Letters
View(s):Let’s forget the tittle-tattle and get the IDPs housed
Enough is enough. To my personal knowledge and direct visual experience the so-called debate regarding housing for the Internally Displaced People (IDP) of the Northern Province has gone on for the last 18 months. The only sure outcome has been the fact that these IDPs have not been housed and continue to live in squalor. In the mean time the bourgeois elite who make the decisions, have sat in their steel framed prefabricated imported Singapore structures sipping gin and tonic pontificating on what the IDP fisher-folk and peasantry actually need. If it was not a tragedy, all the ill-founded opinions and procrastination would be hilarious. Each article quotes ‘engineers’ who are two a penny like politicians.
We have to recognize, that life moves on. The very same chest thumpers, cannot sit on the 60th floor of their apartment block in the capital city if the scaffolding was bamboo and the walls were wattle and daub. Guess what? The walls are pre-fabricated and shipped from far afield and are slotted in within hours. There is not the technology transfer that this country so needs. If the housing planners and manufacturers have discussed and agreed on design and the Ministry of Finance has approved funding the case should be open and shut. Cheap housing is not necessarily good or appropriate housing.The Vanni is strewn with cheap houses that are empty. The windows have iron bars only. No privacy. Sarees and sarongs adorn these to obtain this. The roofing often is metal and the ceilings in this day and age asbestos. Hooray for pseudo intellectual planners for the poor! There is not a shop or school in sight. Temples and kovils, yes. Maybe the IDPs should be forced to go and live in these houses, but that would not be a vote winning move.
The bullock cart has been banned for years because it churned up the melting tarmac on the roads. These were replaced by ‘Land masters’ that have now become ‘road masters’ that spew kerosene exhaust fumes and are a danger to other traffic on the roads. The bullock at least produced manure for organic fertilizer and was able to produce more engines biologically. No longer the ‘manvetties’ that were carried into the fields to perform the morning abolutions. These have been replaced with half broken cement toilets that stink and are non-hygienic. These toilets require water, disinfectant and a plan for solid waste management.
What is needed is some lateral thinking, dealing with the past and which is of benefit to the future. The IDPs have never lived in isolated houses. Most of them lived in communities. It is therefore, more logical to rebuild “communities”. A proportion of the funding could be put aside to build such a ‘village’ with the participation of the intended population. Instead of lines of houses a different lay out around a primary school, shops, a public library and meeting room with communal electronic media and Internet access could be provided.
I call on Minister D.M. Swaminathan to consider this. In such matters often what is needed is leadership and decisive implementation.
Let’s forget the tittle-tattle and get the IDPs housed. The camel riding Bedouin in a tent would if given the opportunity live in the Burj Al Arab and drive a Lamborghini!
Mr Angry from Kokuvil
Via email
The lost oasis of “Kirula Road”
As a long-time resident of Thimbirigasyaya I have viewed with dismay, the philistine erasure of this area’s history. “Thimbirigasyaya Road” was originally named after the grand old trees that once lined it. The trees are long gone and so is the name that enshrined their memory. Now that too has been lost to politics. This road which boasts of four liquor shops has been renamed after a Buddhist prelate.
Similarly Kirula Road is also renamed after a forgotten politician – who never lived here.
Somewhere halfway down Kirula Road, opposite the Survey Department, was a lovely little oasis of green grass shaded by some large trees. This provided welcome shelter to waiting drivers and care-givers of patients in the nearby hospital. They whiled away their time chatting and munching lunch. It was also a treat for tired eyes.
Overnight the powers-that-be (CMC? RDA?) have wiped out this lovely relic from a bygone era .
The philistines have won [as they usually do].
Tissa Devendra
Via email
Something’s rotten in the state of Lanka
The recent Meethotamulla tragedy
Garbage dumps are falling
Mountain sides are sliding
Rivers, drains are flooding
Where oh where are the people’s servants
We sent to our Maha gedera?
Are they are up in the skies
Flying in first class comfort
To find money and succour
For their poor masters at home ?
When the begging bowl is full
Will it help the affected ?
This is the million dollar question
On everybody’s mind these days
Monica De Alwis
Via email
A tragedy that should have been avoided
Wildlife officers made a serious error by shooting to death the mother of the two baby elephants trapped in a Vavuniya waterhole.When on such an operation are they not equipped with a tranquiliser gun? The mother has a protective instinct even in animals. What sorrow for the two young ones!
A few weeks back security personel at Auckland Airport were roundly criticised for shooting a security dog while on the airport runway. This is worse than that -the life of a protected animal with two calves to look after.
Tudor Wickremasinghe
Colombo 8
Solar power facility: Good move but please reconsider interest rate on loan facility
About two weeks ago, there was a leaflet from an electricity company in regard to a loan scheme that has been launched to facilitate solar energy.
These loans are to be granted by the National Savings Bank (NSB) subject to a maximum amount to Rupees 1 million payable over seven years at an interest rate of 8% p.a.(may be re- financed by the company).
