Letters to the editor
View(s):The people too are treated like the garbage that looms large in their lives
Meetotamulla in the Kolonnawa electorate has been in the news in recent times because of the satyagraha launched by the residents to protest against the garbage dump that is a health hazard to everyone living there. A school close-by was closed down as the environs proved detrimental to the health of the children.
This menace has been there for over two decades while other development activities were going on everywhere. Over the years, it has become a mountain of garbage and the authorities adopted a Nelsonian blind eye. Unable to tolerate the putrid smell of the rotting garbage, any more, the people organised a protest campaign to bring their pitiful plight to the notice of the authorities.
The long arm of the law thought otherwise and harassed and suppressed their rights by using force on them. The picture of a woman being manhandled by the police tells a sorry story of the state of law enforcement in the country. On that particular day natural justice was trampled and dumped under the heap of garbage. What a sham and a mockery.
It is often said people are sovereign and the constitution guarantees their right to protest, demonstrate and hold public meetings. That looks good on paper, but in reality it was brazenly violated in this ugly incident. It is reported that some 90% of the people from 4,500 families suffer from respiratory diseases and 60% of them are afflicted with skin diseases.
The Bloemendhal monster was transferred to Meetotamulla owing to the lopsided thinking of the Colombo Municipal Council. The CMC issues warnings to city dwellers to keep their premises clean so as to avoid mosquitoes and dengue. What moral right has the CMC to impose rules when they themselves flout the very rules when they dump garbage without the least consideration for the poor Meetotamulla residents?” Colombata Kiri Gamata Kekiri” seems to be the policy of those in command.
Town Hall and its environs are being given a facelift at the cost of millions of rupees, thanks to the collaboration between the UDA and the CMC. But behind the city, there is the ugly face of the garbage heap. It is akin to posh hotels having dirty kitchens and stinking toilets behind. The need is to come up with a mechanism to remove this garbage monster to fall in line with the beautification of the city.
How many Environmental Ministers have come and gone? They only pontificate on other issues but fail miserably address this problem. The right to life of these poor folk has been denied to them because of the lackadaisical attitude of every government. Who will come to their rescue? To add salt to the wound, they were arrested and attacked. Their legitimate right to protest has been given a beating.
M. Azhar Dawood, Dehiwala
Am I not unique?
I am a politician by profession. I am supposed to be a servant of the public. But, there is a world of difference between a public servant and me.
To be a public servant, one is required to have a minimum educational qualification. Fortunately for me, I am exempted from that dreadful requirement. A big mouth and a shallow brain are all I require to be a politician. A public servant has to labour for 30 long years to be eligible for his pension. But, I get my pension after just five years.
A public servant has to retire from service when he reaches the age of 60 years. But, old age is no barrier for me. I can go on batting till my pulse stops ticking. Public servants are paid only a meagre salary which is hardly sufficient for their survival. I am paid a six figure salary which is more than sufficient for the cushy life I lead.
The poor public servant has to work for eight hours a day and five days a week to earn his scant salary. To earn my thumping salary, all I have to do is sit in parliament when it is in session and doze off or listen to bla bla bla of my Parliamentary colleagues. The public servant has to come to his place of work using public transport. But, I am given a duty free vehicle and a generous petrol allowance to come to my place of work.
The public servant most often lives in a rented house and his rent has to be met from the poor salary he gets. But, I am paid a monthly rent allowance of Rs. 100,000 as my beloved leader, the president is very concerned about the housing problem I face in Colombo. A laptop is a dream for a public servant. But, I am given a laptop at no extra cost to me and needless to say that it is gathering dust in my office room as I am clueless about its operations.
When public servants meet on official matters I always chair the meeting and public servants form the audience. At these meetings all the decisions are taken by me as I believe that I am a Jack of all trades. Public servants, be they scientists, university professors, doctors, engineers or accountants have to implement my decisions without demur no matter how ridiculous my decisions are.
So my dear voters, when you consider the facts mentioned above don’t you think that your servant, the politician is unique.
J. Madarasinghe, Mahawatta Bope ,Galle
Follow @timesonlinelk
comments powered by Disqus