Municipalities and UDA fail to curb illegal commercial activities

It is disturbing to see an alarming rise in illegal commercial establishments in residential areas. While grocery shops and small food establishments are permissible, there has been a sharp rise in other commercial establishments and full blown businesses which cause disturbances and plague neighbourhoods.

Repair shops and garages for instance blatantly operate in residential neighbourhoods right in the middle of normal houses and affect the quality of life in the area.

They disturb the peace of a neighbourhood as maintenance is performed on the vehicles every day of the week (even at night!), pollutes the environment with fuels, smoke, oils and loud music, causes congestion in small roads because of its customers and parked vehicles and are a perennial source of stress to residents.

While some of these establishments are illegal, others have been granted permits. It is disheartening to note how law enforcement officials do nothing about these transgressions.

While influential neighbourhoods within central Colombo are firmly regulated, the same is not done for other suburbs. Action is not taken unless a complaint is made and often, even when complaints are made, the officials turn a blind eye.

Why are permits for commercial activities in residential areas given so freely? Especially to garages and other establishments which are a disturbance to neighbourhoods?

Why do the relevant municipalities, planning authorities and the UDA blatantly ignore this? Why have steps not been taken to remedy this or prevent this?

A person usually comes home to seek refuge from the noise, bustle and stress of the outside world.

Neighbourhoods plagued with three-wheeler garages, auto repair shops and loud food establishments are not a refuge. It is time for the relevant authorities to take action.

This must be stopped immediately and officials need to crack down on commercial establishments in residential areas and maintain some semblance of order in neighbourhoods. Other countries take transgressions like this very seriously, why haven’t we?

D. Perera
Colombo

Lessons from the Opposition Leader

According to a news item the government had given R. Sambanthan six government vehicles to carry out his duties as Opposition Leader. He kept only one vehicle and returned the other five to the government.

This is an ideal example to all Sri Lankans. Our valuable resources should not be wasted. When we can manage with one vehicle, why should we keep six vehicles and waste the tax payer’s money? We must follow Mr Sapanthan, when using state resources. The government’s money belongs to the public including the poorer segments of our society.

Let us learn from Mr Sambanthan. Why do we need all these luxury cars and houses? Also why do we need so many foreign trips at the expense of the taxpayer and lastly why should so much of state resources be used for pomp and pageantry in state ceremonies.

Let us use state resources in a justifiable manner so that everyone will benefit without engaging in wanton waste and will eradicate poverty.

D. Weeratunga
Chartered engineer

Agrahara health insurance policy to pensioners welcome

Providing the Agrahara Health Insurance for retired government servants is most welcome and a vital decision taken by the Minister of Public Administration, Madduma Bandara.

Pensioners retire after 60 years of continuous service working in different parts of the country under trying conditions. When they retire most of them become susceptible to many ailments and are unable to live independently.

They need assistance for their survival. The meagre pension they receive sometimes is not sufficient for even their food and clothing, so this is a welcome move.

At this juncture if they have to frequently spend for medicine and hospitalization they would find it extremely difficult.

While appreciating the Minister’s endeavour to provide a health insurance policy for pensioners I urge him to make facilities to obtain the dividends immediately by introducing an ATM card or any other system to reimburse the medical bills quickly.

Otherwise beneficiaries have to wait more than three months to get the money spent on medical bills. Further, I request the Minister to set up a special ward at least in government base hospitals to admit government servants and pensioners at a time of an emergency, because they have done a laudable service to the country.

Z.A.M.Shukoor,
Aranayaka