Put country before party
Sri Lanka is a country facing a critical situation which the country has not faced for many centuries, since the invasion of this country and its capture by the invading colonial powers. This crisis situation, which began over 20 years ago, has been gradually deteriorating over the years, and, in many respects similar to the situation that prevailed when we lost our Independence.
The country is at war, where the very existence of Sri Lanka as a Nation is in jeapordy. Many young people are sacrificing their limbs and their lives. Many people are living in dire straits as refugees in camps and in border villages. All this is happening in our motherland.
Yet who cares? The politicians are blaming each other. Their interest is scoring political points with their eyes on forthcoming elections. They find fault with each other, repeating ad nauseam the good they have done and the evil done by their opponents. A few shrewd politicians are attempting to capitalise on this situation and gain maximum for the parochial interests they serve. "Let the country go to the dogs as long as I am alright" seems to be the attitude. It is difficult, nay impossible almost, to find patriotic politicians, although I daresay there are a very, very few in the great divide. Few, who unfortunately are covered and drowned by the vast majority of self-seeking power hungry, power crazy politicians. Their conduct and behaviour in various fora make this obvious.
Should not the politicians, in particular, and the people of this country consider the war and the disintegration of the country a national threat? Should we not, at this juncture, all who call this country our home, get together to overcome the disastrous situation that the country is facing, rather than attempt to score political points? Should not the war this country is waging and costing the national exchequer at least 60 billion rupees per year and thousands of lives be a rational problem and be above politics ?
Should not the two major political groupings, at least at this time of crisis, get together on this national issue? Should not the war be an issue for all the political parties and, in particular, the two major political groupings to discuss and agree on in amity and support each other to solve this problem. If these two groupings get together on this issue, surely both the war and the political crisis and dilemma facing this country could be solved. This is exactly what even the minor political parties want. They know that without the agreement of the major political parties no solution is possible.
The fault for this situation is not only due to the power hunger of the politicians. It is also the fault of ninety per cent of the people of this country, not affected and not concerned by the war, who are indifferent to what goes on. It is the ninety per cent of the honest people of this country, the vast silent, unaffected, unconcerned and indifferent majority, the people who believe in justice, fair play and honour who should rise from their slumber and exert pressure on the politicians of this country. Their indifference and apathy has allowed this situation to deteriorate to this crisis level. Now the silent majority has to coerce the politicians to action in the National interest.
The leaders of the business community have made a courageous decision and are trying to get these two warring groups together to try to bring about a rational and national approach to this grave problem.
A very few persons, like Dr. Sarath Amunugama MP, have had the courage to stand up and voice their opinion even against the thinking of their own political parties, and, are trying to treat the crisis facing the country as a national problem and not as an individual political party or the other party’s political problem. But, the sad fact is that whilst most of the politicians are trying to score political points, the ninety per cent silent opinion of this country remains without standing up for national unity and the existence of Sri Lanka as a nation.
We need more people like the leaders of the Sri Lanka business community. We need more Sarath Amunugamas. We need more people who are unconcerned about this situation to get concerned.
What we do not need is opportunistic politicians who want to gain political mileage whilst the Country is in this crisis situation. Does it not remind one of "Nero fiddling while Rome is burning"?
Major General Gratiaen Silva, VSV (retd)
Colombo traffic jams mainly due to Galle Road closure
All roads leading to the Fort and Pettah areas have become a hell hole and nightmare for the motorist and public transport commuter due to being daily caught up in a traffic Jam at some point or other, mostly in the Kollupitiya area.
It is obvious to everyone that Traffic Jams are mainly due to the closure of a section of Galle Road, Kollupitiya, permanently for all traffic and the Police not allowing even Vans carrying office workers to use the Galle Road, Kollupitiya. There is no sense and no reason in banning Vans from using the Galle Road opposite Temple Trees.
Even before the city worker could get back to their homes, every day at 7 p.m, the Presidential Security Division close up and barricade Galle Road, Kollupitiya at the Rotunda Gardens and the Colpetty Junction. Thousand of Motorists are daily caught up in this sudden road closure and have to make a very long detour wasting valuable fuel, time and energy.
Nowhere in the world will a right thinking head of state close the main highway-leading to the city centre and the nucleus of business and trade and banking.
If the President is concerned about giving life to the economy and the business circles, Galle Road, Kollupitiya has to be immediately opened up as even Duplication road which was once a very busy road has also been closed up and barricaded behind Temple Trees.
Nadesan
Colombo 7
Tax on Tax — GST
The principle of Tax on Tax is not new to us. For example, if a person receives Rs. 100,000/= as bonus from his employer and the tax rate applicable is 30%, then the tax liability would be Rs. 30,000/=. However if the employer agrees to settle the employees tax liability, even the tax reimbursement by the employer becomes liable for tax and the final tax liability would be Rs. 42,857/=. This could be considered reasonable as the employee receives a net pay of Rs. 100,000/= as promised by the employer.
