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President Mahinda Rajapaksa's meeting with the media, televised on
Friday October 19 on all TV channels lasting three hours, was evident to
what extent there is press freedom in this country.
Could anyone argue whether the late President Premadasa or Chandrika
Kumaratunga Bandaranaike would have gone that far and given an open
invitation to heads of the media institutions in this country to send
representatives of their choice rather than the President himself
selecting a few journalists whom he could trust, which in this instance
President Rajapaksa could have done quite easily.
One thing that struck me was the irresponsibility and the
misdemeanour displayed by one or two journalists in front of the TV
cameras which could only be described as bad behaviour of a bunch of
incorrigible high school students.
As Hudson Samarasinghe, a profound journalist with experience of
hobnobbing with President Premadasa clearly pointed out, it was a
semi-official meeting with the Head of the State where millions of
people in the country were watching while the whole intention behind was
to send a clear message to the masses from the horse's mouth surrounding
the realities of the present situation of both the war against
terrorists and the high Cost of Living.
The behaviour of one particular journalist battling with others to
grab the microphone displayed not only indignity and his crude behaviour.
To me, he gave the impression that the poor fellow was taking part in a
TNL Paduru Party.
For those who wanted the answers to the MiG 27 propaganda, Defence
Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaska's eloquent and detailed answers on the
spot have been reinforced hours later by issuing a writ for one billion
rupees as damages to one of the newspapers which has been pointing a
finger at the Defence Secretary so far.
How strange is it that the very people who have the opportunity to
behave on TV openly in such indecorum can claim about not having freedom
of the press in this country?
Citizen, Colombo
When I saw a newspaper item recently indicating that British visas
were going to be issued in Chennai, I thought of sharing my experience
with the visa section of the British High Commission in Colombo sometime
back.
We were very pleased with the promptness and courteous service on the
part of the British visa official who gave the visa for our son to
proceed to a University in the UK in 2002.
We expected the same service when his mother wanted to go for the
convocation of our son when he got his MSc. Since then, things have
changed in the visa procedure and we had to go through a company, which
did finger-printing and servicing.
The instructions were short and she produced evidence of her
employment here and income. The application was rejected-giving the
reason as insufficient funds. Then we produced enough evidence of our
funds in a NRFC account since we were employed overseas before and
together with our local income and also my affidavit with details to
support her visit.
Then only the rejection came with strange reasons given: that I
reside in an European country. (I have given details of service as the
country representative in Sri Lanka in relation to a development
organisation of an EU country.) Secondly, that she was not likely to
come back as we don't have economic interest in Sri Lanka.
Thirdly, that our son did not have a visa for the UK in spite of his
details of a resident permit. We felt that these are, silly excuses not
to give a visa. I am very much employed and domiciled in Sri Lanka and
so is my wife.
I am also the Managing Director of a large company here. In regard to
our son, after his first Degree, he wanted to continue for an MSc
programme and got a resident permit from the Home Office in London.
It seems that the British High Commission in Colombo does not accept
such permits issued by their Home Office in London. Anyway, our son has
returned from the British paradise after his graduation.
We lost the important opportunity of seeing our son's convocation
after spending so much money. We did not pursue the matter further as
the third rejection could come saying that the event was over and there
was no need to go there.
The only thing which happened was that my wife has been
finger-printed (our country does it for criminals). They also damaged
her reputation by stamping her passport, which is never done by any
other diplomatic mission in the world.
This episode raises several issues. Firstly, why the appeals are not
heard here at least by giving an opportunity for the applicants, so that
these injustices would not take place. Secondly, why the requirements
for visas are not properly stated in the form of instructions instead of
being vague.
This situation would provide a thriving business to the visa company
and so called immigration consultants. In order to get an idea, we
consulted a paid immigration consultant later out of curiosity, who told
us that the British High Commission in Colombo would not issue visas to
people who got their stay extended in the UK. It is an untold tradition
it seems.
In such a case why does the Home Office in London issue such
extensions? It seems that it is also necessary to show evidence of our
immovable properties to prove that we have economic interest here. If we
don't have land here, it is a disqualification.
The sum total is that British visa business is meant for a visa
agency company and the paid immigration consulting companies. One should
specialise in documentation for a British visa.
With the shifting of the visa section to Chennai, it will be a
nightmare for a visa applicant, knowing the situation in Chennai. It
would have been easier to issue visas in London. Or to close the UK
borders for Sri Lankan travellers.
Upali Herath, Thalawatugoda
My wife and I, thinking of practising some sort of austerity engaged
ourselves on train journey to Kandy and back on September 13. We took
the 5.55 a.m. express train from Fort and returned the same day by 3.00
p.m. express from Kandy.
The reward we got for our effort is, both of us are now nursing our
aches and pains after the trip. What is really wrong with our fast
trains? It is the track, the compartments, or sheer lack of maintenance?
Will the authorities concerned kindly answer this question to
enlightened the public?
It was really a remarkable journey. We travelled 2nd class and we
were getting jolted sideways, so vigorously, we had to cling on to the
armrests, on both sides of the seat to prevent our hips hitting the
armrests.
I cannot imagine the plight of the 3rd class passengers, who travel
under these circumstances and specially those who may have been
standing. How could any traveller take a long train journey in these
trains? I am not sure, how it is on slow trains, where commuters travel
daily to work.
Has any Minister or a person with authority, both Railway and the
Government ever travelled in a long distance express train, to
experience this predicament of a train traveller? Long ago our Ministers
and even one Prime Minister travelled by train to Parliament.
Even the Queen Elizabeth had, on one occasion taken a trip in a train
on an official visit to Sri Lanka.
How can the Government popularise train travel with these appalling
conditions? It is high time the authorities look into this matter, so
that the people will prefer train travel, wherever possible and save on
fuel usage, and help the country to save on our fuel bills.
What about our tourist trade? Don't the tourists use our trains?
Nihal Rodrigo, Colombo 4
The Sri Lanka Association for Theology (SLAT) states that the world
was awakened in mid September by the pictures of a sudden wave of
protests by Buddhist monks in Myanmar.
This continued for some days. The monks were later joined by members
of the laity on the side lines. The protests were stopped by Army
intervention where some monks and students were killed and injured and
many monasteries sealed off.
This wave of protests was like the conscience of the Myanmar nation
awakening. The protesters were calling for democratic reform.
The Sri Lanka Association for Theology wishes to join the Buddhist
monks and their lay partners in solidarity. Aung San Suu Kyi has been
detained on and off for 12 years.
May she be called to reawaken the smouldering flames of democracy
which were snuffed out when the victory of the National League of
Democracy was rejected in 1990.
A new window of opportunity has now appeared.
It should be availed of soon. May Myanmar see a revival of democratic
life and a better future for her people.
Rev. Fr. Dalston Forbes, SLAT - President
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