Decline of discipline

Discipline was the hallmark of the ancient Romans and it enabled them to build a large empire. Its decline and fall began when discipline broke-down.

It must be understood that discipline is a process of being accustomed to a pattern of behaviour, consciously or unconsciously accepted as a social norm in promoting social values for the good of society.

Discipline is therefore essential for the government of a country, the private sector and every home and individual.

This applies to every aspect of the government’s procedure, especially where monetary matters are concerned because without discipline nothing can be done. This aspect was lost in the past indiscipline decade in our country.

Financial indiscipline carved a bad picture among many a parliamentarian, in the former regime. This was one of the reasons that caused the previous government’s fall.

The high living of henchmen of the former regime, expenses incurred on government account for taking plane loads of henchmen on foreign-excursion, building castles not in the air but in the Kaduwela area, amounting to millions and millions are some of the reasons which made the previous regime to fall. But the former head has now realized his folly that he lost for not paying attention to such matters.

These henchmen cannot do anything without their master and are trying to regain lost power.

Economic problems of any nature in any country, arise due to unlimited demands on limited resources.

If we are to achieve our objectives in future, we have to harness our resources carefully.

It is the bounden duty of the rulers at present to give instructions to the heads of ministries, departments and corporations to put aside their petty differences and work incessantly for the benefit of the country and its people, adhering to honesty, sincerity, simplicity and spirit of service in personal life.

Dharma Kaviraj,
Angoda.

Dire state of Sri Lanka’s postal service

I sent my application by registered post from Kandy on June 20, 2016 for a vacancy published in your newspaper. As per the advertisement, the closing date for applications was June 27 2016. Since there was no response from the agency regarding the interviews, I called them and inquired whether they had called for interviews. They told me that they did not receive my application but later confirmed that they received my application and that it had to be rejected since no late applications were entertained, even though the postal date was June 20.

This means that letters posted on June 20 from Kandy were delivered in Colombo only after ten days, due to a postal delay. I am confident that I was well qualified for the post and the job was lost due to the postal delay.

I inquired from the post master and he wanted me to fill a form available in the post office and lodge my complaint. It is like asking about stolen goods from a thief’s mother. There are many people who are affected by such unusual postal delays. This must be immediately attended to.

I felt that the receiver would not be so inconsiderate so as to reject such applications, since the culprit was the postal service or another thought came to my mind. Did they discard my application to help an interested party?

K. Piyadasa,
Kegalle.