Viable projects should be continued for the benefit of all Many ambitious projects were launched by the previous government. A majority of them were the development of existing roadways and construction of a network of expressways. Some thought this to be beneficial to the public while others felt there are more pressing issues in the [...]

The Sunday Times Sri Lanka

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Viable projects should be continued for the benefit of all

Many ambitious projects were launched by the previous government. A majority of them were the development of existing roadways and construction of a network of expressways. Some thought this to be beneficial to the public while others felt there are more pressing issues in the country that need attention than expressways.

The Southern Expressway up to Matara, the Airport Expressway and the section of the Outer Circular Expressway up to Kaduwela in operation, all have eased the roads that were choked with traffic reasonably, in and around Colombo. This would lead to a considerable saving in import of fuel even though the price of crude oil dropped drastically recently and the prices of various types and grades of fuel were reduced at the time of writing this letter. The purpose of fuel is to propel a motorised vehicle with its passengers from point A to B. So much fuel was wasted when vehicles were stuck in traffic jams and stationary. This purpose of fuel as a source of energy was lost.

I remember the partly-constructed overhead bridge as a child. It was supposed to be the approach to the new airport expressway and existed for nearly four decades. Governments came to power and were toppled during this period, but none were able to complete the expressway. While some governments genuinely attempted to complete the expressway and unfortunately their negotiations failed, others were not simply interested for reasons best known to them. Those living in the shanties of Orugodawatta, whose livelihood was growing ‘greens’ in the surrounding marsh, sought shelter under the incomplete bridge when it rained heavily and their fragile houses were submerged. They returned to their usual abodes once the water receded and were able to revive the plantations. There was another purpose for the incomplete structure. During election campaigns the government in power constructed a huge poster depicting candidates along with equally huge bold letters promoting him or her, which could be seen miles away.

Much later, some work of land filling with sand obtained from the sea took place during the tenure of former President Chandrika Kumaranatunga, but it ended abruptly. Credit should be given to the Mahinda Rajapaksa government for completing the airport expressway. The controversy here is the issue of the cost. However, if it was constructed decades ago the cost would have been far less as cost of material, machinery and labour were much lower then.

This country was very much in need of roadways dedicated only for vehicular movement. These dedicated roadways should be, as seen on expressways, free of other facilities for the public. Shops, institutions that attend to needs of the public and other such places are located on many highways and contribute to the congestion because they lack proper parking facilities. Many visitors to such places are forced to park on the approach road, thus narrowing the road further. The government must encourage the construction of more public car parks at strategic places where anyone can securely park a car and go about his or her business. A fee may be charged to maintain the car park.

By pass roadways were constructed to avoid congestion on many important highways such as the Colombo – Kandy highway. A very good example is the Mawanella Town by-pass that was completed nearly a decade ago. However, with time construction has taken place on the sides of this by-pass road and eventually it will become an extension of the Mawanella Town, after which it will not serve the purpose it was constructed for. The same fate will fall on the newly constructed Kegalla Town by-pass road opened during the latter stages of the Rajapaksa Government. On a recent drive to Kandy I noted that already vegetable vendors have constructed temporary structures. Tea kiosks on wheels have appeared. Before long they will become permanent structures. Authorities must take necessary steps immediately to legally prevent persons from building unauthorised structures along this by-pass road and others that may be constructed in the future.

The present government must evaluate and continue with the following projects commenced by the previous government:

1) Completion of the Outer Circular Expressway by connecting it from the present end point in Kotalawela, Kaduwela to the designated point in the Airport Expressway.

2) Evaluate the current status of the first stage of the Northern Expressway to Dambulla. Are design and blue-prints prepared? Was land acquired and compensation paid? Is there a contractual agreement with a contractor or contractors? And most importantly, “Can it be completed at a lesser cost?”

3) Similarly, the extension that branches from the Northern Expressway to Kandy via Galagedara, and Katugastota.

4) Similarly, the extension that branches from the Southern Expressway from Gelanigama to Pelmadulla, via Ratnapura and Ingiriya.

5) Another project that would be beneficial to the public is to extend the railway line from Matara to Kataragama. The late President Premadasa launched this project which was abandoned after his tragic death. Former President Mahinda Rajapakse revived it and now considerable work has been completed up to Beliatta. It is worth the effort to evaluate this project too and see whether it could be successfully completed.

