Letters
View(s):Wake up people! Don’t force me to call you donkeys
As someone who detested the former regime and voted for a change on January 8, these are my critical thoughts on the current regime, a month after the historic election.
Summary: Some steps in the right direction (I refuse to say “genuine”,which is almost polar opposite to “politician”), BUT performance in general is inconsistent and not to my (very high!) expectations. I also sense that the people and civil society organisations have gone to sleep (again!) – we the people MUST demand our whole pound of flesh on good governance, justice to all and transparency as promised by the current regime, on the dates promised. If we the people go to sleep, there is every possibility that this regime will be no better than the former – if that happens, I would start using the phrase “we the donkeys” instead of “we the people” in the future!
Some specific things that I am disappointed about the current regime:
I am against the “election budget” that had a number of “election gundus”. Yes, I too benefit from price reductions, but as in the past, the current regime can use these to hoodwink the people (donkeys?) to win the general election in 2 to 3 months. I hear some people (donkeys?) say, “They have to win the next election, and without giving goodies, they can’t. People (donkeys?) expect it!”. Hopefully what “we the people” voted for a month ago was a significant improvement in the democratic institutions in the country and not handouts. If the majority thinks otherwise, I threaten to use the “donkey” word!
Where is the code of conduct for politicians? January 22 is long past, despite a Minister (who I think has verbal diarrhoea) says that it is ready and no one would want for office when the regime presents its code of conduct for politicians.
I heard the Premier saying something like “good things are being done even though late” in Parliament – not good enough! Live up to what you promised on the dates you promised, unless you also think we are a nation of donkeys!
Different individuals/parties in the current regime are acting for their own political agendas. Yes, it is a coalition of different hues, but that is no excuse! People (not donkeys!) voted for significant improvements in good governance within a time period and nothing short of that is acceptable, different hues of the coalition notwithstanding.
Disappointed about some of the appointments to high posts in government – NO to relatives/ cronies/ those who have a track record of singing hosannas to the rulers for personal benefit! And why are some real nut-heads from the past regime still in office? I must admit that there were good appointments too, but even one bad one is one too many. Like I said before, I had very high expectations from the present regime.
Retrospective laws to punish individuals are an absolute NO-NO even if they are meant to correct a past injustice. Yes, I am referring to “Mansion Tax” and “Hybrid Tax” – no, I don’t have a “mansion” or a “hybrid on order”. I object because it sets an extremely dangerous precedent and contrary to natural justice.
Too many “media shows” on the wrongs of the former regime – yes, the guilty should be punished but I feel that these are/can be/will be used to cover up the shortcomings of the current regime. File charges in court and let the law prevail – no need to hang anyone in the media (or “white vanned”).
In the interest of brevity, I will not elaborate on the good things so far by the current regime – I take those for granted as every citizen (not donkeys!) should.
To the current regime – if you do not live up to your promises on significant improvements in institutionalising true democracy in Sri Lanka within the time frame you promised, you will be chased out too by the people soon – if not, you can thank the donkeys!
To the people – don’t force me to call you donkeys! Stay awake! Hold the current regime against the wall to deliver its promises on good governance.
To conclude and just to be absolutely clear, I do NOT wish to revert to the former regime! For me, they were a terrorist group (just like the LTTE that they took all credit in defeating in a “humanitarian war”). The difference is that the former regime had official sanction (as a government elected by “we the donkeys”) while the LTTE did not. Never again to that regime! Never again to a similar regime!
Hemantha Jayawardena
Via email
Why are we being punished for wanting to come home?
We have not worked abroad as gaming moguls or consultant surgeons who would now like to optimise a comfortable retirement in Sri Lanka. We are craftsmen, salesmen, pre-school teachers, and office workers who dearly wish to return home. We did not “renounce” our country, we fled Sri Lanka. We fled because the war scared us away. Most of us were in our teens or early 20’s.
We had more courage than money. We took the challenge. It was this same determination that kept us going in foreign lands for the next 25 years.
We worked in homes and gardens, cleaned rest rooms, pushed trolleys in markets and hauled produce and garbage. We came back from work only to continue to work as unpaid domestics for our host families who gave us a bunk in the corner of their store room.
But we also went to school and won the reachable qualifications. With the order of preference being White, Off White, Western Black, Yellow and last – Brown, nothing came easy. It took well over two decades, with husband and wife working, to reach a near satisfactory level of living. Yet there are still many among us who want to come back home.
For months, may be years, the last government did not want this to happen.
Now we want to get back the citizenship of the country of our birth and heritage, to invest in our country which we are now able to do. We are truly saddened that our liberators of 2015 have made an offer that is in effect a punishment . After all we ARE Sri Lankans and this fact has to be considered.
The disproportionate application fee and qualifying investment for Dual Citizenship for just one individual applicant is simply Dual Extortion. Our family savings cannot bear the burden of these fees. The financial qualifications must and have to be radically reduced .
We as applicants for Dual Citizenship are not business predators, we are Sri Lankan-born persons just wanting to come back home.
N. Dedigama
Via email
Interest on deposits: What about those who are between 55 to 59 years?
We salute the Finance Minister for the best people-friendly budget presented in a long time! The citizens are indeed happy about the budget per se and the fact that it was presented on the day it was pledged to be presented. Sticking to deadlines gives you much credibility.
We also appreciate the proposal to increase the interest rate of deposits of senior citizens to 15%. However, one segment of the population, i.e. those between 55 to 59 years may go unnoticed. The former government offered 12% interest to deposits of senior citizens but the age of the “senior citizen” was redefined as 60 years. The banks feel that the 15% interest rate too will be offered to those who are 60 years and above following the decision of the previous government.
