An Advertising Authority - a must

In a current TV advertisements promoting a brand of tea, a young teacher is shown in a well stacked supermarket. She selects a tomato from the rack and asks the owner "is this fresh", "Yes of course, plucked this morning", comes the reply.

Then she goes to the fish display rack and directing her hand to the stacked fish, questions the owner "Are these fresh". "Yes of course, caught this morning", says the man smilingly. Then they go on with the subject of "tea" which is acceptable.

These advertisement concept producers think that viewers are fools, who can be deceived in this manner. These are offending advertisements, but to whom are we to complain in our country?

Only fresh fish just caught could be found next to the Moratuwa bridge on Piliyandala road in the evenings, where they catch fish from the Bolgoda lake and sell them by the road side.

In a supermarket, fish or any vegetables are at least 2-3 days old as it takes time for transport. Freshly plucked tomatoes or fresh fish cannot be found in supermarkets for sure.

There are a few more TV advertisements that are offensive and take it for granted that we the public have no commonsense, especially when children are used to market products. If we had an Authority like in the UK and India, then we could complain to them. In the UK at the end of most advertisements there is a warning.

"If this advertisements offends you please call ASA phone ...." If an advertisements offends us in Sri Lanka, we have to call on the Gods above, and pray.

"The Advertising Standards Authority is the UK's independent regulator of advertising across all media. We apply the Advertising Codes, which are written by the Committees of Advertising Practice.

Our work includes acting on complaints and pro actively checking the media to take action against misleading, harmful or offensive advertisements."

In India, the ASCI, which says," The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) established in 1985, is committed to the cause of Self-Regulation in Advertising, ensuring the protection of the interests of consumers.

The ASCI was formed with the support of all four sectors connected with Advertising, Viz. Advertisers, Advertising Agencies, Media (including Broadcasters and the Press) and others like PR Agencies, Market Research Companies etc". The Consumer Complaints Council is ASCI's heart and soul. It is the dedicated work put in by this group of highly respected people that has given tremendous impetus to the work of ASCI and the movement of self-regulation in advertising."

Now it is time for the good governance government to think about safeguarding consumers through such an Authority for Sri Lanka. Does this subject come under the R TI Act?

Sumith de Silva W

Polgasowita.

Graceful retirement is the need

It is amazing how Mahinda Rajapaksa is attempting to return to power through all sorts of party fronts and positions. All surviving presidents of Sri Lanka gracefully retired and were forgiven for their misdeeds and were respected.

Human nature is such that only the good a person does is remembered and misdeeds are forgotten with time. In the case of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga returning to the political arena as a negotiator is because she left when she had to leave.

There is a universal truth - that if one does good, irrespective of his belief in any god he will be given honour and status, but if one creates mischief, he will be humiliated and punished.

No one, not even those in his own camp, negates the fact that he bled the country to meet his own selfish ends and kicked out the very people who trusted him.

This was done in the open, for every one to see with no fear or shame. Fate brought him tumbling down from his lofty heights through an amazing twist of events.

Mr. Rajapaksa, fate can be very cruel and you may be in for a further shock if you persist. The people of Sri Lanka might humiliate you even more than what they did at the last Presidential election. You must give at least a decent time space for people to forget the cruelty that you and your coterie did.

It would be a good thing for you to retire to Medamulana and spend some time in sincere introspection on the path of the Buddha whom you venerate. You may realise that thanhawa was the root of all your sins and giving up thanhawa is not so difficult. Specially if you can dissociate yourself from ill advisors. Then there is a chance for the people to remember you as the man who won the ethnic war rather than the man who plundered the country and pushed it into the abysmal depth of poverty.

And if you retire gracefully, who knows, your son might one day return to power with loftier, views and visions, sans Gotabayas and Basil to prod him into such uncouth behaviour.

Dr. Mareena Thaha Reffai, Dehiwala

Don't ban full face helmets

Isn't there a better way to prevent would-be murderers, plunderers and those robbing banks and financial institutions without banning the use of full face helmets.

A person intent on stealing would any way get about his act- if the full face helmet was banned or not because he could use an ordinary helmet and cover his face and even go to the extent of wearing a pair of sunglasses. I heard a doctor say over TV a few days ago, that a full face helmet is the only source that will prevent damaging the face of a motorcycle rider in the event of a motor accident. An ordinary helmet will only safeguard the head.

I hope due thought would be given to this matter and not prevent motorcyclists from using a full face helmet.