Quoted below are two cases in respect of Goods and Service Tax (G.S.T) imposed with effect from 01.04.98.
A) When G.S.T was introduced, it was clearly stated that the tax was imposed on the consumer and it is the duty of the supplier of goods and services (Importers, Manufacturers, etc.) should collect the said tax and pay the Department of Inland Revenue. We are liable for penalty if G.S.T was not computed correctly or not settled on time.
We are liable for sales tax imposed by the Provincial Council. For example, if the sale is Rs. 100/=, the G.S.T payable is Rs. 12.50. However we are liable for sales tax at the rate of 1% on G.S.T recovered as well. Therefore you would observe that we, tax collectors are collecting Rs. 12.50 from the customer, and bear that additional 1% on the G.S.T when settling the respective authorities. Though we are not expecting any commission from the Department of Inland Revenue, we have to pocket out this additional expenses of 1% on G.S.T recovered.
I am aware the Department of Inland Revenue will not permit us to deduct this 1% from the G.S.T recovered. Neither the Department of Inland Revenue nor the Treasury would interfere in the revenue policy of Provincial Councils.
Therefore can an authority for Provincial Council consider our plight and grant exemption for the sales tax on G.S.T recoveries? All that has to be done is to amend the definition of Turnover for T.T purposes to be the same as the value of supply for G.S.T. The same rule should be applied for National Security Levy (N.S.L) as well.
B) When items are imported, we are liable for Duty, G.S.T, and Defence Levy at the time of clearance. The CIF consist of the following.
i. FOB
ii. Freight
iii. InsuranceAt present, we have the facility to arrange for local freight and insurance and we are charged with G.S.T on services. However when Duty, G.S.T, Defence Levy are computed at the customs, the CIF value is taken with G.S.T paid on insurance premium, but not that on local freight which is the correct position. It could be observed that the G.S.T paid on insurance is liable for Duty, G.S.T and Defence Levy at the Customs. It is true that the G.S.T paid at Customs could be claimed as input credit, but we should not be liable to pay additional Duty and Defence Levy on the element of G.S.T.
I hope that the Director General of the Customs looks in to this matter and rectify the present.
S. R. Balachandran
Council Member
The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka
National identity cards
The Sunday Island newspaper of June 20th. carried on it’s front page a news item captioned "NIC’s COMPULSORY, AT FUTURE ELECTIONS?", in which, in the last paragraph it was said that a spokesman for the Dept. of Registration of Persons had stated that "THE PRESENT LAW DOES NOT MAKE IT COMPULSORY THAT ALL ADULTS MUST OBTAIN AN NIC".
If this be so, then, one cannot understand why the producing of an NIC is insisted upon wherever one goes to transact some business or enter a government or private establishment and specially at security check points. I have seen for myself on several occasions, underaged young persons who physically appear to be much older, being severely and sometimes even rudely and crudely being castigated for not being in possession of an NIC. This often happens in Tamil households during security checks by police and service personnel. There have also been instances when such youngsters have been taken and detained at police stations, temporarily, pending inquiries, depending on the understanding and the outlook of the officer concerned.
In some government departments, private establishments and foreign missions, the NIC is demanded, retained and a token given before one is allowed to enter the premises/building and the NIC could be re-obtained on returning the token issued. Even video bars have adopted the same procedure before they lend a video/CD cassette. Is this method legally permissible? Is it not an offence under the Registration of Persons Act to be in possession of another person’s NIC?
Would the Commissioner for the Registration of Persons be good enough to clarify the above matters through the newspapers, please?
K. Pathmanathan
Wattala.
It is spiritual purity that we need
It is known by everybody in Sri Lanka that arrangements have already been made by the government to set up a Hindu temple at Muthurajawela nearby the sea, at a cost of Rs. 600 million to counterbalance a curse hypothesized to be coming forth from Thiruchirappalli in India.
It was also reported that this decision has been taken on the advice of some foreign (Indian) priests. The main area of the premises is reserved for the Kovil and a small area is provided for a temple. The building for the cultural centre is meant to be erected next to the temple. A board is displayed in front of the main area which is reserved for the Kovil saying, " A foundation stone to build up Sri Ranga Natha Samy Kovil, to protect our heritage was laid on the 28th of the month of Thai of the year Iswara". This is a conspiracy.
When Ven. Gangodawila Soma Thero was contacted to obtain his views on this matter he expressed his opinion thus " We do not want Cultural Centres connected with Kovils. Almost all the Buddhists in Sri Lanka are strongly against this act. The Minister of Buddha Sasana who is silent about this fraud cannot be a Buddhist. There are people suffering in villages without food. I have spoken to farmers who say that if they are provided with necessities that they would cultivate to feed the whole nation."
Ven. Soma Thero stated that the problem of war could not be solved by erecting kovils. The government should try to make the nation prosperous in every aspect, materially and spiritually. Moreover, the leaders should be exemplary in their behaviour." He assured that he was not a racist against other religions; the motive for the expression of this view was to point out the damage that is being caused to our race and religion.