On further inquiry, it was brought to the notice of the writer that the excess electricity generated by the solar panels would be bought back by them (the company) at Rs.22.50 per unit( after installing the net metering system).
This is a good move but my kind request to the company is to reconsider the rate of interest charged on the loan facility and make it in the range of 3 to 4 % p.a.to facilitate more people getting attracted to this facility.
This is in view of the following:
1. Most of us are not in a position to pay an additional amount over and above the existing amount in the bill as most of us fixed income earners are facing the problems of high inflation.
2. The Government should be able to subsidise the additional amount to the banks in reduction of the rate of interest (as done in the case of senior citizen deposits).
3. This is for a worthy cause – a national project which will help the country in numerous ways rather than wasting people’s hard earned money in investing in unproductive so-called projects which were done recently.
4. We are sure that this interest supporting facility could be accommodated by the Government by obtaining soft loan facilities from donors.
As we all know we spend Rs 8 million per month to maintain so called ministers. We saw, Cabinet approval, granted about a month ago to buy vehicles for MPs (of whom 177 don’t have their O’Ls) to the tune of millions.
Taking into consideration these facts and figures, we earnestly request the responsible authority to implement the above relief immediately to promote this valuable project.
M.Samarasekara
Via email
We need urgent alternative to get our essential cardiac drugs
Dr. Rajitha Senaratne’s move with regard to bringing down the price of drugs is laudable; but the move has its negative side-effects too. Certain drugs that are imported by those in the pharmaceuticals trade face a problem as the manufacturers/suppliers have refused to cut down so drastically the cost of drugs they supply. As a result the importation of these drugs have come to a stand-still and patients have to face hardships.
What is the alternative that Dr. Senaratne has implemented to import the drugs essential for the survival of these patients who need these drugs?
Most of the senior citizens, which includes me, have been using certain drugs for hypertension for over a decade.
Herbesser, a beta blocker, is a brand of quality which had been prescribed by our Cardiologist (200 mg. 120mg, 90mg, 60mg and 30mg.) – the generic name is Diltiazem Hydrochloride.
It is now almost impossible to get Herbesser in the market. There are substitute drugs of the same generic name, but they are actually ineffective. This may be due to:
1. People are psychologically tuned to a particular brand and the non-availability of that brand causes many a problem to those having cardiac problems.
2. Those who supply substitute drugs at low costs are definitely providing substandard drugs, which do not have the same effectiveness of the original brand.
We are really upset at the non-availability of these drugs and we would rather pay more to get our quality brand rather than be deprived of it.
What about the usage of other drugs for other ailments?
Are those patients facing the same difficulties in obtaining their brand of drugs too?
Another drug, to my knowledge, is Livogen – Which is a “captab” taken by those who suffer from deficiencies in their Haemoglobin levels. They are so used to this drug, no other alternative works for them. So in many instances, we have requested those going to India, to get these drugs for us, for our survival.
Did Dr. Senaratne, make arrangements for the importation of those essential drugs that are urgently needed by the suffering patients or does he feel comfortable that he has reduced the prices of drugs, irrespective of disastrous inconveniences faced by the patients?
We earnestly and urgently request Dr. Senaratne, to rectify this unnecessary problem which he has caused. A problem which has caused emotional anguish.
Something has to be done soon, or there will be another disaster.
M. Zulkifli Nazim
Via email
Dead bet on a dead horse
With the Nuwara Eliya races this month and talking of horses, I venture to relate a story from the naughty past! I was sharing a room in Siripa Road, Thimbirigasyaya, with a college mate when we were woken by one of our close buddies who had good connections to the racing fraternity. We knew little or nothing about horses or races at the time.
We were told about a horse named Amurath whose Muththu was known to our buddy and if we could pay the Muththu 500 bucks, a tidy sum in those days, the Muththu would dope (with opium) Amurath and it would win by miles if not yards!
We backed our buddy and Amurath, Period. Odds were 40 to 1. Five of us (not to mention names) syndicated at Rs. 100 each to collect the required Rs. 500 which was well beyond our means in those days. I had problems finding even the 100 bucks, my contribution, as pocket money I got from my mother then, was only 2 rupees per week. I borrowed left, right and centre, from uncles, aunties and friends without a care in the world as winnings were assured to pay back the debts! We also agreed that we would together bet only 500 bucks i.e. 100 each and the bet would be placed at Podi-mahathaya’s bookie at Thimbirigasyaya junction fearing the odds would reduce if we placed the bet at the venue.
Podi-mahathaya was no doubt bemused.
The big day arrived and the 5 of us were outside the race course near the CH grounds, at the 3rd bend as it were, to watch the spectacle and our sure bet unfold! The race started and on the first bend Amurath was last, but close. By the second, our Amu was last by just 5 yards which swelled to 10 yards by the third bend where we were. I turned at our buddy to seek solace, only to be consoled that the dope hits the animal only at the end. So there was still hope! In the final stretch our Amu was struggling and her rear legs were literally in “nondi” gear, dragging and very close to collapsing. We were all flummoxed with reality staring and not knowing how to pay the debts we owed to uncles, aunties and friends.