The retirement age of the majority of private sector organisations in Sri Lanka is 55 years as opposed to 65 years in UK, USA, Canada etc. Even in government institutions, extensions are not always granted till 60 years for various reasons!
However, by the time we retire from service, we have given our best to the country. Therefore, it is urged that the special rate is granted to those between 55 to 59 years as well and increase the amount of the deposit to Rs. 5mn at least since those who retire from the private sector depend on the interest income for their survival unlike their counterparts who are eligible for a pension!
This will relieve the retired population from financial stress and enable them to lead a peaceful retired life.
Hiranthi Weerasekera
Via email
Counting officers and the long journey back home
I felt sorry to see a photograph of a govt. officer on election duty, sleeping, with his bag as a pillow after returning to the station.
This took me back to an incident in 1970 when I had to report for counting duties at the Kandy Secretariat. Now, I am a septuagenarian and government pensioner. I recollect several incidents, but would like to put down two. The first was about how we were treated when we reported for counting .
There were about a hundred of us gathered at the lobby awaiting the announcement to report to the relevant counting centres. By about midnight , an announcement was made that all officers whose names were not called were to leave the secretariat premises forthwith. The remaining, about 50 in all, were so furious, they started hooting, making a loud din inside. However, we were released with attendance certificates with ‘on standby duty’ till the next morning.
It was not the end of the episode. How were we to get back home? Three wheelers were not available then. Luckily, I met a school friend of mine and had to make the journey home, about 8 km on foot with him.
The next incident was when I was reporting for duty to Kurunegala from Kandy and returning after duty. My friend and I, were at the kachcheri from about 9 a.m. till about 4 p.m. to receive instructions to leave the premises. After duty, we could leave Kurunegala only by about 7 in the evening. How did we manage to reach home from? Probably, on foot, even then.
Dear Commissioner of Elections – congratulations on your performance at the Presidential Election. Hope you may consider the return journeys of the Govt. officers after duty at least by arranging a school in proximity to the counting station.
T.B. Ekanayake
Ampitiya
Ways to solve the problem of a sea of complaints
Never has the office of the Bribery and Corruption Commission been flooded with so many complaints. For a mechanism particularly that has hitherto been functioning lethargically primarily because it was under obligation to a regime which itself was reeking of corruption, this influx of complaints is clearly beyond its competence to deal with satisfactorily.
From the manner in which complaints appear to be initially dealt with, it is apparent that enthusiasm for expeditious investigation of complaints is lacking. The nature of public protests and the vociferous accusations being made particularly by the JVP that forms the vanguard of the corruption watch has led to the reasonable suspicion that the top officials of the commission lack interest or are non-cooperative.
What the commission lacks for expeditious investigations are understandably adequate space and investigators. These requirements have to be addressed as a matter of the highest priority. With some effort on the part of the government these can be achieved.
With several govt. agencies such as the Senior Ministries Secretariat becoming defunct or redundant and many premises available on rent, finding the required space for expansion will not present a problem.
As for the personnel, the assistance particularly of the AG’s Department and the Police Department should be sought. Considering the fact that the investigation of bribery and corruption has become a national priority, the AG and the IGP are bound to co-operate. It is reasonable to presume that the IGP will be able to select at least 100 investigators from the different detective agencies of the Police Dept–such as the CID, Fraud Bureau, Colombo Crimes Div. & the Provincial Detective Divisions with immediate effect. Even retired officers eg. from the RSPOA will gladly volunteer to give of their time and expertise at this time of national need.
With the necessary orientation and guidance of officials of the AG’s Dept., the commission with these additional resources should be able to expeditiously deal with this flood of complaints and re-establish its credibility.
Edward Gunawardena
Via email
Make NIC process a more efficient one
The Department of Registration of Persons (DRP) is the sole authority for the registration of persons in Sri Lanka. The NIC issued by the department is a vital document for a person in day-to-day life. However, on occasions such as exams, elections etc. the government requests people who don’t have a proper NIC to obtain temporary Identity Cards. Most citizens are not that worried about the NIC, because they know they can obtain temporary IDs. These can also be misused.
Currently the Department’s scope is narrow; it issues an NIC on the request of a person. The department should focus on a comprehensive process to add value to the identification of a person – to the country, economy and the citizens. The DRP should initiate a programme to recognise a person at birth. The NIC No. should be allocated at the time of the birth of a child and should be inserted in the Birth Certificate. The NIC can be issued at a certain age.
The regulators, government and non-governmental organisations must insist on the NIC No. for any kind of transaction. The NIC No. should be required to admit a child to school, to open a minor’s bank account or for the issue of any other legal document.
If the DRP and the government will look into this issue positively and apply it as an urgent national requirement, then 99% of the corruption, malpractices and manipulations would be eliminated in another 10-15 years. The Department of Inland Revenue and the Department of Information can jointly set-up a system to build up a database as an instrument of the NIC and link it with other entities either government or private to update the system online.
S. Nanayakkara
Via email
Save the beautiful lagoons of Thondamanaru- Jaffna
The Thondamanaru lagoons in Jaffna are full of migrant birds these days. It is a paradise for nature lovers and birders.
Recently some land was cleared for prawn farming. I do not have to go into details of the environment disaster this causes. If someone takes a tour along the Negombo, Chilaw and Puttalam coastal areas they can see the disastrous environmental damage prawn farming has caused while some businessmen earned millions.
I am appealing to all environmental authorities of the central government and local government and environmentalists please, to do what ever possible to prevent this disaster before it is too late.
NJ
Via email