Increase traffic fines for traffic offences
There is a plan to increase the fines up to Rs. 25,000 for seven traffic offences according to State Minister Ashok Abeysinghe. On a previous occasion, the ministry tried to implement the same. The traffic fines were increased only up to Rs 3,000. A number of road accidents came down following the increase.
Discussions are ongoing to increase fines for seven traffic offences including drunk driving, driving without a valid licence, reckless driving and driving through level crossings.
We thank the State Minister Ashok Abeysinghe for his good work to improve road safety.
According to statistics, road accidents claimed eight to nine lives and gravely injured 25 people every day. Seventy five percent of the injured or dead are those between 15 and 45 years of age. They are in their prime of their lives. Road accidents have a huge burden on the families as most who injure or die are the breadwinners of the families.
In order to reduce the road traffic accidents, we must create a culture of road safety among the population. Use of mobile phones and alcohol are two very important aspects we have to consider seriously.
D. Weeratunga
Nugegoda
Bouquet to Traffic Police officers in Kandy road
I was driving along the Kandy road on a Poya day. By mistake I crossed the single line. I was stopped by a Traffic Police officer. I was looking forward to an unpleasant encounter as the traffic officers are notorious.
But to my surprise, two officers came beaming with smiles. They opened the conversation with much politeness and asked me if I am aware of the traffic offence I had committed.
It took me a while for me to respond, as I was stunned by their politeness. I replied to their inquiry in the affirmative.
In a country where everything is subject to criticism, the behaviour of these policemen is commendable.
Vimukthi Sarathchandra
Weeragula
Leave CEB alone
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has inserted an advertisement in all newspapers which states “request electricity consumers to send information of the power interruptions that they experienced with the details of the area that it took place, dates, time period, name, address and telephone number (if any) with signature to the following address”. This request appears to be the PUCSL intention to take legal action against the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) on contravening some silly requirement to assert its authority over CEB.
We, the consumers, contact the local Electricity Depot of either CEB or LECO and make inquiries and they promptly respond. It is absurd for PUCSL to expect consumers to have details of interruptions, date, time, area etc. as if they have no other domestic or personal matters to attend to. Sometimes it so happens (my experience), when lights go off and when I telephone the Depot, I am asked to check my switch board. If there is something wrong with it, I will fix it. Such interruptions too are to be reported. If an interruption takes place, we consumers inform PUCSL, what action does the PUCSL take? The PUCSL will have to contact CEB and then come back to the consumer. My advice to the big heads of PUCSL is not to try to usurp CEB’s functions and confuse the consumers.
Going by the news item, it would appear the intervention of PUCSL, in the internal working of the CEB and not working in collaboration with CEB to implement the Least Cost Long Term Generation Plan. It is the main cause of the despicable state of affairs in this vital sector. Had PUCSL agreed with CEB to go ahead with the Coal Plant which was in the generation plan, this situation may not have arisen. Perhaps the PUCSL may have gone by the Paris Accord. If that is so, in our submission we have stated categorically and emphatically: “Sri Lanka reserves the right to revise its intended national contributions and targets at any point of time and consider the INDCs to be a living document that should be integrated with changed/modified national development goals and targets.” We should have taken advantage of this clause.
We as consumers wish to have direct dealings with CEB or LECO and their area engineers and depot managers, for quick results.
How many masters have the CEB to serve to deliver goods to consumers who are plagued with official mishandling of this sector? Apart from harassing CEB, please do not harass the consumer!
G. A. D. Sirimal
Boralesgamuwa
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