No doubt there are many more pressing issues that need attention of the new government. It is no easy task to meet the deadline of 100 days set to resolve some of them. 51% Sri Lankans renounced the “Wonder of Asia” and voted for President Maithripala, and his “Good Governance”. They are eagerly waiting the abolishment of Executive Presidency. They are also impatient to see a reduction of the price of essential items that will contribute to a reasonable drop in cost of living, which in turn will improve living conditions of the middle class, lower middle class and people of lower earning capacity. The 47% who voted for the former President is watching and waiting how well President Maithripala and his team will handle the challenge. He can be assured of the vote of that 47% at the coming General Elections as well, if he succeeds in achieving at least 75% of the task in 100 days.

The point I stress here is that the new government should not abandon a project beneficial to the country, especially if much funds and ground work has already been done regarding it. If the cost appears to be bloated to facilitate exorbitant commissions, and is in doubt the Government should conduct fresh negotiations with the Contractor. Any Contractor will oblige not wanting to lose the contract or his reputation. I do not know the viability of the “Port City” or “Nelum Kuluna” (Lotus Tower), what purpose they serve or how they will make a return on the investment to sustain them. But, considering the revenue the existing expressways and the newly repaired railroad to Jaffna have made in such a short time, and employment they have provided, it is worth a look whether other projects proposed by the last government, some as stated above, can be completed concurrently with efforts to improve the standard of living.

OhGee.
Via email

 

Points to remember when establishing CJC

I read your news item about the establishment of a Criminal Justice Commission (CJC) type Commission of Inquiry.

As one of the State Counsels who led evidence at the CJC as well as the later Special Presidential Commission, there were issues that arose during the running of the Inquiries that need be taken on board and adjustments made to avoid a recurrence.

Sunil de Silva, New South Wales, Australia

 

Carry on this correct course of correcting wrongs

After so many years some good things are happening in our country commencing with the simplest swearing- in ceremony. If the trend continues, we are in for peaceful co-existence and progressive advancement.

Restoring General Fonseka’s honours is a welcome move. Similarly all other victims of previous years should be given their due redress.

As for the Judiciary, a review of all aberrant verdicts from 2000 to 2014 ,without pinpointing anyone in particular, may help to restore, the required independence and reliability laboriously built over the years by men of the highest calibre and thus restore the people’s confidence in the Judiciary.

Cleaning up the mess is a herculean task, but what we need is not the physical strength associated with Hercules but the desire to do good things, for the good people, by the good people at the helm, and for the good of those who reposed their faith in such good people.

In Nation building it is not the language, the religion, or culture that serves either as the unifying factors or the divisive factors. It is the desire to “live together and work together” by the component groups and individuals that is the deciding factor.

R.Suntharalingam,
Via email

 

Memories of 1948 and a wish for Mother Lanka

I can never forget
4th February 1948
Now at my age of eighty
It’s sweet history
My childhood’s sweet memory
Ceylon was granted freedom
From British domination!
I recall with pride
How we marched
In the Galle Esplanade
As smart school-kids
Behind the Bo-leaf-green flag
Held by our School captain, Grace Boralessa,
With gratitude and tears
We should pay tribute and honour
To those early ‘Freedom Fighters”
Who sacrificed their lives
At the bullet, guillotine or gallows
At the hands of the cruel British!
Similarly with grateful tears
Our tribute and honour extend
To those of the Tri-Forces and Police
Who paid the supreme sacrifice
In the 30-year-war
To save unitary Mother Lanka
From cruel separatists!
Our sympathies with the killed civilians too!
On this 67th anniversary
Opening a golden page in history
With the guidance of our blessed President
And our blessed Prime Minister
Let’s pray Sri Lanka will ever be
A peaceful prosperous isle
With all communities standing
Under one banner smiling!
Anon, Galle

 

End the era of political appointees to all missions abroad

It has been reported that the government intends to recall political appointees to our Missions abroad. This requires a measure of clarification; there are two categories, the first are those friends and relations who have been appointed without any understanding of the work involved, (I went to the Supreme Court on this matter a few years ago and it ruled, I don’t know on what basis, that the President had the power to appoint anyone, repeat anyone, whom he wanted, even his chauffeur as a diplomat!).

