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| Thursday, 30 August 2001 |
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Letters | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Sports Obituaries |
We read with interest a proposal made by an Opposition MP to appoint another independent commission to formulate policies and changes at national level to prevent politicising of the education system. All these times we laymen were of the view that it was the job of the politicians to formulate policy changes at national level. If the government was to handover all the policy matters to independent commissions as what have been proposed now, we are at a loss to understand what the jobs of the politicians are going to be. May be the young MPs want more time to attend to their own businesses while enjoying the privileges they get as parliamentarians. It is regrettable to note that these simpletons do not understand the spirit of Democracy. They must realise that their is no place for independent commissions in a democratic society. It is commonplace occurrence today that some of our know-all-politicians make idiotic statements to satisfy the members of their own clan. It is even frightening to imagine what will happen to our country if we were to hand over the country to them. They may hand over all the affairs to independent commissions so that they can have a plain sailing. A. D- Ratnapura
The people in all parts of this country continue to suffer immensely and to be nonplussed, while the main political parties are incessantly engaging in the throwing of brickbats among themselves, and are woefully failing to get over their intransigence, at least by way of sacrifice for the nation to reach the much called for consensus on the vital issues affecting the prolonged trauma of the nation. In the process they have encouraged the LTTE to escalate their operations against the State. Let there be no further apathy on the part of the representatives of the people in both Government and Opposition. Further delay will lead to the disintegration of what is left in socialism and democracy in this island. The value of the franchise of each citizen is equal to that of any other citizen. That is the sum and substance of our present Constitution. perverse political play initiated by some of the very pioneers, has marred the proper fruition of the Constitution. Now some amendments to the Constitution are suggested herein for consideration with a view to immunising the present Constitution against vicious political influences prevailing in an intensified scale, due to the malfunctioning of the political party system in our country. The following are among the suggested amendments:- (a) In the current milieu of insecurity and unrest, saddled with a protracted civil war, escalating cost of living, unprecedented indiscipline, bribery, etc., it is prudent to retain the executive presidency provided that by means of mandatory provision the holder of the post should resign from membership or patronage of any political party, by way of sacrifice for the sake of the entire population. The aim is to strengthen the hand of the executive president for him/her to bring to bear the necessary neutrality and independence in decision-making in the exercise, performance and discharge of the powers, duties and functions involved. The guidelines are indicated in the traditional neutrality and independence of the judiciary. (b) Such powers, immunities and privileges appertaining the executive presidency as are now considered to be excessive should be pruned. (c) Annul the existing privilege of legislators having their salaries, other remuneration and perks fixed from time to time bypassing the scrutiny of independent commission for determining the salaries, allowances and other perks of public servants. For that purpose the legislators will have to be deemed as public servants. It needs to be stressed that there should be proper coordination of the salary and perk structures of public servants to avoid friction and confrontation with trade unions. (d) Ensure that the internal activities of all political parties recognised by the Commissioner of Elections are transparent to the public because of the inescapable fact that the political parties are the sources from which persons are nominated to the seats in the Parliament. Suitable penal provisions should be provided for in the legislation for default on the part of the political parties. Thus it will be possible to avert malpractices and hidden agendas. There should be an atmosphere brought about for those involved in the military conflict to approach negotiations for peace and join the mainstream of democracy, not with cap in hand but with due dignity. It is advisable for the top level clergy of the Buddhists, Christians, Hindus and Islam to confer and plan out a strategy for frequently visiting LTTE occupied areas to meet the leaders and the inhabitants there for persuading them to join the peace process. Perhaps senior laity may accompany them. The Government should give all assistance to them. The necessary empathy on the victims has to be evoked from all parties to the conflict and further sinning against the people has to end. D. KURUNERU- Moratuwa
