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| Morning Spice by Ginger Industries in provinces and cost of labour Ginger was having a chat with the owner of a garment factory the other day. His set up was in the provinces and Ginger, out of general curiosity, asked him whether his cost of production was lower than that of those who had located their industry in and around the city as they often had to pay more for land, labour and so forth. His reply surprised me quite a bit. He said this should be the case if other things remained equal but that the cost of labour, due to low productivity nullified such gains. This I felt this was quite a revelation as average labour output due to background and culture of the rural element should be relatively high. This industrialist admitted that the average worker applied him or herself with quite some dedication but at the same time had a pathetic attendance rate. Due to the rather close knit structure or rural society anything that happened in the home or neighbourhood was an excuse to keep off work. Often it was not necessary for them to be there but the force of habit was too great to let them go to work. He said that the authorities, if they are anxious to see a wider spread of industries in the provinces, must drill it into workers there of the discouraging effect low attendance rates have on would be investors. Actually a few work shops that could infuse in those who hope to seek such forms of employment of the inimical effects excessive absenteeism has on the industry and the demand for labour would be most useful. Hope for AIDS victims This discovery was made after a study was made on over three hundred AIDS patients who were given drug therapy. It was observed that in eighty percent of the cases where drug therapy was given. There was an increase in T. cells that fight disease and corrects the immune system and helps it repair itself after some time. Those dead whales It transpired that a NATO vessel had been conducting few frequency active sonar to spot submarine movements in the area. Marine mammals depend on their hearing to find bearings and move about in the sea. The sonar system could well have confused and misdirected these whales who could have strayed on to the beaches. |
| Tea Plantations - from frying pan to paradise The Tea Planter lamenting in the Island of 19th August paints a dismal picture in regard to the performances of the Maturata Plantations Ltd., particularly after the take over by the present management and it certainly is a one track presentation and not a general view but pure sarcasm on a personal vendetta. Further, it also gives the wrong impression to the reader that Maturata Plantation Estates are confined to Maturata Valley alone, whereas it has flourishing estates in the Low Country. Hence these comments. Whether proper agricultural policies have been followed or not can only be reckoned from the production levels. The over-all yield that was around 850 kgs/hectare at the time of take over has now risen to over 1450 kgs/hectare, a 70% increase, speaks volumes for the correct policies followed. Agricultural plans and performances are discussed individually by CEO with the Superintendents on a quarterly basis, when the Superintendent is free to raise his queries. If the smart Superintendent has raised his query, he could have found out whether the CEO is competent or not. Further, the CEO, unlike in most other places, keeps his doors open for any Superintendent to meet him direct, without being routed. Capital investments in factories, without ADB loans or other assistance to provide new machinery, extending factory buildings, painting, re-habilitating mini hydro projects and many other work have been undertaken with the finances generated by the Company alone. The finance management and controls have had their great impact in reducing interest payable. Bank over-draft interest that was 42.8 million rupees in 1996 has been reduced to 31.1 million rupees in 1997. Similarly, Bills Discounting and Brokerage Charges have been brought down by 4 million rupees in 1997, compared to 1996. By correcting deficiencies in the tea manufacture and giving priority to details of manufacture, it has been possible to obtain optimum prices for tea manufactured on MPL Estates. With favourable tea prices and proper financial management, Company recorded a profit of 134.1 million rupees in 1997 and at the half mark in 1998, the profit recorded was 125 million rupees compared to 55 million rupees during the corresponding period in 1997. The workers received 8.7 million rupees in 1996 and 10.7 million rupees in 1997 as profit share. These are significant plus points for any managing agent. The Annual Report of the Company for 1997 highlighted a fraud, where the Superintendent of Alma Estate being involved amounting to nearly 2 million rupees. Such Superintendents are naturally not given extensions for obvious reasons. If not for the above fraud, the Company profit would rise further by 2 million rupees. When Maturata Plantations are being managed effectively by achieving the desired goals, we do not see any reason why disturb the slumber of the Golden Shareholder! The Planter, as monkey praised its own tail, commends himself to have a superior knowledge than the CEO - is it not enough to judge his mental capacity! MPL Low Country Planters |
