What happened to 1212 on Christmas eve ? SLT (Sri Lanka Telecom) has made giant strides in the development of the industry  to provide many services through one simple telephone line coming to a residence – telephone, internet  and television.  While congratulating the SLT on these advancements, I have to place on record that SLT [...]

The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka

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What happened to 1212 on Christmas eve ?

SLT (Sri Lanka Telecom) has made giant strides in the development of the industry  to provide many services through one simple telephone line coming to a residence – telephone, internet  and television.  While congratulating the SLT on these advancements, I have to place on record that SLT is in the doldrums when it comes to the 1212 service where they provide telephone numbers to the public.

On December 24, at 1.35 p.m. I dialled 1212 to obtain a telephone number of a furniture mover or a house mover or a transport service, to move my furniture.

After following the computer dictated procedure, a lady came on the line to help me. I asked her to look up the above categories in the yellow pages or rainbow pages – but she was mystified.  She told me that only the names of organisations and companies are there for her to look up in her computer system and asked me to come up with the name of the company or transport organisation to provide the number.

After many arguments, she was adamant that SLT has no such facility/service to find a company name and number under a business category as found in the Yellow Pages.  After much hassle she gave me the Rainbow Pages number 2399399.

I got connection to the Rainbow Pages (0) operator on this number  and she was also flabbergasted at my request and categorical  that they cannot find numbers under trade categories.  I requested their head of the dept. and she kept me on hold to put me on to another extension, and the beauty of it is that while on hold they relayed a slogan, “There is nothing we cannot help you with”. Lo and behold that extension was never answered.

Hello SLT –  if you can hear our voice, at least in 2014 please develop and extend the 1212  service to provide numbers under a brand, or business or service category, as in the Yellow or Rainbow pages.

Sumith de Silva,  Polgasowita

Darkness at Dambulla ancient temple a ruse to attract pilgrims to new site? 

Neither the Dambulla ancient temple nor the walkway to the temple are lit up in the evening.  This creates hardships for pilgrims. It is also strange to see the adjoining new temple glittered with lights while this world-reputed site is almost in total darkness. Is this done purposely to draw pilgrims to the new premises? What happens to the millions of rupees donated by the pilgrims at this temple?

Will President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Ministry of Buddhist Affairs or any other responsible government authority take action immediately to rectify matters. If that is not possible due to the influence of some powerful person, it is better to stop pilgrims from climbing after 5 p.m.

B.S. Perera, Kiribathgoda

Diyawadana Nilame’s hat symbol of sanctity

Wing Commander Ranjith Ratnapala in his letter in the Sunday Times of December 15 questioned the propriety of the Diyawandana Nilame wearing his head dress in the inner chamber of the Dalada Maligawa.

Well, this has been the practice for many decades; it’s only the footwear that is removed. It is so even when the Diyawadana Nilame physically moves the Sacred Tooth Relic for public expositions. There are other Dalada Maligawa officials who also cover their heads in various ways. It’s an expression of sanctity and homage rather than disrespect or vanity.

That said, it is regrettable to note the writer’s closing words, the derisive ‘antique hat’ remark.

Asoka Weerakoon, Kandy

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