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| Sunday, 11 September 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.
I read an article by Prof. J. B. Dissanayake, published in the 'Silumina' newspaper of September 4, 2005 under the caption 'FM Language, a language or a poison'? which says in no uncertain terms the present situation of the private FM electronic media stations. It's clear that the program presenters of these FM stations handle the language in a manner that is harmful to our mother language may be mainly due to their lack of understanding of the correct use of the language. For instance, the language used for their newscast is not at all to the point and is the local idiom that is far removed from the formal way. Everyone who listens to the newscast of some FM radios can understand their wrong use of language well. Likewise, these FM Radios play for the most part songs, bailas or non-stop songs all day long and these songs are sometimes, played at the request of the listeners through live phone-in shows. But among the songs played by them some are really loathsome, ones that are not even suitable for broadcast through electronic media. These persons should be made aware of how to handle the media language in a proper manner. L. W. Gamini C. Kumara - The above story appeared in the 'Sunday Observer' on 28.8.05 based on a dialogue that took place between Alexander the Great and Dioginis (A great thinker of the era) about 26 centuries ago. I feel that it would have been very nice if the writer had mentioned the historical event. Piyadasa - Heiyantuduwa, Today there are a good many stray dogs roaming about along the highways in Ekala. Very recently two little children happened to be bitten by them. If this problem is neglected now, later on these dogs may even develop the awful disease 'Rabies' and thereby cause a great hazard to the residents of the area. Therefore, it's well-and-good, if the health authorities, as well as the UC authorities take some sort of measures to get these animals destroyed for the good health and well-being of the citizens of the place . J. M. Opatha - Ekala. Vast profits earned by state banks State banks boast about the many billions earned by them as profits every year. They are able to do this by resorting to inhuman tactics, for example, by drastically reducing the interest payable to fixed deposit holders from 22 per cent per annum as initiated by former Finance Minister, Dr. N. M. Perera to a mere 7 1/2 per cent per annum as at present. The vast majority of Fixed Deposit holders in the National Savings Bank are retired pensioners from the lowest rung of the Government and private sector category who expect some extra benefits from the banks in their desperate struggle to make ends meet owing to the ever spiralling cost of living. Private Finance Companies pay up to 14 per cent per anum on fixed deposits, but, these poor people prefer to invest in the State Banks because of the so-called security factor. It is absolutely inhuman to deprive these poor pensioners of a higher return on their fixed deposits. Of course, the National Savings Bank and other State Banks could crow even more about increased profits if they reduce the interest payable to even 5 per cent per annum! Former Deputy Accountant, Although, the Govt introduced a loan scheme to offer property loans to Govt. Servants, the authorities, I mean the Heads of Departments do not take much interest in helping the employees in getting these loans. Most of the Govt. Servants, such as teachers, clerical servants complain that their applications are still not processed in their respective offices due to the lack of interest or their negligence in this work. It seems that certain authorities confess that, that there isn't enough to provide these loans and it is a farce created by the Government. Z. A. M. Shukoor - A modern showroom of a well-known and respected company in Colombo had an electrical item on display with its price shown in rupees. At purchase, when the bill was produced I noticed that eighty cents was added to the bill. When queried it was revealed to me that cents are not normally shown in the price on display. When the balance from the payment was brought it was noticed that a further deduction had been made because the cents had been rounded up to the nearest rupee in favour of the vendor. Therefore the actual cost of the product was more than the advertised price. Here the retailer has misled the customer by not revealing the real cost of the product to the customer at the outset and has also cheated the customer by not giving the correct change. A few cents from each customer add up to rupees and how is the retailer accounting for this extra money collected? Why is this malpractice allowed to continue? A. Abeyasinghe - We have learnt to respect the high ranking designations of Army, Navy and Air Force officers such as Brigadier, Major, Lieutenant, Commander, Commodore, Wing Commander, Squadron Leader and Air Marshal respectively of each service on merit achieved through several years for active service in battle front line, for sailing seven seas covering thousands of knots in command of vessels, and for accumulating thousands of solo flying hours etc. According to a news item in the Sunday Junior Observer of 07.08.2005, the chief person of a scouting organisation has been designated as Commodore although we generally expect such person to be an Assistant Commissioner or a Deputy Commissioner in Scouting without edging off the Chief Scout Commissioner, and his line of succession. Pardon me; if he is an ex-Commodore or a Retired Commodore of the Navy. But it has to be clearly so indicated giving place to trustworthy scouting. Prior to the Second World War we have had sea scouts in our island. I am 81. I have more to tell, but it is better to stop here now as an old scout. I read the Junior Observer for the sake of my grand children. Y. Amarasena de Silva - The game of cricket has caught up among the young and old alike. That is even so when we see children of the most rural areas at play with tennis balls and pieces of planks cut into the shape of bats. And small pieces of land, roads, by ways become their venues. The game is not confined to schools, clubs, associations etc. vast crowds gather at these matches. And now there is to be an exciting match between the past cricketers of Ananda and Nalanda Colleges on the 8th of October. No doubt it will be a grand show. Parents, teachers past and present are certain to fill up the pavilion leaving no room for other spectators. A colourful day it would be and what about the millions glued to the small screen enjoying the excitement and bringing back old memories. There would be the same and even more enthusiasm if a young present school boy team is to take on the Sri Lanka National team. If so the Sri Lankan selection team are bound to find the best talent bereft of any intimidation, favour, influence, influence political or otherwise, thuggery, monetary benefits and such like. Let the selected players be "primus inter pares" what a god-send opportunity will the team have if practice games could be had with "old timers". I am quite confident that the young schoolboy team will give the SL team a good run and breast the tape at that. Will the SL players take up the challenge? W. R. C. Costa - |
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