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| Tuesday, 29 June 2004 |
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Letters | |
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Please forward your letters to editor@dailynews.lk in plain text format within the e-mail message, since as a policy we do not open any attachments.
The determination of the people to give a working majority in Parliament to the UPFA, so that they could get down to deliver their election promises without being held to ransom by minority groups, have been dashed by the arithmetic of the electoral system of the present Constitution. All political parties are now keen to amend this Constitution. But the opposition parties do not want to extend their cooperation because they imagine that this is a ruse by the President to enter Parliament and carry on her political activities which she is unable to do under the present Constitution after her term of office comes to an end. This of course is nonsense. It is my submission that the President can work out an arrangement to enter Parliament and became Prime Minister within 24 hours without any legal impediments or changing the Constitution. She can do this in five steps. (a) President resigns. (b) The Prime Minister will be automatically sworn in as the President. (c) A national list MP will resign. (d) The ex-president will be sworn in as a Member of Parliament to fill the vacancy. (e) The new President will swear in, the new MP as the Prime Minister. I am satisfied in my mind although I am not a lawyer that if the President and the Prime Minister agree to exchanging their jobs, it could be done. I would be grateful for any contrary views. If what I have outlined above is a legal possibility, then why not the opposition cooperate with the Government at least to amend the Constitution which are an anachronism to development. The difficult question of bringing about a durable peace in the country should not be treated mischievously to score brownie points. Our very capable and astute Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar has been ridiculed for the statement he made about the LTTE to be regarded as the sole representatives of the Tamil people. What he said was a simple truth. If 'talks' are to take place only with the LTTE, then it goes without saying that by implication they have to be regarded as Tamil representatives whether sole or not. The agreement to discuss the ISGA proposals cannot by any stretch of imagination, be concluded as the acceptance of it. The suggestion that these talks should be held somewhere convenient to both parties in Sri Lanka and without fanfare is very sensible because it is the poor tax payer who has to foot the bill. Surely, the LTTE could agree to hold these discussions say in a nice hotel in Trinco where the climate will be more suitable to the ailing Anton Balasingham! We do not know how much of the tax payers hard earned money was spent by the previous Government to hold talks in expensive world capitals and what we achieved except some contradictory views on federalism. In fact, I remember reading Thamil Chelvam of the LTTE saying that it was all a 'waste of time.' Regarding the $ 4.5 Billion committed by the Tokyo Conference and their desire to see that at least 'talks' should commence before the loans will be disbursed is to be expected. Like all money lending institutions, they want to ensure that their capital and interest will be paid as and when they fall due. If there is peace in the country, then there will be increase in production, productivity, investments and improvements to our infrastructure all of which will enable us to repay our liabilities. So, there is no need to be apprehensive about Mr. Akashy taking a keen interest in promoting the prospects of peace. Even our own lending institutions will ask so many questions and go through the project plans with fine tooth comb and release the money only after adequate collateral is furnished and also brandishing their Parate Execution powers, which fortunately the foreign lenders do not have or could enforce. Finally, the using of the Norwegians to restart the 'talks'. It was apparent to all who followed their activities in the past that they have been quite partial to the LTTE. But the Government could not mobilize another facilitator at short notice to get these 'talks' started. All that will be required is to monitor their future behaviour closely and treat them as a facilitator and nothing more. It has been established for all the world to see that these LTTE terrorists are unreliable and break their agreements with callous disregard to any opinion - local or international. See how they broke off discussions with the previous Government one year ago! In the same way they could abandon any future discussions and resort to arms when they are ready, catching the Government off guard. The Government would be well advised not to neglect the country's security and to gear themselves to talk through strength and be ever ready for any eventuality. P. S. MAHAWATTE - Colombo 5. Drink and drive on Father's Day - a 5-star message! A Hotel in Colombo ran an advertisement in some English newspapers on June 19 regarding their Father's Day activities - "we invite you to enjoy our extensive list of international wines. But drive home safely" - that's their message. It offended me greatly because