ON February 3 I visited the Magistrate Courts of Maligakanda on
behalf of an organisation to collect a written copy of a judgment. I
entered the precincts of the courts at 1.05 pm after being checked by a
police officer due security arrangements in force.
I told the police officer and went to the Registrar office and handed
over the copy of the request sent to him on 03.01.2006.
(I am not sure whether he was the Registrar, but he was the person
seated at the desk in the room where there was a board indicating that
it was the office of the Registrar.)
He had a cursory glance at the letter and asked me to go to the
receptionist at the police post and was told that she will issue the
document to me. He reassured me when I tried to explain the time taken
by his organisation to act on this issue.
The receptionist took more than 5 minutes to go through the letter -
6 sentences-as she was listening to the comments of the policemen in the
room who were watching TV cricket.
She told me to come next Monday to collect the document as I was
making a 'fresh' request.
I said that the letter had been sent 30 days ago and I would like to
collect the document.
Then she argued that I had not hand delivered letter and I replied
that the original had been posted.
She persisted that letters have to be hand delivered and I insisted
that postal delivery is not illegal. She was adamant that she cannot
help me as the original letter (30 days old one!) was not with her.
I then said that I would like her to give me in writing that she does
not have the original or that I would like to meet the Registrar who
confidently told me that his receptionist can help me.
At my request, the receptionist sarcastically told me that I cannot
meet the Registrar I retorted that I had just seen him and I will jolly
well meet him again.
Then an all powerful policeman came close to me and said in a
challenging voice that it was not possible for all and sundry to see the
Registrar and I have to wait! (I was wondering about the role of the
Police in this transaction?) I sat on one of the dirty wooden benches
provided for the public (cattle?) and thought that I should find out how
the justice is meted out in this premises.
Another female staff member walked in and took my letter upstairs at
1.25 pm and came down at 1.40 pm and told me that the Registrar was at
lunch. While chatting with the receptionist she started her walk towards
the Registrar's office at 1.55 pm.
I politely told her that I did not need the document and after
retrieving the letter I brought, decided to call it a day as it belonged
to the high and the mighty jokers of our public service.
I trust that the fellow members of the public will be given a fairer
treatment at this place in future.
RANJITH SOYSA -
Colombo 7.
THE article titled 'Negombo Mayor in bribery scandal' (DN Jan. 18)
draws our attention to the deterioration of the services rendered to the
citizens of Negombo in the past few decades.
As permanent citizens who have our roots in this city for
generations, we have seen the rapid decline of the basic facilities that
each ratepayer is entitled.
The ratepayers are taxed to the maximum for the minimum services
given. Living in the heart of the city we see how much of cleaning and
maintenance is done each day.
Though repeated reminders are given the drains are not regularly
cleaned. The silt and the accumulated dirt in the drains are seldom
cleaned and the stagnant water becomes breeding places for the
mosquitoes.
The mosquito menace is intolerable. No proper supervision is done.
The Main Street has no proper drains and the rain water gets collected
making it inconvenient for the road users.
The city roads are damaged and the road leading to the bus-stand from
the railway station is constantly damaged by the 'Saturday Fair' vendors
who have paid exorbitant rents to a private man who has taken the road
on lease.
These vendors drive iron rods to pitch their tens for stalls,
damaging the road leaving jarring holes each day.
Who is responsible for these damages and who has to repair these
damages? The Negombo esplanade which was once a public playground is now
a dwelling place for the stray cattle. The stadium used by the general
public for school sports festivals is now a disgrace and is in ruins.
The Negombo beach which we as children used on Sundays for relaxation
and recreation is a filthy place and a sorry sight. What are the City
Fathers doing? Why have they allowed the fisherfolk to spoil a beautiful
beach for drying fish and selling their catch at that place. Can't they
provide a suitable place elsewhere for this purpose?
The City Fathers of the good old days when we were children, gave
their best when elected to these prestigious places. It has been a sad
story in the past few decades. Those elected to these positions in the
past couple of years have brought down the standards very badly.
They have filled their coffers and left the coffers of the general
public empty. There is no sense of patriotism or an atom of
responsibility in them. They have come not to serve the ratepayers but
to serve themselves. We have only to blame ourselves for electing people
of this calibre.
I only hope and pray that people who rob the country be brought to
book and a new generation of patriotic leaders be appointed. We have to
only blame ourselves for electing these irresponsible people to take
care of our city and render services to the ratepayers.
Elections are round the corner. Let us join hands and elect members
who will take responsibility of giving our citizens a better service
with honesty and integrity.
Let us use our wisdom at the forthcoming elections and find people to
serve our people and not those who serve themselves. This city belongs
to us. Come, wake up ratepayers of Negombo. Let us not be foolish any
more. Let us elect people who will serve our people.
IVY DISSANAYAKE -
Negombo.
A decision has been taken to offer large amounts of money to those
who excel in sports at international competitions. Hope this would not
affect the discipline of the games.
Cricket has already become highly commercialised and spreading the
germ to the other sports may have adverse effect and lower the quality
of the sportsmen.
With introduction of cash awards, parents of the sportsmen will
involve in administration matters and would definitely disturb the
selection criteria. This will lead to unnecessary clashes between sports
administrators and parents.
Sports enhances discipline and strengthen mental power of the youth,
which is beneficial to our entire nation.
More and more youth entering field of sports will uplift the culture
of the citizens of the country in the long run.
Therefore we have to be more cautious when handling this sensitive
area.
Introduction of cash awards to winners at international competitions
might affect the approach to the game and end up in corruption.
The mind of the youth is very sensitive and the wrong handling would
have more adverse effects than winning medals.
This is a fact that has to be considered extremely careful for the
benefit of the future of our younger generation.
BHATIYA KARUNARATNE -
Colombo 5.
HAVING written to the Headquarters Inspector of Police, Kirulapone
Police Station and to the Officer-in-Charge (Traffic), with no response,
I thought I should highlight this matter in this column.
There is an isolated police sentry cubicle sponsored by the National
Savings Bank housed on the pavement at the turn-off to Polhengoda
Gardens blocking the view of vehicles moving out of Polhengoda Gardens
on to the super highway - Vijaya Kumaratunga Mawatha.
The most suitable location is the opposite side of the road on the
large pavement near the Govt. Service Sports Club. Let the Road
Authority please take note and do the needful.
K. H. S. PERERA -
Colombo. |