I too use a full face helmet because of the risks. If one sees the condition of my helmet, after several accidents, any person will give a second thought to banning full face helmets and engage personnel from the armed forces to replace ordinary security personnel manning these institutions - as the former are trained in the use of fire-arms and their presence will be enough to prevent a possible robbery from a bank or financial institution.

The payment made to security personnel could be diverted to those deployed by the security forces. Hope more people would voice their views in favour or against my suggestions. if it is the latter valid reason should be given.

Trust the appropriate personnel will do the needful in this regard.

G. Eric Muscreen Lunuwila

LTTE sympathisers should be indicted

On March 10, a daily newspaper carried an article titled 'Protestors Protest - London Protest' where reference was made to certain pro LTTE organisations like the British Tamil Forum, Tamil Coordinating Committee, Tamil Youth Organisation who held up banners against the visit of President Sirisena to the UK.

The N & E People's Org for Reconciliation and Co-existence condemned this protest, calling them "Separatist Elements linked to the LTTE, who wish is to destabilise Sri Lanka.

On March 15, the Sunday Observer identified S Jeyaganesh, husband of Bagrathy (the ex Sea Tigress arrested at the BIA recently) as the main financial controller of the LTTE diaspora based, global network.

KP who was arrested in Malaysia and now in Sri Lanka, was the former Global Fund Coordinator of the LTTE. Rudra Kumaran, Fr. Emanuel and Suren Surendran are all active pro LTTEers living abroad. All these people are 'heirs' to the now decapitated LTTE. In the UK, Canada nd other pro LTTE western countries, the LTTE diaspora still carry the LTTE flag, a Tiger leaping out of a ring of fire, when rallies are organised in these countries right under the benign gaze of the police. All these people named (and more) and the LTTE diaspora civilians who attend these rallies, shouting slogans and carrying pickets, are still aspiring to form a state of 'Eelam' in Sri Lanka, by hook or by crook.

When the UNHRC next takes up the matter of the last days of the war (May 2009), blaming the Sri Lanka Government and the LTTE, I think its only fair that these LTTE sympathisers are indicted too, and stand in the dock as perpetrators of atrocities. They represent the decapitated LTTE.

Their aspirations and methods of achieving EELAM have not changed. They still collect funds to further this goal. This means that only the leader of the LTTE was killed during the war in May 2009, but the organisation is still going on.

If they are found guilty, as they should be jailed or deprived of their civic rights or given a life sentence according to the crime committed.

If these LTTE representatives and sympathisers are not brought before the UNHRC, it is only fair that this one-sided case against Sri Lanka, should be dropped.

Vineetha Gunasekera

Via e-mail

President Maithripala Sirisena - an exemplary statesman

I appreciate President Maithripala Sirisena's exemplary behaviour.This was seen in many state functions he attended after being elected as the Executive President. The swearing-in ceremony was a classic example where he showed his simplicity and humbleness. There were many state functions he attended which were much simpler.

There is a great contrast between former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and incumbent president Maithripala Sirisena in all matters as Head of State.

On his visit to the UK, he followed normal procedure as would a layman. He went to the airport an hour earlier and waited in the queue for the Customs check-in and embarked on a normal Emirates flight.

The President's simplicity is a welcome change and would definitely be an example for future leaders to follow.

Z.A.M.Shukoor, Aranayaka

'You made our country proud'

It was fascinating to watch how eloquently you encountered a barrage of pre-planned questions directed at you by the TV presenter for the successful interview you had with a TV presenter, a few months ago. To me the hapless guy looked firmly 'constipated' after having a heavy meal of humble pie administered by you, Thank you Dr. Chris Nonis.

It was a treat to watch you delivering quite a few knock out punches in the form of cutting remarks (retorts rather) enriched with comprehensive rejoinders and on-the-spot factual evidence to prove your point. Your exquisite performance in rich and immaculate vocabulary was the plum on the 'Pie' you served.

There was a time that all right minded Sri Lankans grieved the loss of that 'Home Baked' and 'Oxford Icinged' great son of Sri Lanka, the late Lakshman Kadiragamar, who fell victim to an LTTE sniper, fed and nourished by the so-called 'Tamil Diaspora'. We all agree that he was one of the greatest Ambassadors of Sri Lanka, if not the best for the past so many decades, who, courageously faced the biased western media.

But you Sir, aptly compensated for that loss that we all thought was irreparable. It was a great relief and a fabulous experience to have witnessed you, quite fittingly fill that unprecedented emptiness that we experienced for many years since he sacrificed his life for his country that he really loved. It is indeed great news, that you have been appointed by the President as the Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and you richly deserve such a prestigious appointment.

Lalith Fernando,

Via email