Pallepola is one of the most important towns in Matale district, and it is the Administrative Centre of the area too. Also it is the well-known centre connected to different places with a fine road system. It is in midway between Matale and Galewela along that high way. The road leads towards Galewela throughout the thickly populated villages of Koswatta, Akuramboda, Manawatte, Alutgama, Wahacotte etc. and towards Matale thro' Paldeniya, Mahawela, Dambawela. The area is densely populated and the people are well to do. But they have one draw back. That is there is no crematorium which found even in small towns elsewhere. So if a deadbody is to be cremated, people have to take it to Matale a distance of about 15 miles, incurring a heavy expenditure. There are 5 parliamentarians in Matale district and 3 of them are Ministers belonging to the ruling party. Therefore we earnestly appeal to one of them to build a crematorium at Pallepola with the decentralised budget allocations, so that the people can show their gratitude at the proper occasion. Also we appeal to the Chairman and the Secretary of Pallepola Pradesheeya Sabha to give priority to this project and get it done through the assistance of one of the Parliamentarians. Let the people also approach the MPs they supported and see that this project is materialised in the shortest possible time. A. M. G. MUDIYANSE- Mananwatte
Sri Lanka, whither are our Nationalists? Recently when the only International Airport of this island was attacked by ruthless Terrorists some of the Sri Lankan Politicians who pose as nationalists were very happy and elated. We agree there would have been security lapses. Strictly speaking every Sri Lankan whether Blue, Green or Red. Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher or Malay should have come out of their dwelling houses by the millions and protested against the ruthless terrorists who reversed the economy and future of this country by about 25 years by this attack and also their vandalism of the last 19 years. If they could kill a world leader of a world power like Rajiv Gandhi who once stood by them and went to the extent of air dropping food parcels when they were in a desperate situation, also our own President Premadasa who sympathized with them. Our two great future leaders like Gamini Dissanayake and Lalith Athulathmudali in their prime and nearly killed our present President who with her late husband visited the terrorists in Jaffna and tried their utmost to settle this ethnic issue. Can any single nationalist of this country sympathize with them. This paradise of the Indian Ocean is bleeding today as we are without national leaders of the Calibre of Honourable D. S. Senanayake, Dudley Senanayake, Sir John Kotalawala, S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, N. M. Perera, Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, T. B. Jayah to mention a few. Ninety five per cent of our present day leaders, politicians and so-called nationalists are only opportunists whose main theme is "Make Hay while the Sun Shines and let the country go from Doom to Doom. The prerequisites of today's Nationalists and Politicians are a Prado vehicle, a palatial house to live and prefer to live in towns with all comforts. A.N.- Kaduwela
GM Foods, some food for thought The Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture (PGIA), University of Peradeniya, organises a series of seminars to mark its Silver Jubilee. As a part of it on August 02, Prof. Caspar Wenk, a monogastric and human nutritionist, from the Federal University of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland delivered a lecture on "GMO as feedstuffs" - "What's happening with nucleic acids in animals". The abstract of his speech as follows: In animals, including man, the foreign DNA can originate from both foods and endogenous microorganisms. These DNA make entry into cells by endocytosis, endocytosis-ii and macropinocytosis mechanisms. Research studies are showing that the corn DNA fragments have been found in chicken muscle cells and the chloroplast DNA fragments have been found in mucosa, spleen, and muscle cells of mammalian such as cattle and sheep. When we are infected with viruses or bacteria their DNA fragments get entry into our cells and remain in forever. The Bt corn recombinant DNA contributes only 0.004% of the total DNA. So the probability of Bt gene transfer into gut E. Coli is only 10 -13 times. So we all have to learn to live with probabilities and risks. When asked about the opponents to GMO, he quoted the famous physicist Max Plank - "AN important scientific innovation rarely makes its way by gradually winning over and converting its opponents. What does happen is that its opponents gradually die out and that the growing generation is familiarised with the ideas from the beginning". All the above facts presented by the Prof. Caspar Wenk were based on research and not his own ideas. The facts presented by the professor are food for thought when we consider about GM foods R. MUHUNTHAN -Peradeniya
