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Good roads, strong bridges, efficient transportations are very important factors for a country's progress. Japan has been very generous and helped our country in constructing the 'Sri Lanka/Japan Friendship Bridge' over the Kelani river. This was to be completed in two stages. First stage was completed with two lanes and smooth flow on traffic both inward and outward functioned without much hindrance to the users of this road. The flow of traffic was also made easy because of the old Kelani bridge was also used for light weight traffic coming towards Colombo. In June 98 the authorities concerned suddenly closed the old Kelani bridge to commence the second stage of the 'Sri Lanka Friendship Bridge'. They closed the old Kelani bridge road and diverted the traffic coming toward Colombo to the one of the narrow strips of the new bridge. Because of this we daily experience traffic jams causing inconvenience to the public. These traffic jams could have been easily avoided, had the authorities concerned come out with some alternative plans before closing the bridge. They should have known that the dismantling of the old bridge and the completion of the second phase of the new bridge would take at least two years. The great question is why the authorities cannot concentrate on these shortcomings before they embark on projects of this nature? S. Ariyaratne Telephone communication centres I wish to know from the Chairman, Sri Lanka Telecom whether communication centres are given permission to charge full rate when the Telecom informed the public by press notes on weekdays off peak hours from 9 a.m. to 8 a.m. next day, Saturdays from 2 p.m. to Monday 8 a.m. and public holidays half rate. The communication centres say that concession half rate is for IDD calls only. I wish to know whether this is so or whether it is an easy way for them to make money in a short time. I hope Telecommunication Dept. clearly enforce the billing system applicable to communication centres so that the customers won't be fleeced by unscrupulous communication mudalali. M. J. de Silva Kandy-Matale highway - A9 nightmare Even under normal circumstances the road to Matale from Kandy beginning at Katugastota was no pleasure trip. Travelling through congested Ambatenna and the even more crowded Akurana was not one's cup of tea. But traversing it now is an absolute nightmare. A road widening project has been going on for the last five years with no end in sight. In the meantime motorists have to contend with excavated roadsides, large craters, unfinished culverts, mounds of earth, haphazardly parked construction equipment with no regard to road users, no warning boards, and above all a dreadfully pot holed road surface which is a disgrace to the whole road making engineering fraternity of this country. What all the inconvenience and delays has done to damage the economy of Matale over the last few years would be an interesting case study. It certainly must have sent quite a few public transport vehicles to the grave yard by now. Given the appalling conditions I am surprised the people of Matale and their representatives do seem to take it all lying down. Many years ago a man from Moratuwa had to lead them in battle against an outside oppressor. Are the Matale folk such 'meeyas' that they are too timid to demand an end to their daily misery, from the relevant authorities who are their servants? Milroy Ratwatte Pensions of government servants So far only humanitarian reasons have been put forward in the press against stopping or curtailment of pensions. But there are more serious ones too:- (i) It is illegal: The pensionability of the post is part of the contract involving legal consideration which the government entered into with its prospective employee. It is, I think, the main reason why the individual had opted for a government post. (ii) It is unjust: A government servant is compulsorily retired at the age of sixty when he or she is able to work for several more years as workers in private firms or in self employment demonstrate. The government, therefore, has a corresponding obligation to compensate him or her for loss of employment. (iii) It is politically disastrous: The pensioner is not the only person having the vote. His or her spouse and grown up children and those relatives who Might become obliged to care for this family, too, have the vote. Therefore this act would antagonise a considerable section of the voting population. (iv) Loss of credibility: It would turn out to be a broken promise when the PA manifesto had painted such a rosy picture for the pensioners. People will cease to believe anything the government promises or foretells. (v) propagation of a fallacy: It is quite wrong to think that pensioners only eat and live. Many have spouses and children to be looked after. It is, therefore, no wonder minister Richard Pathirana, a matured and far sighted politician as he is, gave a strong assurance on the floor of the Parliament that pensions would be completely untouched. But if we want to be fair by the pensioner much more has to be done, as stated by the PA manifesto, to improve his lot. Only then can we proudly say that Sri Lanka is truly a