Letters to the Editor

 

Let East decide its fate

Short cut to peace
I wish to suggest a short cut to peace. De-merge the Northern and Eastern Provinces by a Gazette notification. This will appease the Muslims.

Devolve the same powers India has given to its federal units and nothing more or less to the Provincial Councils.

Let the LTTE ponder over the following:
Half a loaf is better than no loaf.

These days we have to be satisfied with small mercies.

It's never too late to mend.

What cannot be cured must be endured.
G.P.
Mount Lavinia

The LTTE's desire for a unified autonomous north-east region and the SLMC's counterdemand for a separate Muslim unit, prompt me to put down my thoughts in writing.

In my opinion neither a unified north and east, nor a unified north and east with a separate Muslim unit is a permanent solution. Separate Northern and Eastern Provinces will be the only solution.

The people of the Eastern Province, regardless of race, caste or religion must decide for themselves what they want. It is not for the LTTE, the UNP, the SLFP or the SLMC to decide that.

The Muslims and Sinhalese of the Eastern Province will never agree to a merged North-East Province for the simple reason that they will be reduced to second-class citizens. Not only the Muslims and Sinhalese, even the Tamils will be treated as second class citizens.

Already, Eastern Province representation is almost non-existent in the ongoing peace talks.

Just because the people of the Eastern Province have not murdered civilians in cold blood and carried out bomb attacks on buses, trains and cities and resorted to other terrorist activities it does not mean that they have no right to speak and demand for themselves.

The people of the Eastern Province should unite and organize themselves to demand a separate province where they will be equals, free to practise their own religion and be masters of their own future.

All people must, whether they like it or not, learn to respect and recognize the rights of others, irrespective of religion or race.
M. Ifthiqar
Colombo 3


Another victim of union scam
This is with reference to "G.C.S.U not giving my money back" (The Sunday Times, December 29).

I was also a member of the Government Clerical Service Union retirement donation scheme for nearly 30 years. But I too have not been paid a cent after my retirement. I have come across many past members who have been led up the garden path by this union controlled by the Lanka Sama Samaja Party.

Here are some suggestions to solve this problem.

*Refer the matter to the Human Rights Commission, No. 36, Kynsey Road, Colombo 8.

*Get an MP to raise a question in Parliament and bring this matter to the notice of the Minister of Finance. *Take legal action.
S. A. Ratnapala
Digana


Opposition and ethnic crisis
Rev. Sydney Knight wrote under the heading 'PA, please don't do it' that "thereafter (i.e. after 1956) every opposition has scuttled moves by the party in office to solve the ethnic problem. This must not happen this time". This is incorrect.

The Tamil Language Special Provisions Bill was approved by Parliament in 1966. Thereafter, the District Council Bill was approved in 1982 and again the Provincial Council Bill in 1987 which everybody hailed as the final solution to the ethnic problem.

Of course, as in the case of any democracy, there was opposition to the bills. But what must not be forgotten is that these bills were approved by Parliament and their provisions were implemented. It is therefore, incorrect to state that every opposition has scuttled moves by the party in office to solve the ethnic problem.
D.M. Wijewardane
Matara


Unfair tax hike
The rates of the Dehiwela-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council have been increased by 74.5% for 2003.

This is unreasonable and unexpected, placing more burdens on the people who are already facing a high cost of living. Can rates be increased without consulting council members and the public? What of the services rendered to the people? Will there be an improvement in the facilities in the area too?

But the reality is that services have deteriorated. With garbage collection being haphazard dirt is lying in piles all over the area. This is testimony to the inefficiency of the DMMC.
L.R.A. Chandrasiri
Nugegoda


Murali: The boundary boy
Hats off to Rajpal Abeynayake for the article on Muralitharan, 'Pride of Sri Lanka' (The Sunday Times, December 29). Let me present a few facts about Murali as one of the teachers who served at St. Anthony's College, Kandy, during the time he was a schoolboy.

He was a shy little boy when he was admitted to the college hostel where no student was allowed to speak in any other language but English.

He was a keen cricket fan and used to collect the balls that went beyond the boundary line and throw them back to the field during first eleven cricket practices. This he did every evening after school till the bell rang for the hostellers to get back.

At the junior sportsmeet, Murali was always first in the 'throwing the cricket ball' event. When he was old enough to play Under-11 cricket he came under the wing of Sunil Fernando, one of the best cricket coaches in Sri Lanka.

Murali read up to the G.C.E. A/L, but when he was called for trials for the cricket squad, he had to give up his studies. Murali's father is Sinnasamy Muthiah, a leading businessman in Kandy. I hope this message will go to Australia, so that they will know who Murali is.
Edward Wijeratne
Kandy


Restore fertilizer subsidy
Let sanity prevail between the two ministers talking about coconuts.

The high cost of fertilizer and unfavourable weather conditions have been the main cause for the drop in production.To boost production, the government should re-introduce the subsidy without importing coconuts.
M.H.M. Razin
Puttalam


Ekala potholes
The main road in Ekala has many potholes inconveniencing motorists and pedestrians. During the rainy season vehicles get stuck in the potholes increasing the danger of accidents.
J.M. Opatha
Ekala


'Letters to the Editor' should be brief and to the point.
Address them to:
'Letters to the Editor,
The Sunday Times,
P.O.Box 1136, Colombo.
Or e-mail to
steditor@wijeya.lk or
stfeat@wijeya.lk
Please note that letters cannot be acknowledged or returned.

Back to Top  Back to Plus  

Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Webmaster