The Vishnu concept in Hinduism is a very noble, devout one; it is not a philosophy of curse. None of the Hindus would like to identify Hinduism in that perspective, Ven. Thero explained.
"Those who are responsible in this matter say that a cultural centre is being set up. However the foundation stone has been laid for a kovil. In a Buddhist country it should have begun at least placing Buddhism at the key position. Can we bear this kind of treatment? he asked. There’s no conformity in these two religions. This is the time for the religious leaders to open their eyes wide. In Hinduism it is taught that Brahma created this world. Buddhism teaches that the world exists due to the philosophy of cause and effect. The only basis for the Buddhists is the results of their own deeds (kamma), in this birth, birth after this birth, and so on until we attain Nirvana, and not the will of any super person. "
While Hinduism teaches, nithya, sukha and athma, Buddhism believes in anithya, dukka and anathma. Have you seen statues of Lord Buddha in Hindu kovils whereas you see statues of Hindu gods in Buddhist temples?
Ven. Soma Thero emphasized the necessity of responsible persons including the clergy and especially the leaders of the nation to awaken their consciousness in Buddhism.
Curse is a mental projection. The attempt of wasting the wealth of this country seeking a temporary relief from an unseen force is nothing but mental sickness. The majority of this country including its leaders are Buddhists. In such a situation it is extremely funny that the leaders of this country believe in misconceptions, especially when they are at the verge of entering the 21st century.
Manjari Peiris
Maharagama
Appreciation
Miss Amabel Jayasuriya
Miss Amabel Jayasuriya was laid to rest on June 21st this year in the atmosphere of a quiet country churchyard. It was a well-earned rest.
Born to an inheritance, from her father and maternal grandfather of being head of a Christian school, she took to a career of teaching after graduating with an Honours Degree in History from the then University of Ceylon. After a spell at her own school, the Princess of Wales College, Moratuwa, she moved over to teach in Kurunegala and then to head St. Andrew’s Girls’ School, Gampola. But her direction changed and she was brought back to the Anglican Diocese of Colombo, to become in 1959, the first Sri Lankan Principal of Bishop’s College, Colombo, and remained so for nineteen years until the end of 1978.
Miss Jayasuriya brought with her a vision for the future, which she skillfully blended into an atmosphere of the best of the Bishop’s College tradition handed down by the Sisters of St. Margaret who had headed the school for sixty years.
The school switched over to the mother-tongue as the medium of instruction, but retained the English medium, as long as it was allowed, for children entitled to it by racial descent. Bishop’s College had not had a school song. After some deliberation, Miss Jayasuriya decided it should have one in Sinhala. National festivals were observed, the kindergarten in particular, celebrating the Avurudhu day.
Miss Jayasuriya had all children in the school commence their day with their own religious devotions - Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic. In addition, while the Christians, by tradition, attended a weekly service in the parish church, those of other faiths were encouraged to have similar programs. The Student Christian Movement had its counterparts in societies of other religions. The staff were not neglected either. They fully participated in the observances of their faiths and the Christian teachers had prayers conducted for them in the chapel. One could see through all these observances Miss Jayasuriya’s own quiet and dignified acceptance of God.
As a teacher, Miss Jayasuriya gave a broadened perspective to the curriculum. Every activity to develop mind, body and spirit on correct lines was encouraged. To the staff she would say that anyone with a university training should be able to teach any subject. Although a graduate in history, she taught divinity and mathematics with great acceptance. To the children she would state that if they did their days work, and did it well, it would suffice to get them through their examinations. Her advice was sincere and sound but parents in these competitive decades wanted their children pushed further.
Miss Jayasuriya loved doing things - no task was menial for her. She would move furniture, hang up the children’s paintings, landscape and do beautiful cross-stitch work. She had a fine sense of balance and colour, be it for furnishings, clothes, paintings or floral arrangements and she loved to share her books with discerning readers.
This Principal would hardly ever directly chide anyone, students or staff of whatever designation. Instead, she would pose the question whether what was done or not done was in order. This was a far more telling method of pointing out sins of commission and omission. She was sympathetic and humane. She was concerned about every member of school and would help those in financial need silently without causing embarrassment to the recipient. A number of indigent outsiders came for a monthly dole from her, some of them more frequently.
Miss Jayasuriya being human, had her own peculiarities. But we staff and pupils who came to know her all matured under her wisdom. She made us see the funny side of things and the sad.
Nineteen years is a long spell to be in charge of a school. Those who had been her students brought their offspring in. The period was one of stress, fitting into a national pattern and structuring the school to foster new generations of Sri Lankan girls. It could not have been easy. But to Miss Amabel Jayasuriya, everything was possible with the grace of God, and with that grace her nineteen years, if not as grand, were indeed great.
Brenda Jayasinghe