it gives an impression that it's ok to drive after getting drunk with wine! According to my limited knowledge (I believe it is also the view of medical experts), wine, arrack, beer or kasippu they all contain Alcohol. Alcohol impairs your senses, judgment and behaviour. It is deadly indeed to drive after consuming Alcohol - both for the driver and the pedestrians! According to the available Police records (as told by the Inspector General of Police in ITN programme on 'Courteous Drivers Week' on June 19), much more people get killed each year in Sri Lanka due to road traffic accidents (which are mostly caused by drunken drivers), than due to the ongoing ethnic conflict! Is this the quality at corporate social responsibility people talk so much about these days - in seminars, newspapers, TV etc.? I sincerely believe that, this hotel owes an explanation or an apology to the general public of Sri Lanka regarding this offensive and unethical advertisement. Also, I strongly urge our pro-people Government to set up an ethical board/committee where general public can complain about this kind of unethical advertisements. SRIMATHI WEERASINGHE. Pramuka Bank's proposed restructuring This refers to a letter, "Pramuka restructuring and Central Bank', by Deshapriya Rajapaksha, DN June 13. It seems ridiculous for the Central Bank (?) to require the consent of depositors and stakeholders of Pramuka Bank, affected by its suspension, to the restructuring proposed by Asia Capital, Ltd., since they are the only party that seems to have made a concrete proposal. Any prudent person would welcome it under whatever condition, knowing only too well that one's funds would be lost completely, unless a neutral party capable of handling the matter, where the Central Bank itself has apparently failed. The consent of all must, therefore, be assumed even if they do not go to the extent of collecting and filling forms for the purpose, unless it is a statutory requirement. They could, in due course, obtain consent, if need be, from those concerned to the mode of restructuring, where it affects the latter. A. FERNANDO - Moratuwa. I wish to highlight the necessity of using all three varieties of manure recommended by the Agricultural Department for a successful harvest. Following are the varieties to be used in. (I) Basal dressing before sowing/transplanting (mada Pohora) Cost Rs. 1,255 per cwt. (II) Manure to be used three weeks after sowing riz. Urea cost Rs 600 per (Reduced rate) cwt. (III) Manure to be used at the flowering stage (viz. Karal Pohora) cost Rs. 1,015 per cwt. It was a timely decision by the Government to reduce the cost of urea by Rs. 200 per cwt. In order to ensure a good harvest, it is imperative that the basal dressing of manure (Mada Pohora) prior to sowing/transplanting and the other manure called Karal Pohora be used at the flowering stage. Used of urea alone without the other manure will not serve any purpose. The Finance Minister also has done a lot for the farmers in his capacity as one time Government Agent is all aware that all the three varieties of manure are a must for a successful harvest. A. P. L. - Matale. Deteriorating telegraphic service I write with reference to the sad deterioration of telegraphic service in this part of the country. The other day I sent a telegram through an Agency Post Office, to my employer requesting a day's leave. I handed in my telegram at 8.00 a.m. on the day I needed leave and proceeded, fully hoping that my telegram would reach my employer, at least, during the course of the day. The next day when I returned to work my employer questioned me why I failed to report for work the previous day without any intimation. He rightly told me that knowing the telegraphic service in the country, I could have informed over the phone of my request for leave. My telegram was received along with the other letters by mid day. The telegram had been written on a form which normally one gives to the Post Office to send a telegram. My telegram had been sent by the Agency Post Office concerned at 8.30 a.m. the previous day and the only identity or the difference between the telegram and the application form was a rubber stamp which reads telegram in English and a date stamp of the receiving post office, i.e. June 15, the day I handed over the telegram to the A.P.O. If the telegram had been received on June 15, I wonder why it was not forwarded to my employer by a messenger or over the phone, which facilities did exist some two years back, and this seems to have been done away with. I wonder what is the difference between a letter and a telegram, if both are taking the same amount of time in transit to reach the destinations. I could have easily sent a letter to my employer in view of what happened in this instance. I paid more and received inferior service. I concede the roads are so bad in this area that a messenger service cannot be imagined but the telegram could have been conveyed over the phone as it used to be. Fortunately I escaped being placed on no pay leave as I had not informed of my leave in advance but my employer realised the fault was not mine. Would the Postal Dept. kindly take a serious note of this and deliver telegrams by special messengers, and if this is not possible at least convey the contents over the telephone? DAVID WILLIAMS - Lindula. |
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