Your View... Dear reader, the Sunday Observer welcomes your letters. Keep them brief, legible include the name, address and contact number of the writer and mail them to: ‘Letters’, The Sunday Observer, 35, D.R. Wijewardene Mawatha, Colombo 10. Email: [email protected] Handwritten copies should be duly signed.

Thanks old Trinitians !

As a parent and principal of a school, I vehemently criticise the Zonal Education Office of Kuliyapitiya, the principal and staff of the school in question and parents for committing a ‘crime’ of rejecting a poor, innocent child to a school in Kuliyapitiya.

Didn’t these officials know the HIV virus in an infected person does not have a direct impact on others unless through blood contact?

Does it mean that all HIV positive cases in the country should be isolated from the society and should be prevented from doing anything? Can they be penalised ?

Our country is a Buddhist country, where Buddhism enriches the minds of the people. The Buddha had shown mercy and compassion. In the case of this hapless child where was this mercy?

I thank the old Trinitians for their endeavour to admit this boy in this reputed school.

Although this iboy has been mocked by the educational authorities and parents of this Kuliyapitya school, he is fortunate to be admitted to this renowned College.

I request the Ministry of Education, the Maha Sangha and other religious organisations to hold islandwide awareness programs on AIDS, HIV and drive away the fear of it being a contagious disease.

Z.A.M.Shukoor
Aranayaka

The Rs 9 trillion debt trap

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe recently told Parliament increasing taxes was a solution to the debt crisis.

He said nothing done by the Mahinda Rajapaksha regime in the name of development, had provided any stimulus to uplift the economy. “They only plunged the country into a debt trap,” he said.

The premier said the other challenge was the global economic crisis. He also said the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation was in debt to the tune of RS 365 billion.He said economies of Middle East countries were facing problems. As a result job opportunities in those countries were reducing. Sri Lankans in those countries might even lose their jobs.

The Middle East was in danger because of ISI terrorists. This will affect our tea exports, he said.

“The recession in the Chinese economy could also be a disadvantage to us’” he said. If the European economy weakens it will affect our export earnings.

According to the Prime minister, if Britain leaves the EU, it can be disadvantageous to us. For Sri Lankans, 2016 will be a year which spells utmost diligence given the local and global conditions.The Premier assured that the government will create an atmosphere where the people will lead happy and peaceful lives.

If the country is facing so much of problems, we hope the government will consider the following recommendation.

Reduce wastage in government organizations

Reduce unnecessary government expenditure

Stop unnecessary medical expenses in foreign counties for politicians and their supporters

Reduce security expenditure for politicians
Close down unnecessary embassies
Reduce staff in embassies
Reduce expenditure of embassies
Reduce foreign trips of politicians and senior government officers
Stop unnecessary government functions, celebrations and ceremonies
Reduce giving very expensive luxury vehicles to politicians and government officers.

Give small economical vehicles like in India.

Stop giving unnecessary facilities to politicians and senior government officers. They are servants of the people, according to what politicians say at meetings.

Stop employees idling in government organisations.

D. Weeratunga
Nugegoda