| Development of the deep south Before the 1994 General Elections thousands of promises were made to develop the 'deep south'. The Government appointed a Development Authority for the south to find out ways and means of improving Southern Area. But to one dismay, nothing has come out after four years of PA rule. People of the South were the first to appoint PA to power. Today there are so many MP's Deputy Ministers and Ministers representing the South in the Parliament. But it is regretted to note that those in power think that Galle and Matara are the only areas belonging to South and forget the fact that there are millions of people still suffering in the Deep South. The roads in the extreme end of the Matara district and Hambantota district are in a deplorable state. No one is bothered to improve these roads from Walasmulla to Urubokka and Deniyaya are in such deplorable state that the buses do not ply on these roads. Instead old lorries similar to army wagons ply on this road fully packed with human beings. Although the Post and Telecom Minister offers thousands of phones to urban capitalists, the people in the areas of Hakmana, Meella, Walasmulla, Middeniya and villages around this area has no telephones. Even private Cellular phones are not working in this area. The Minister should think of poor people in this area who hoped that the minister would look into their plight before urban capitalists. They have been patiently waiting for years after registration for a Telephone. The supply of electricity is in a very unsatisfactory state in Hakmana, Walasmulla, Meella and Middeniya areas. New projects have been inaugurated without a proper plan and therefore the lights are very dim in the evenings. During peak hours they go off. Once the electricity fails, there is no proper authority to complain and the absence of Telephones make matters worst. Even if it is reported to a local authority it takes days to restore the supply. The main deliveries are not properly maintained. We in the deep south are not asking for heaven. What we require are the basic needs of the people. We like to have the facilities enjoyed by the general public in the other parts of the country. Most of the politicians live in Colombo and a few in Galle and Matara. Those areas have all the required facilities unlike in the deep south. So they must be thinking that all the people in the deep south are also enjoying life like them. We very earnestly request Her Excellency the President to allow us the following basic needs. (1) Give Telephone lines to Hakmana, Walasmulla, Meella and Middeniya. (2) Supply Generators wherever necessary to avoid suffering of the people without adequate light. (3) Provide drinking water facilities, (4) Inaugurate responsible offices to attend to break downs in Electricity, Telephones and Water and such offices should be placed at least in every 10 miles. (5) See that at least these basic facilities are provided without interruption. To give these basic needs we do not see any requirement of a Commission or an authority. If the MPs, Deputy Ministers and ministers make a genuine effort to see to these matters it will be sufficient. But as it is, there is no one to look after the people in the deep south and their basic needs although there were hundreds of such people promising heaven for the downtrodden. Hope this letter would catch the attention of all those Ministers and MPs representing the South. Damith Samarakone |
| The
Postal Mess Nobody seems to care about the delay in the sorting and delivery of both local and foreign mail. The Minister in charge appears to be otherwise busy and we the less fortunate are at the receiving end. The Haves, have access to Internet, E - Mail, Telex and Fax. Who care two hoots whether local or foreign mail is delivered within 2 days or two months. It is we the Have Nots that have to depend on the mail to receive letters and remittances from our loved ones abroad. Pensions are delayed and so are monthly interest remittances to the banks. Today 11. 7.98 I received letters posted in Colombo and stamped 29.6. 98 and 2. 7. 98. What a state of affairs. All what we continue to hear is about the 17 year rule. Mind you, what ever the methods employed we at least received our mail in time during those 17 years and many more as the people now realise. Whether it be the removal of the PMG or what have you act fast and release us of this problem once and for all. Affected party. |
| North and East - A truth Everything in North and East is in a mess including Education, Economy and Employment resulting in per capita income of the people in these areas being less than one tenth of that of the people in other areas. Life expectancy is almost less than 50 years while the life expectancy in the rest of Sri Lanka is about 70 or more. To overcome the present mess I would suggest following measures. 1. A Negotiated settlement of the conflict. 2. Members of Parliament of these areas to serve only one Term with retrospective effect and form themselves into a study circle to plan for economic development. 3. Future M.Ps to be returned as far as possible uncontested. The candidates to be bachelors under fourty preferably unemployed graduates, to promote regional unity, inter-regional unity and last not the least National unity. Dr. M. Sivasuriam, |
| Hello,