The story doesn’t end there, though. About a week later my room-mate and I were at Podi’s for a game of billiards when Podi approached us and in his husky voice asked us, why we had backed Amurath, the 40 year old filly out of all horses? sheepishly we looked up as we were dumb stricken for answer. He then told us that the “kannadi dapu usa-mahaththaya awilla thawa rupiyal seeyak damma, mahaththayala giyata passé.” (After you’ll left a tall gentleman in spectacles came in and paid another Rs. 100).
Moral of the story:
1) Refrain from insider trading when backing old horses.
2) Don’t trust usa-mahathayas for they have the money.
3) Never borrow from uncles, aunties and friends for nefarious activities.
Over the years, a bit of spice and vinegar has been added to sweeten the story but it is absolutely true in the fundamental.
Nalin Pathikirikorale
Via email
When are we old? Let’s relook at our fixation on chronological age
Social attitudes towards the aged vary with the country of residence. The inherent age structure of the population, the inbuilt cultural values and its set of man- made rules are some of the determinants. The attitude of Sri Lankan society towards its elderly population at present, may need revision. It seems as if there is almost a belief in a threshold- “Cross it, and thou shall be cast into the limbo of redundancy”.
The Buddhist preachings of the “peranimithi” adds fuel to this thought and nails to this dubious coffin. How shall we apply a bit more compassion and resurrect this mindset? Let me try to dissect this current concept of “old age”.
Disengaging the “retirement” age from its entrenched but didactic status, to be based on a chronological age of 55 or 60 years will revolutionise an individual’s or society’s acceptance of one’s worth. The concept of age, as is commonly accepted, is archaic. There is a chronological age, a biological age of the physical structure and a mental age. The old concept of lumping all three into one basket and talking of retirement based on chronological age, may unfortunately herald the death knell of the other two, both in the minds of one’s associates and possibly even oneself. It casts into the dustbin, a wealth of talent, wisdom and experience harvested over years. It stunts many a being who probably are in the most “contributive” phase of their lives but are unfortunately shown the door.
We need to think and graduate our mindset now, as to how we would think, in say, 2030. Sri Lanka will in 2020 we are told, have 25 % of its population over 60 years. That is, as we now accept, the retired Govt. servants in some ways will be dependent on the state. Pensions for the Govt. servants, free health care at this age, requiring repair and replacement, a proverbial ogre as we outlive our designed span.
The care of the NCDs ( non communicable diseases ) like strokes, their acute and long term care, surgery on the coronary artery of the heart, cost of cardiac stents, fractures due to osteoporosis, cost of metal hip and knee prostheses, prostatic surgery, and drugs and hospice care of cancer patients, transplants be they of the kidney, liver, heart or lung, according to current national policy has to be borne by the state. All of these are going to make the free health almost too much to bear for a country like ours.
Economically advanced countries have grappled with the problem by trying to provide Universal Health Insurance. Life insurance for some strange and unreasonable premise, stops at 65 years, when one most needs it! Further, it is a contentious problem as the premiums become more costly with handicaps we are likely to get with senescence. In a free health service that these costs have to be borne, in reality by the ever dwindling numbers of the sub 60s, as the population ages. That we need to address this problem before it comes upon us, is the need of the hour
Let’s separate the “chronological retirees”, be they in the public or private sector, from those who truly wish to “down tools” and put their feet up and those who don’t. There would be many who are physically fit and mentally young who would greatly appreciate the opportunity to work. This attitude maybe borne by a desire to be useful, the financial remuneration it begets or simply the”camaraderie” of the workplace. Promotional prospects of the young are not hindered as its contracted jobs we envisage. Let’s make after 60 full of choices and cater to this need.
To some of them a contractual job in keeping with their individual expertise would be a boon . The state could conceptually change its paradigms , taking on a role of a sort of matchmaker , trying to fit the “wanted column to the available column”. All it needs to my naive and empirical mind is a desk, a chair, a computer and a motivated compassionate being.
This will allow the state to reap many benefits. As the public sector of this country is quite large and requires the state to sustain them after the chronological retirement, it would be useful if the state could help those retirees who are biologically fit and mentally sound to secure jobs in the private sector.
Many experts and experienced state sector professionals who could be harvested into this programme could prove to be an asset to the private sector. We speak of lack of skilled experience and even look for foreign inputs, when by simply not ostracising the over 60 into limbo, we would come to a “win win” situation, for both parties concerned. It would be good to anticipate large populations of retirees, like in the tri- forces. Train them to provide skilled manpower before they retire so that they can be gainfully employed when the time comes. To say we are short of skilled labour, I feel, is a constipation of the administrators’ mind or rather, a poverty of thought.
Pensions could be paid only for those who do not wish to work, who do not secure a job or till they do. They could finally retire when the biological or mental age demands it, having played out their time
“Retirement” should in principle be one’s own decision rather than be foisted on one. Let it be a happy occasion. Let’s relook at our fixation on chronological age, expand our mindset to be wider and be more inclusive.
Dr. Channa Ratnatunga
Kandy
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