The last government virtually ran riot and is said to have appointed persons to some of our Missions who did not even have the knowledge of the English language!; all these persons must be brought back, for the country does not owe them a living. The next category would be the Heads of Missions, the last government appointed retired heads of the Armed Forces and I am reliably informed that all of them had represented our country very well — I see no reason to bring them back unless they have completed their contract.

In this regard, the period of appointment should be four years and not three for it is in the third year that we become effective and the country would benefit if the services of the Head of Mission is retained for a fourth year. The appointments of Head of Mission must be done by the Cabinet of Ministers after the aspirant is properly screened; they must be eminent persons, as is done in the US where the Senate Foreign Relations Committee examines the suitability of the aspirant for the post. As for the other diplomatic posts in our Missions they must be reserved for professional diplomats; if the Service is short of officers then a few suitable SLAS officers could be trained at the Diplomatic Training Institute or the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute and only then posted.

No friends or relations should ever be posted merely because they are friends or relations of the Big Man or any big man. As stated earlier we don’t owe them a living. Let us have an Act of Parliament establishing a career professional Foreign Service in the national interest.

K Godage
Via email

 

Please Mr. President don’t forget us poor pensioners

We poor pre-1996 government pensioners are living in poverty; I get Rs. 22,000 plus another 4,000 after 38 years of service.

The former President kept promising whenever we met him –and we met him four times. Once at his Maligawa – Temple Trees in 1990; he solemnly promised us that he would have the Pension Anomaly addressed, but as we later realized, he is a man who lived on false promises. He once gave us a token Rs. 2,000 in the Budget.

We who are now in our 80s cannot even buy our medicines and this is at a time when certain public servants and Judges leave alone MPs, are drawing five figure salaries. Please Mister President spare a thought for us and let us die in peace, it would be a meritorious act for which you will be remembered with gratitude.

Hema Perera
Via email

 

Get rid of the menace of ragging from our universities

There are many complaints from newcomers entering the Colombo University that they face abusive ragging by the senior students of the University. There is no authority for them to report such incidents and for such complaints to be followed up and acted upon.

The general pattern created by the senior students of these Universities is that when any newcomer joins, a mild form of ragging happens and is continued with abusive and aggressive ragging depending on how a student reacts.

These so-called raggers are mainly from rural areas. This kind of environment demoralises one and one’s education is disrupted causing an unpleasant atmosphere for all students.

There have also been complaints received from students of the Peradeniya campus of more violent forms of ragging being carried out by seniors.
It is high time that the Education Department, which is a governing body, for such institutions, eradicates this situation and takes disciplinary action against the perpetrators.

Jacintha John
Via email

 

Heal the wounds of discord by introducing songs of patriotism in Tamil too

After a 30- year passage of bloodletting and devastation, the latest step proposed to foster ethnic harmony among all the communities living in the country, the singing of the National Anthem in both Sinhala and Tamil languages, ran into rough and turbulent seas and then into thin air.
We feel that it should be commenced with more simple endeavours that will give weight to the desired purpose and propose the following suggestion for consideration.

Since independence, at all state functions, where the military personnel are summoned to provide musical accompaniment to their parades et al, the tunes we hear being played are hit songs, praising the patriotism of the majority community and those which directly or indirectly render the message that “ …. this beautiful country belongs to the majority community….”

These too may have created feelings of discord and suspicion in the minds of the minority communities, being some of the basic contributory factors that may have pushed them to group themselves into political factions based on their ethnic/ religious sentiments and also to draft separate agendas for themselves.

Definitely there should be patriotic songs sung in Tamil too, ( with suitable beats for military parades) praising our motherland and hailing the patriotism rendered towards her by the Tamil, the Muslim, the Malay and other brethren.

Therefore, I strongly suggest that the military should select and play tunes of such Tamil songs also at state functions – especially at the main Independence Day celebrations.

This year’s main Independence Day celebrations will be a good starting point with a new President and a new government brought into office with the outpouring of blessings of the minority communities as well.

If this simple suggestion is made to see the light of day, it will definitely help, both to win the confidence of the minority communities and also to boost their self respect, and thereby, make them believe that Sri Lanka has really taken a bold and an effective step to create an accommodative society that will harbour unity in diversity.

D. Samaranayake
Battaramulla

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