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Morning Spice by Ginger Some time ago Ginger was demanding the fact that it was rather difficult to buy a decent pipe these days and even if you did come across one it was so expensive that you dropped the idea. He remembers the time when a Jr. Dr. Plum cost something like Rs. 15. It would cost a fortune today. Even more unfortunate is that the local pipe tobacco which was very popular does not seem to be available any more. One had to rely on foreign brands and this was not very desirable as it was at times little difficult to stick to one’s brand. There are some possible advantages in smoking the pipe. In the first instance a lit pipe gives out a pleasant aroma and is not as offensive as a cigarette smoke to those around you. Secondly, you don't inhale pipe tobacco and you may not be doing your lungs quite the damage as by smoking cigarettes. The number of pipe smokers are dwindling in this country. It is for this reason that Ginger proposes a pipe smokers' club this would help pipe smokers to use their numerical strength to find suppliers for pipes and tobacco and it would do their social life no harm either as it would give them a reason for a few get-togethers. Murderer's dilemma He was married with two children when he used to hang around parking lots to give his family the impression he was at work. He earned his money in devious end dubious ways and also charged massive fees from relatives for medical exams. The cat was out of the bag when his bank threatened to withdraw credit. Then a friend discovered he did not work for the WHO and his ex-mistress threatened to sue him for the recovery of a loan of 18,000 dollars. Rather than let his family go through the humiliation of it all, he shot and killed his parents and two children and clubbed his wife to death and then tried to take his own life. Sleeplessness Tossing and turning or a restless night for any other reason can lead to your blood pressure shooting up the next morning. Now this has led to medical scientists to believe that sleepless nights and blood pressure rising is the reason and why more heart attacks occur during the morning than at other times. John Seneviratne, the Labour Minister had been quoted in the press to reveal that a decline in contributions made to the Employees Provident Fund during the last few years has been evident. According to the news item the staggering statistics announced by the Minister indicate that out of the 110,000 employers in the country only 40,000 of them make contributions to the EPF. The minister may well be alluding to the number of registered employers but the actual figure of EPF dodgers among employers could be well over that mark, The Minister has also pointed out that apart from the perceived downsloping in the contributions made to the EPF the enrolment of new members too had registered a decline. The above status quo, it must be emphasized, is most disturbing and portends a grave scenario where the employees of all categories will be plunged in the morass of occupational insecurity. Therefore, any lacuni in the system of remitting and receiving EPF contributions ought to be identified and the effecting of remedial measures stepped up sans delay. According to the Minister, it had been reported that the main reason for this seeming mess is the lack of staff to handle the large number of files and that, of the number available, some have to be posted for solving industrial disputes. The heartening news however is that the Ministry had recruited 200 graduates as field officers to attend to matters related to EPF work. I believe all your readers will agree that these officers above all must be scrupulously honest and above-board. If not the entire exercise will be as wasteful as flogging a dead horse because a corrupt officialdom will inevitably spawn negative results. It is an open secret that although it is mandatory for employers to pay EPF money for those who worked for them, scheming and unconscionable employers adopt despicable strategies to overreach their statutory obligations. In this regard, I make bold to declare that there are even the so called prestigious trade unions with the most ‘revered’ leaders at the helm who do not play fair by their employees judging by the haphazard manner in which the EPF payments are made. Dear Minister, get your officers to zero in on the big sharks and make them pay and then the smaller sprats are sure to fall in the line without much bother. B. M.
