that leads to social and moral degradation is cropping up everywhere. crimes are rising on an unprecedented scale. It is through religion and dhamma that a just society can be created. Likewise, the action taken by the Ministry for the uplift of Daham Pasal education in the country which is in a state of collapse due to private classes on Sundays is also commendable. A ban on private tuition on Sunday has been imposed as the numbers of children attending dhamma school is on the decrease. L.W. Gamini C. Kumara, I visited the Osu Sala to obtain my medicines. While waiting to collect the drugs, my thoughts went back to the opening of this institution, and the man who was responsible for it. It was the brainchild of Dr. Senaka Bibile and I recalled the hard straggle he had to make it a reality. Dr. Bibile's plan was to bring down the prices of drugs by breaking the monopolies, and importing drugs from cheaper sources and getting the doctors to prescribe drugs by their generic names, while enforcing strict quality control. The plan was also to manufacture some of the drugs in our own country. It was heartening to see that Osu Sala was running efficiently, serving hundreds of people who went there to obtain their drugs. Those serving at the counters were not only efficient but also helpful and courteous. I was glad to see a notice to say that elder citizens were given a five per cent discount on their purchases. Doctors too should be made to prescribe drugs only by their generic names. The more affluent can always get their drugs from sources abroad or even go abroad for treatment if they so choose. I suggest that a photograph of Dr. Bibile be displayed at all Osu Sala outlets. L. Subasingha, The safety of innocent people and law-abiding citizens is at stake with the ever spiralling incidents of crime. The laxity of the law is such, that when culprits are apprehended and brought before the Law, we often see how they walk out of courts in company of their Lawyers smilingly, knowing well that their chances of being hanged are very remote, and the maximum punishment would be a homely rest at Welikada or Bogambara with free food and lodging at the expense of the poor ratepayer. These criminals have easy access to use hand phones, handle currency and lethal weapons and enjoy other privileges, with the blessing of certain politicians and the courtesy of Prison Officials. Enough is enough. Immediate imposition of capital punishment is the only way out. Don Sarath Abeyesekera, The 'Debit Tax' being charged by commercial banks on current accounts and savings accounts was imposed by U.N.F. government in its first budget proposals in 2002. The present government is also continuing this 'Debit Tax' without making any amendment into it as it appears to be good sources of income to the government received from both rich and poor masses who maintained accounts with banks. Dr. N.M. Perera who had held the Finance Ministry post under United Front government led by Mrs. Bandaranaike during the period of 1970 to 1977 introduced this 'Debit Tax' for the first time only for the current account holders. He did not impose this tax for savings accounts but he encouraged savings depositors by giving them more benefits. Some banks are charging 'Debit Tax' from the customers withdrawing their current account or saving account to open a fixed deposit account in the same bank. This type of transactions should be considered as non taxable transfer entries and these items should be released from the 'Debit Tax'. Those who withdraw their pensions and salaries through bank accounts are compelled to pay this unwanted 'Debit Tax', if their total debits had exceeded over Rs. 20,000 for the particular month. No government will impose a tax on a person withdrawing his own money from bank which has been put for safe keeping. C. Widanagamage, |
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