|
Winston Churchill after winning the war against the Nazis, lost the
general elections that followed the war. Presently, both George Bush and
Tony Blair engaged in war in Iraq are at their lowest ebb in their
popularity rating.
Some political analysts say that the reason for their low profile is
the war they are fighting in Iraq and draw a parallel between the war
fought in Iraq and the anti-terrorist and anti-separatist war fought in
Sri Lanka, and claim that it reflects adversely on the Government which
is highly preposterous and erroneous.
In fighting the war in Iraq, the Americans and Britons die for a
non-American, non-British cause which obviously the people do not like.
Those who fight the enemy in defence of one’s Motherland are honoured as
national heroes.
For example, in Sri Lankan history, Dutu Gemunu, Parakramabahu,
Keppetipola, Pediris etc. and, in world history Nelson Mandela etc. who
fought for the liberation of their Motherland are heroes in their
respective countries.
Dying in defence of a foreign country is totally different from that
in one’s own country.
In Sri Lanka, the terrorist war waged by the LTTE is a war against
the Sinhalese and Muslims living in the North and East. They have chased
them away from their so called ‘homeland’.
In the South, they target the Sinhalese civilians indiscriminately,
and murder their Tamil brethren who respect the democratic principles.
They are determined to divide the country in which all communities live
in peace and friendship.
So how can one equate the war in Iraq and the foreign soldiers with
the war on soldiers fighting in our own country in defence of her
territorial integrity and ethnic harmony.
E. M. G. EDIRISINGHE – Dehiwala
Ousted former Minister Sripathi Sooriaarachchi has alleged that
there’s a mud slinging campaign against him and ousted former Minister
Mangala Samaraweera.
As far as anyone can see, no one needs to sling mud at them because
they are already covered with their own mud arising out of their
irresponsible an unpatriotic statements.
Sripathi’s statement that the Government Forces rescued a deserted
Vakarai is an insult and humiliation to our heroic soldiers.
Mangala in his letter to the President saying that the President
overlooked human rights abuses by the forces has played into the hands
of the LTTE enhancing their false propaganda machine and bringing shame
and humiliation to the Government.
Both of them should not be seated as back benchers but should be
expelled from the SLFP.
Both Sripathi and Mangala have become hapless and they can join the
bankrupt pro-LTTE Marxist politician Wickremabahu Karunaratna that will
make an ideal threesome of stooges.
MALIN ABEYATUNGE - Australia - via email
Reference to the letter appeared in Daily News on February 16. R.B.W.
has expressed the difficulties faced by the residents of Bauddhaloka
Mawatha (old Buller’s Road) in passing through the Devi Balika Junction
after the erection of the traffic lights due to closure of 36th lane by
an individual of this lane.
We the residents of Cotta Road (Dr. N. M. Perera Mawatha) are equally
inconvenienced by the closure of this 36th lane.
In addition to what R.B.W. has stated, I have to state that one end
of the 36th lane joins Devi Balika Junction which is one of the busiest
junctions and the other end joins Bauddhaloka Mawatha.
Both ends are very busy Junctions. We do not know how an individual
can close a lane which joins such busy places.
We have informed the Mayor of the Colombo Municipal Council, OIC
Traffic, Borella and S.P. Traffic, Fort about this injustice perpetrated
to the general public by closing this very important lane.
So far no action has been taken to open this lane by the authorities
concerned.
A. M. - Colombo 8
I was randomly selected and registered for the DV-2004 diversity
immigrant programme duly completed forms forwarded to the Department of
State, Kentucky Consular Center by registered post on 22.05.2003.
All who won the lottery along with me have got their visas long ago.
I have not received any communication despite my reminders for
reasons not known to me.
I trust that at least this letter would catch the eye of the
Department of State, Kentucky Consular Center of USA through the USA
Diplomatic Mission of Sri Lanka.
VYTHILINGAM SOMANATHAN – Vavuniya
Perturbed by reading my letter (DN Jan. 30) Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam,
the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) of the Colombo Municipality,
by his letter published in Daily News on February 05 relates the
sequence of events to explain the reason for the delay in pursuing
action against the land owner who failed to clear the overgrown
vegetation.
According to the CMOH the municipal health inspectors had inspected
that land in November 2006.
It is a pity that they could not ascertain the owner of the land in
the first instance. It was from an employee who was in the land that I
obtained the name and address of the present owner which was conveyed to
the municipal authorities.
My last letter to the CMOH was sent on December 25 where I referred
to my complaints made to him since March 2006.
I did not receive any communication either from him or the MOH
informing me of any action taken on my complaint.
A couple of days after the publication of my letter in the Daily
News, two officers of the MOH’s office visited me to inform that legal
action was being taken against the errant land owner, and that itself
falsifies the claim that I was informed of earlier about the action
taken in this matter.
Incidentally on the day of the newspaper exposure, the overgrown
vegetation was cleared by the land owner; otherwise the residents in
this area will continue to suffer at least for another year until the
case is finally disposed of.
When the municipal authorities maintain a field staff, keep records
of the ownership of lands, collect rates from the occupants and maintain
assessment registers, it is naive to expect the citizens to supply
information of the ownership of properties against which they complain.
If the same concern and promptitude in replaying to the press
exposure are maintained by the CMOH in attending to public complaints,
there would certainly be a better public cooperation in combatting the
deadly mosquito borne diseases in the city.
U. D. J. JINADASA - Colombo 6
I totally agree with Mrs. Reffai who wrote about the ‘Crowding at the
Magistrate’s Court’ (Reference DN Feb. 20).
I had the unpleasant experience of appearing as a plaintiff in a
case, where I felt frightened as the date for the case approached.
I feel sorry for the Magistrates, Lawyers, Police, Plaintiff, Accused
and all those who are involved. But still what I can’t comprehend, is it
so difficult to bring some kind of sanity to the whole affair?
Let us work together, to bring discipline in these courts.
HASSIM ILLYAS - via email
Some supermarkets sell vegetables, onions and potatoes, etc., weighed
and neatly packeted. This makes it so easy and quick for the customer,
so that they need not wait in the queue for their purchase to be
weighed.
More of the supermarkets should follow this practice. It would be
even nicer if the supermarkets packet these in re-sealable packets so
that it will be frugal as the customers can re-use the packets,
meanwhile reducing the garbage problem too.
Dr. MAREENA THAHA REFFAI - Dehiwela |