welfare state. M. H. M. Ismail Rambling Notes by Nihal Corea Now Ravi Karunanayake, fast becoming a stormy figure of local politics and a thorn in the side of many a politician has made yet another request that is going to cause quite a rumpus. In the simpler jargon of the parliamentarian he is a pain in the Butt. His latest proposal is certainly going to shock quite a few parliamentarians who are likely to react strongly to the idea. Besides writing him off as non compose mentis and talking gibberish they are sure to ask where on earth you have the tail wagging the dog. He suggests having a code of ethics for ministers and MPs. A code of ethics is what MPs have for journalists who get above themselves and start accusing MPs of things they have done or not done. (Not done according to the MPs). The very idea of suggesting that an MP could do anything unethical would be pure and simple heresy. Who dares share an MP out of his sinless state of tranquillity and have him answer such questions as to whether he has violated a code of ethics. It is as good as taking away his birth right. Now Ravi has gone and put his foot in his mouth by saying that such a motion was due to the severe degradation of political culture and the commercializing of the role of a member of parliament. Now these are strong words and big words that are likely to fly over the heads of many a simple politician. He would however sense there was impending disaster in the proposal to say "thoppi coming" or if slightly more anglicized exclaim "full hat". To an MP it would sound a bit sinister from start to finish. The local MP would also see a flaw in the reasoning behind it all. Ravi seems worried about the commercialising of the role of a member of parliament. In the first instance Ravi must realize that politics is serious business. It is not for amateurs. So there has to be an element of commercialisation necessary with allowances pensions and perks. True it is the perks that worry but that is besides the point. An MP is not state owned. He belongs to the people and therefore is peoplised but as most publicly owned ventures are now privatized MPs too should fall into that element and be listed in the stock market though it would depress that institution considerably in the process. An MP or minister in the hands of wrong stock brokers could create serious fluctuations who could play havoc if insider information is something he is not averse to... Ravi no doubt is worried about the decline of political culture. Possibly his mind is going back to the days when a parliamentarian was essentially a legislator and the hansard was full of the fiery but often flowery orations of our illustrious parliament arians of the past. Your MP of today is a different kettle of fish. He is a far more mundane type. A few crisp and well chosen four letter words followed by a few well directed punches would do him fine to drive his point home. He has little time for long winded oratory in parliament. He would rather rush back to his electorate where he has far more interesting and useful things to do.. Today's parliament has to keep things within budgets where the electorate and the people are concerned. Naturally he gets a little sore when asked about his own budget. How many things can a man do at the same time? It is a forgone conclusion that thousands of citizens have to suffer in silence for the safety of our President. The other day as I was travelling from Maradana towards Dehiwela our vehicle was held up at Eye Hospital junction; We were directed to go round and round only to come back to another road block. Every road was chocker block with vehicles. Whoever could turn around, went back only to come to another roadblock. We had no idea of what was happening; the traffic police would not give any explanation other than, 'Me paren yanna baha'. (You cannot go by this road). They could not even give any helpful advice as to which road was open for us to go towards Wellawatte. We were stuck for 2 hours. At last we saw the President's fleet of vehicles passing and all roads were opened. What struck us as most absurd was, that the President can go only by one road; it is understandable that the roads were closed for security reasons, in order not to give way the route she was taking. But at last when she happened to pass by, the fleet of vehicles with their flickering lights was unmistakable. It was more a case of attracting attention to the road she was passing than otherwise. Surely there is a better way to provide security for the Head of State. Does the whole floating population of Colombo have to come to a standstill to let one person pass by? We had no way of informing those at home why we were getting so late. Looking at those held up in vans and buses, I was wondering how many of them had to get down and walk through lonely roads, and lanes, so late in the night to reach home. At least does it provide security to the President? Not at all. There should be an alternative to this kind of poor security provided for the President. It is time the security, traffic, and other bigwigs put their heads together to come up with a better, solution to this problem. Dr. Mareena Thaha |
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