Hello Telecom; answer this! After reading one of the numerous advertisements inserted by the SLT in the newspapers, exhorting the general public to inform them of any breakdown in service, improvements in SLT Call Boxes etc., it prompts me to ask them whether they believe in answering letters addressed to them on certain problems relating to the service. Judging by the experience I have had in this respect, I am forced to come to the conclusion that not only does the SLT not believe in it but also that they just doesn't care. In order that the general public, particularly the SLT customers telephones may understand this attitude of the SLT better, I give below an account of my experience. A telephone was installed at my residence on 19th December 1997 when the telephone service was formally inaugurated at Kalpitiya. The first bill received in March 1998 for the period ending on 28.02 '98 indicated that the number of units consumed as 645 and the charge as Rs. 1286.19. This was for a period of nearly two and a half months which works out roughly to 258 units and Rs.515.00 per month. The bill for March and April gave the figures as 278 and 204 units and Rs.547.41 and Rs.431.85 as charges respectively. Thus it can be seen that the number of units consumed per month was something between 200 and 300 during a period of four and a half months. But I was utterly surprised when I received the bill for May which shows the number of units as 509 and the charges as Rs. 1201.38. This just cannot be, because after the first one or two months of over-enthusiasm on the part of the members of our household in using the phone to call on friends and relations, we had begun to reduce our calls and also making them during 'standard' and 'economy' periods. Further it was during this month (May) that our telephone went out of order and remained non-functional for a period of eight days (15.07.'98 - 22.07.'98), which was duly brought to SLT's notice. So under the circumstances the units used and consequently the charges have to come further down in spite of the increased rental. Thinking that this might have been due to some inadvertent error, I wrote to the Chief Engineer, Chilaw Telecom Ltd., on 14.07.'98 to look into this matter, but to my great disappointment I received no reply. I sent a reminder dated 31. 07. '98 which too has been ignored. A friend of mine who too received bloated bills for the same month had written to the Chief Executive officer and the Manager, Billing in addition to the Chief Engineer, Chilaw about these matters. All his letters, he says, remain unanswered to this day. Certain others who have personally visited the Chilaw Telecom Office, it is reported, are not simply listened to and sent back without a satisfactory explanation. So under the circumstances it is only natural that one should feel terribly wronged and also become curious to know as to what is really happening at the Sri Lanka Telecom? What are they really up to? I feel that a customer is justified if he thinks that the SLT is taking mean advantage of the non-provision of a meter to him to keep him completely in the dark and over-charge him at will. It is even very probable that the SLT is resorting to this tactic in order to find extra money to effect repairs to the damaged sub-stations by recent bombings. After-all isn't the SLT an organisation that is trying to expand its network throughout the Island? Whatever it is the SLT owes an explanation to the customers and the general public. Since the SLT does not seem to believe in replying to customers' letters, it should at least give an explanation through the medium of the press. O. H. Abdeen |
| Do
your job; don't blame others A recent press report in one of the local dailies reports that Mr. M. D. Dissanayake, Minister of Social and Youth Affairs & Rural Development has blamed the past regime for the present unemployment figure of 820,000 and annual increase of 150,000. It is because of the wrong policy of the past regime the people of this country gave the power to the present PA government. The duty of the present PA government is to rectify the errors and solve those problems with their good plans, instead of blaming the previous regime. Blaming will not at all solve any problems, but will make it worse. And it will also indicate that the present regime has no constructive plans to arrest the situation. From the time the PA regime came into power and until now 4 years have passed and we are yet to see how this government is going to solve this burning question of unemployment. When they came into power they (PA) boasted of massive plans such as the expansion of the Galle harbour installation of the, Coal power plant at Kalpitiya, construction of port on the east at Oluvil, 50 Garment Industries. etc. etc. All have been shelved. If the present regime compares the figure of unemployment to that of the previous government for the last four years the PA regime can easily notice whether they are saying the truth or trying to fool the people by giving a wrong picture. If the present government cannot do a thing they should not blame the past government instead they must try to do it better without blaming the others. Only those who cannot do a proper job and do not know to do it simply pass and blame on to others. S. Ariyaratne, |
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