• Yovun Sithata Daham Sisila

• Children and computers

• Withholding Tax of 10%
  
  Yovun Sithata Daham Sisila

The above programme was admirably conducted for the last five years by the venerable Thera, who had the ability to touch the most responsive chord in our youngsters, the university science professor, likewise endowed, with the latest results of scientific research into the human psyche at his fingertips (with charts and all) - invaluable for boosting interest in meditation - and the inimitable compere.

The programme remained a wild success, with a vast, enraptured audience and a spate of letters, appeals, articles, poems, etc. flooding the organisers.

Imagine everybody's astonishment to hear that somebody had hollered, "cut"! and the last Poya Day was also the last day of the programme! The lame excuse given was a decision not to involve the same people in any programme hereafter for more than one year.

The world over TV channels hang on to their popular programmes. It is their job to give what the public wants. Just recently, when animal lovers demanded that the Director of our zoo should be retained, as he was a true lover of animals, he was removed - to make room for a VIP's buddy, they said.

Evidently, Sri Lankans are so bereft of courage that they cannot even insist on keeping what is good for their children, animals, environment or their country. In the meantime, the Yovun audience insist that they want the programme to proceed as it is.

Can whatever plot was being hatched be reversed? For the sake of the children!

Prema Ranawaka-Das, Moratuwa.

Children and computers

It is a well known fact that, our country's future development and uplift are predominantly based on the future generation who are being educated with the co-operation and encouragement of the parents and teachers.

Actually the parents' sole objective is to see their children in a leading profession after their education, assisting in the country's development. Parents even run into debts, to give their children a better education.

Today most of us whether rich or poor, have a habit of purchasing a computer for their children as the computer technology plays a significant role in modern technology. But most of these parents don't care about the age of their children and whether the child is 4 years old, in grade five or a teenager, it has no meaning for them.

But it is a fact to be concerned about since most of the children tend to be familiar with intractable computer games which undoubtedly have a harmful impact on their future. Most computer games are made up of fights as the child can shoot another person using the equipment called 'Mouse'. Result researches carried out by psychiatrists have revealed that, if such games are played constantly, there is a possibility for the children to be intractable.

Another dangerous influence is that, when the parents are sleeping at night, most children watch nudity using the computers.

I appeal to the parents to look into this matter and think twice before purchasing computers for their small children in order to have a well disciplined future generation.

K.K. Thamal Mahindarathna, Ahangama.

Withholding Tax of 10%

A step in the right direction has been taken in the Budget for 2007, as the interest earned above Rs. 300,000 per annum is to be taxed against the present taxation of sums above Rs. 108,000 per annum at 10%.

Though the procedure is as above and the interest earned by me per annum was less than Rs. 108,000, I was surprised to note 10% of the interest earned by me on a 3 months fixed deposit at Seylan Bank, Puttalam, being subject to the 10% Withholding Tax.

None from the bank enquired from me or advised me about this tax and the excuse given by them (when I requested for a refund, being a retired person not drawing a pension and who has the ability to prove that the money deposited in the Fixed Deposit was the balance of my terminal benefits such as Provident Fund, Gratuity and E. T. F. money) is that nothing can be done because the taxed amount has been remitted to the Department of Inland Revenue.

Finally I have been requested to appeal to the Department of Inland Revenue to make a refund of the money inadvertently taxed by the bank and remitted to them, and I have done so (vide my letter dated 22.11.2006) and I am now keeping my fingers crossed for a positive response from the Commissioner General of Inland Revenue.

I am sure there may be many retired unemployed persons who suffered the same fate and are languishing being helpless in this matter, when the person who recovered the tax inadvertently does not make any attempt to obtain the refund for us, though our cases are bona-fide.

G. Eric Muscreen, Marawila.