Allegations against Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena "The Messenger" Sri Lanka's Catholic weekly of Aug. 19 carried two letters written on the above heading by two Bishops viz. Most Revd. Dr. Frank Marcus Fernando and Most Revd. Dr. Raymond Peiris. If I am correct I could recollect same views of the two Bishops appeared in Daily News some time back. As stated by Most Revd. Fr. Raymond Peiris, Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena donated a highly protective glass cage to protect the statue of Our Lady of Madhu. If I am not mistaken 2 or 3 months (to be more accurate it will be definitely less than a period of one year) after Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena donated the protective cage, Madhu church was attacked by the LTTE. It appears to me that Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena may have received prior information about this attack or else he may have had a premonition of the attack. What was the necessity for Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena to donate a protective cage at this juncture when the statue has been in Madhu church without any protective cage for more than 100 years. I fully agree with two Bishops that those who are making allegations against Dr. Jayalath Jaywardena should institute legal action against him in accordance with the law of the country. At the same time if Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena according to his conscience could boldly say that he is not guilty of such allegations he is free to file legal action against all those who have made such allegations, for defamation of his character. Why is it that Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena is not instituting legal action for defamation of character if he is not guilty of such allegations? Ball is not in either party's court it is in the air. So it is left to the parties concerned to dash it down. Whatever it is said and done media has given wide publicity free of charge to Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena which is his main objective. People in every nook and corner of the country as much as they have heard the names of Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Ranil Wickremesinghe, they have heard the name of Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena. V.S. Ja-Ela
When JR released Rohana Wijeweera from Prison in 1977, he expected Wijeweera to take revenge from the SLFPers for the unfortunate incidents of 1971. But he acted very intelligently and later became a great friend of late Felix Diaz Bandaranaike and with his help challenged JR's new constitution in courts in 1982. In 1989 elections if the JVPers without boycotting the presidential elections had supported the SLFP, Premadasa would have never been elected and has killings of 60,000 youths would have never taken place and even their leader would have been alive today. The present leaders of the JVP therefore should act very intelligently and should not make "Bahubootha" suggestions to topple the govt. which was elected to power by the people with a huge majority of votes. But unfortunately due to the "Bahubootha" constitution it does not have a big majority in Parliament. Another important factor The JVP leaders should remember is that PA voters have more sympathy towards them than towards the UNP. LIONAL KARUNATILAKE- Nawala
At a recent conference held at the BMICH on prevention of AIDS, Health Ministry Secretary stressed on the importance of easy and unhesitant access to condoms, use of which is absolutely essential in the prevention of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases especially amongst the vulnerable groups. Arrangements could be made in this regard to make them cheaply and readily available in middle grade hotels which are being very often patronised by couples who are engaged in immediate sex. The grassroots level officials of the Department of Health could supervise and elucidate the staff of these hotels on the proper use of condoms and how they should be dispensed with to the customers. During my travels abroad I found that almost all the airports in the developed countries provide easy and convenient access to condoms. Religious and Cultural organisations here would object to the sale and easy access to condoms. However, Sri Lanka though a country will less prevalence of AIDS cases, currently is directly exposed to this threat because of its close proximity to India, Thailand & Mayanmar which have a very high incidence of this incurable sexually transmitted disease at present. D.M.A. Rajapakse- Kalutara.
The bus halt opposite the Gampola post office which is in the heart of the town was in use for past many decades for all buses to stop, as this was a very convenient bus halt for all passengers who come to the town and walk to the shopping areas, private dispensaries, banks and all other important places for the public needs. Since late it's so very disappointing as all the passengers who come to the Gampola Town are forced to get off the bus at the halt near the Gampola Police Station as the bus will not stop at the halt mentioned above (opposite the Post Office) due to this many thousands of passengers who come to the Gampola Town are put into great inconvenience as they are to walk a long distance from the halt near the Police Station to the main shopping areas and to the other important places in Gampola for their daily needs.What is strange is that why buses do not stop opposite the Post Office bus halt in spite of a bus halt fixed at this place (a nice yellow board) with the letters Bus Halt. Isn't it ridiculous when buses do not stop at a bus halt, and at which halt that buses had been stopping for the past many decades. On behalf of the thousands of passengers coming from all directions to Gampola, I would like if the Chairman of Gampola, Urban Council will please look into this "Need" of this bus halt opposite the Post Office and take action that this bus halt will come into "life" in the near future easing the great inconvenience caused to the passengers. M.A.J. SAMATH- Gampola |
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