Abeywardene, I wrote to The Island of 26. 11. 97 following a suggestion by Nihal Mendis a former Commissioner General of Inland Revenue to increase the personal tax exemption to Rs. 250,000 in respect of those employed and self-employed. As I pointed out the current exemption of those self-employed is Rs. 100,000 per year and therefore anything above Rs. 8,333.33 per month is taxable. With the introduction of the GST, it is noted that the threshold that was Rs. 25,000 per quarter in respect of Turn Over Tax has been increased to Rs. 500,000 per quarter in the case of GST. Similarly, why can't the President who is the Minister of Finance and her Deputy consider the threshold with regard to personal tax and increase it to Rs. 250,00 per year. If this is done many tax files could be closed and the staff engaged to implement GST to the letter as desired by the government and detect all unauthorised collections of GST from innocent consumers. Does the President and the cabinet of ministers believe that a family could survive on Rs. 8,333.33 per month with the cost of living having shot up to unprecedented heights with the introduction of GST and other price hikes? Please do not wait until the eve of general elections to dish out the ‘goodies’. Voters are now past masters in this game and can seen through any "gundu" or "carrot". So give what is due to us now even though the Big Match is in the year 2000. Middle
class tax payer The ceramic industry and the stock market Last week we saw a large advertisement requesting personnel for another tile factory supposed to make porcelain tiles. I am a share holder in all the public quoted ceramic companies which are Dankotuwa Porcelain, Lanka Walltile, Lanka Tiles, Royal Ceramics and Lanka Ceramics. Most persons like me ventured out to purchase shares in these companies from 1990 onwards. The cost of a share at the initial offering was between Rs. 15 to 50. The highest price was paid to a share of Walltile. The issue was supposed to have been over subscribed 26 times and we were rationed the shares. Most of us bought and sold our shares at profit. This game went on till the beginning of the collapse of the stock market in 94. The entire ceramic sector shares are not doing well in the market now. The best shuttling between Royal and Dankotuwa. Once the pride of the ceramic industry, Lanka Ceramics and it's group companies Walltile and Lanka Tile are the worst off. What has hit them? I have done some investigations on my own for the benefit of the shareholders, up to '96. I was treated most respectfully by two ladies with the same last name at Ceramics. Now they are no more. I used to occasionally bump in to the young Chairman of the group who had an excellent knowledge of the industry as well as business ethics and always addressed me by name. I assume he knew most of the share holders as at the AGM's I have noted him to address most of the shareholders by name and move freely with us joking as well as serious business before and after AGM. I am told that he is involved with an international consortium and taking our people and the industry out of the country. Why could we not keep him at Ceramics? I am also a regular visitor to the show rooms at Galle Road, Nawala and Ramanayake Mawatha. Other than at Rama-nayake Mawatha there is a general deterioration of sprit among the sales staff. Most of the time what we want is not available. There is hardly any choice at the Galle Road shop now. I can remember the previous chairman telling me that any person who walks in to any of the shops, if that person walks out with empty hands the company has failed. I walk out many times now with empty hands and nobody seems to care. The quarterly results are being sent to us with attractive results. Even with good results the share price is not doing well. Has this got some thing to do with the new directorate? Almost all the top management of the group are now new, and they hardly talk to the shareholders. Is the industry fading out of the country, I doubt that too, as the new porcelain company is supposed to be an American investment with Carson's. I wish they go public and give a run to the current slow runners. How is Dankotuwa and Royal doing better than the holder of the largest asset base? Tilak
Jayatissa, Benz cars, Mahanayakas, and the Dalada Maligawa The Mahanayakas of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters have now accepted the luxury Benz cars gifted to them by the President of the country, and nobody can do any thing about it. Whether they should have accepted the so called luxury cars, or whether it was proper for the President of the country to gift such things is entirely up to them. But what I could like to state here is, it would have been very much better if the President of the country had understood what she should have done first before she thought of gifting those very expensive cars to the Mahanayakas. For, at the time, she gifted these Benz cars to the Mahanayakas, the LTTE had cruelly bombed the Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth). Appeals were sent off to the general public, expecting large sums of money as donations to restore the same. Instead of lavishing her generosity on the Mahanayakas the President should have gifted the money on the restoration of the badly damaged Dalada. If she did really donate that money towards this worthy cause, she would have been hailed as a heroine by all of us. It definitely would have been the done thing, and I wonder why, she never thought of doing the same. At the same time, I would have thought the Mahanayakas were generous enough if they had sold the luxury Benz cars in public auction and donated the money received for the restoration of the Dalada Maligawa. I believe the Mahanayakas still have the chance of doing the same even at this juncture. Many a generous man would have gifted a lesser plushy car to the Mahanayakas, in appreciation of the noble act if they had done what they should have done. True
Buddhist Butter and
GST Many of Sri Lankan lives from hand to mouth As a bread-spread, margarine is next to butter The affluent take butter to make their batter better The milk remaining after churning is buttermilk
Butter-bird in Jamaica is known as bobolink A butter-cooler in water preserves it at table A butter-nut in Guiana is called souari (nut) In the greasy leaves of butterwort the insects get
stuck Maitre-butter contains lemon-juice and chopped parsley Butter-muslin is a woven cloth with fine mesh To beguile with flattery is to butter up No more the pride of Taprobane Mt. Lavinia is marked in some of the oldest maps of Ceylon. Mt. Lavinia was considered a 'Pearl' within "The Pearl of the Indian Ocean." But what is Mt. Lavinia now? The scenic beauty around the grand hotel is lost. The bay is dirty and the beach is nothing but a spot catering for undesirables. Mt. Lavinia was far better off under urban council status than now. It was a place where great people like Prof. Ediriweera Sarathchandra, Martin Wickrama-singhe and many others lived. I too had the privilege living and enjoying the leisured life there. Mayors have come and gone but Mt. Lavinia stagnates and stinks. However the rates and taxes levied by the local authority keep on rising. As a concerned citizen having the interests of Mt. Lavinia at heart, I wish to highlight a few of the essential improvements which should be given top priority by the mayor as well as the member of parliament for the area, if we do have one. 1. The bus stand should be expanded and reconstructed as a Central Bus Stand, from where long distant buses could start. (This would ease congestion at Pettah.) 2. Places from where crowds cross the railway line to the beach should be done up to enable the old and feeble to cross over confidently and without danger by filling up with gravel the protruding high concrete sleepers. 3. The old Tilly's Beach Hotel could be utilized for some useful purpose such as a shopping complex and restaurant or as a hospital or army security post; and its overhead bridge used for people to cross over to the beach. (Kids could be provided with a mat-slide on the beach side to play). 4. The beach should be improved to attract more tourists. 5. The Municipal Council must have a central unit where residents would be able to get all their transactions done such as paying of bills, making complaints, handling maintenance work connected with water, electricity and telephone (all-in-one). 6. The present sewage system should be improved. This modern facility is available only to residents on seaside lanes from Dehiwala bridge upto Mt. Lavinia Hotel. (Charges are so high that many have not got it done). 7. Open drains and manholes should be covered with removable concrete covers. 8. Clean up the canal and spray insecticides. (filaria is endemic in Mt. Lavinia). Let us - all the 'Lavinians' - have something to be proud of. Over to you, the Mayor and our Member of Parliament. Queenie
Balasuriya, Oh! Doctor, day and night I wonder You often fail to ferry me on the dark tide, I very often wondered, I've learned to respect that brisk manner, And also turn your back to Hippocrates, All of us have a right to live, Some die in want and hunger, All things on earth you shall win, But when you are sick yourself, A. R.
M. T. B. Ratnayake, The Church of Ceylon then known as the Church of England in Ceylon has been part of our country for over 150 years. The first Bishop of Colombo took office in 1845. 1. Our Church is comprised of a number of parishes and Church buildings throughout the island through which we have produced individuals of dedication and commitment in the service of our nation. It is well established that our Church has made a very significant contribution in the sphere of education not only through the big city schools but also through a number of small schools in the estates and villages. The later category of schools were under our administration until 1960. 2. Our church also has rendered significant service to society by running orphanages and schools for the disabled — notably the Ceylon School for the Deaf & Blind in Ratmalana and Kaitady, Jaffna. 3. To the best of our knowledge our Church has carried out this work peacefully during this long period of time without ever being in conflict with any other religious community, political party or the Government. 4. This Draft Bill has been duly passed by both the Diocesan Councils of Colombo and Kurunegala with substantial majority of over two thirds of those present both among Clergy and Laity. It was the view of both Diocesan Councils that this New Bill is necessary for the better management and administration of our church. 5. We seek the assistance of parliament in having this new Draft Bill enacted so that we may continue to serve our nation and people even better in the years to come in obedience to God. The History of Legislation regarding our Church: 1. In 1885 Ordinance No. 6 known as "An Ordinance to enable Bishop Clergy & Laity of the Church of England in Ceylon to provide for the regulation of the affairs of the said Church was enacted. This Ordinence enable our Church "to hold synods, assemblies or conventions at such place in such manner, and for such purposes in connection with their ecclesiastical affairs as to them shall seem fit and to make and enforce regulations in connection therewith which shall be binding upon such persons as have either directly or indirectly assented thereto..............." 2. This Ordinance also provided for the appointment of "Incorporated Trustees of the Church of England "to hold and administer property for the work of the Church. The incorporated Trustees were to be elected by a Council of the Diocese consisting of the Bishop, the Clergy and representatives of the Laity. This Ordinance which is still operative has been amended from time to time to meet changing needs. 3. Amending Ordinance 1 of 1930 servered connection of the Diocese of Colombo with the Church of England and made that Diocese a constituent part of the Church of India (Pakistan) Burma and Ceylon. From then on our Church has been part of the Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon and been governed by its regulations while the Dioceses in our country were able to regulate their own internal Diocesan matters as provided for in their respective Diocesan Constitutions. 4. Amending Act No. 6 of 1972 brought into being legally a new Diocese known as the Diocese of Kurunegala and recognised the Bishop of Kurunegala as a corporate body. It will be noted that in origin our Church was very much part of the Church of England. Since 1930 we have been part of the Church of India, Pakistan Burma & Ceylon. 5. The Dioceses of the Church of India, Pakistan & Burma have gone into united Churches — in South India (1947) North India (1970) & Pakistan (1960). 6. (i) Clause 13(1) of the Draft Bill provides that he Constituent Assembly of the Church shall draft and adopt a Constitution for the Church of Ceylon. This constitution will consist of Declaration of the principles and Canons for the regulation of the Ecclesiastical practices of the Church, and also for matters pertaining to its general administration. The principle embodied in the Ordinance No. 6 of 1885 that the Church as a religious organisation is left free to decide its ecclesiastical affairs is thus rightly continued and maintained in the present Bill. (ii) This is in keeping with the legislative policy of the country when incorporating religious and voluntary organisations to grant them the authority to make the rules which govern their internal matters. (iii) Our two Dioceses in Ceylon now seek to be part of an autonomous Church of our country. The proposed Bill will provide it with the necessary updated legislative framework and under the provision of that legislation the Church will be empowered to draft its own rules as may seem fit to it. In the tradition of our Church while temporalities are very much in the hands of the Laity, matters of Faith and Order or doctrinal matters are the prerogative of the Bishops. Thus the proposed bill states that all questions for decision at the meeting of the Constituent Assembly shall be decided "with the consent of the Bishop of Colombo and the Bishop of Kurunegala". (iv) Clause 13(1) of the Draft Bill provides for the Constitution drafted and approved by the Constituent Assembly will be subject to amendment by the General Assembly of the Church Section 13(3). The need for a new Act Our Church at this point of time in its development requires a new Act to take the place of the Act that is in operation now since several important changes are desired. 1. From 1845 to 1930 our Church was part of the Church of England in Ceylon. That connection has been served and while we retain relationships of amity with all Churches throughout the world especially Churches of the Anglican Communion, we have long since ceased to be a Branch of the Church of England. 2. From 1930 until 1970 we were part of the Church of India Pakistan Burma and Ceylon. That Church (Province) has now ceased to exist as aforesaid. The Church in Burma is now a Province in its own right. 3. Consequently, the two Dioceses in our country, the Diocese of Colombo and the Diocese of Kurunegala now wish to constitute together a Church of our nation that is autonomous and with its own leadership. 4. Indeed there are some members of our Church who do not wish that our ties with England or with the Indian Sub-Continent be severed, but the vast majority of the members of our Church desire the formation of a truly national and independent Church that can continue to serve our country in the new national context of Sri Lanka. This is in keeping with our aspirations to build a Church that is in harmony with the cultures of our people. 5. Other circumstances which necessitate a new Act rather than amendment of the existing Act are the following:- (a) The spirit of the worldwide Anglican Communion also encourage the establishment of self-governing independent national Churches mutually linked with one another. (b) Hitherto the Incorporated Trustees of the Church of England in Ceylon have been elected only by the Diocese of Colombo. This is manifestly unjust and the Diocese of Kurunegala too must be able to participate in the election of the Incorporated Trustees. (c) At present there is no Constitutional Body which enabled representatives from the Diocese of Colombo and the Diocese of Kurunegala to meet together for mutual consultation though together we constitute the Church of Ceylon. The new Act provides for such a Body — the General Assembly (Section 11) which will enable the Church of Ceylon to deliberate and Act together. (d) Within the Church of Ceylon there will be two Dioceses. These Dioceses can have their own regulations in so far as their own Diocesan matters are concerned. But under Section 15 (3) of the Draft Bill such Diocesan regulations must conform to the Constitution of the Church of Ceylon. We hope that the work of our Church will be strengthened in the service of our nation. For this purpose we expect to set up Dioceses and appoint Bishops by Law. We believe that we are entitled to offer the best in our religious tradition and values for the common good of our Country and that this right is protected by the Constitution. The proposed Bill is intended to effect better administration and management of our Church and does not impinges on the rights of persons of other faith. Rev.
S.L.C. Knight, |
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