Letters to the Editor
View(s):An independent salaries commission is a must
However, there is a much bigger issue.
It is time that a permanent independent commission is set up constitutionally, to look into and to determine the salaries of those employed in or by the State and who are paid by the State- whether it’s a president, parliamentarian, judge, auditor, banker or any other public servant.
It is ridiculous, that Parliamentarians can determine and decide on what their own salaries and allowances can be.
Such a practice is undesirable and should be changed to a more reasonable and acceptable system where such decisions are made by an independent body, with no political or other influences.
I hope the media and other civic groups take up the matter and demand a change. Of course one can be sure that politicians who derive enormous, personal benefits from the current system will vehemently oppose such a change!
It’s up to you, all Sri Lankans one and all to demand and ensure such a change, keeping in mind that the people are supreme.
A concerned citizen Dehiwela
Unregulated commercialisation of residential areas
As a resident in Colombo for well over 70 years I cannot but echo the rumblings made on the issue of disturbing the peace within the residential areas of Colombo by permitting the establishment of commercial enterprises. Whilst these establishments indulge in businesses of food outlets and cafes, dress boutiques and restaurants, several massage parlours and night clubs have also sprung up. The night clubs are infested with twilight women who also hang around the area, soliciting customers. This threatens the safety and the peace of the residents of the area especially innocent children and women.
The police seem to be turning a blind eye because of the money that is thrown around to them by these powerful owners.
It is a disturbing trend seen in the once serene and safe residential areas. If this is called development then damn development. The fallout from this trend also gives rise to several concerns in the city – the construction of five star hotels and high rise buildings. Can the old infrastructure support this? Are the water and drainage facilities, the Fire Brigade etc. equipped to handle the higher impact that will ensue or are we waiting for a disaster to occur to pay huge money as compensation to victims. Timely action by way of infrastructure assessment and correcting it where necessary is an area that requires the attention of the authorities rather than political propaganda.
It is hoped that these factors be addressed on an urgent basis prior to granting any further approvals for setting up commercial establishments in residential areas of the city.
Roger Smith Colombo 7
It is time that something is done to ease the traffic block in Dehiwela
The traffic block in Dehiwela is so bad that people do not even want to rent or buy properties there anymore!
It is time we do something to rectify this. Sometime back some smart Aleck decided to close almost all gaps in the bollards and prevent vehicles turning off into the lanes. The vehicles have to go all the way to the top of the lane – both at the Wellawatte end and Mount Lavinia end and do a U turn and come back to turn into any lane. What they do not realize is that this action actually increases the bottleneck rather than reduces it.
I wrote to the newspapers some time back suggesting a study be done to see whether this actually reduces or increases the block, and the O.I.C. Traffic at that time wrote back saying “Even if we do a study we know it will be less” – so much for scientific decisions.
People take the Marine Drive to avoid the Galle Road rush, but whatever lane they come up from to the Galle Road, they are directed to the Hospital road junction to turn and go towards Mount Lavinia. This slows down the traffic heading from Wellawatte. While invariably there is a long line of vehicles from 2nd Lane onwards there is hardly any traffic on the opposite side. This block results in a waste of man hours and fuel!
If only all the gaps are left open and each is policed by an policeman and the vehicles are allowed to turn on to the opposite side when the Hospital junction traffic light turns red, it would help reduce the block in Dehiwela. After experimenting with this plan, traffic lights can be installed to automatically allow vehicles when the opposite side traffic lessens.
Dr. Mareena Thaha Reffai Dehiwela
A barrel alternative for poor-visibility road signs
A motor accident occurred a few days ago- around 7 p.m – at an “unmarked” pedestrian crossing on the Colombo-Kandy Road, at ‘Vissekanuwa’, [33rd km] Alutgama-Bogamuwa, Yakkala. Motorists have very poor vision at dusk on our poorly-lit motorways.
A girl was knocked down by a hit-and-run van. Having been to the accident-site later on, I felt that the traffic controlling authorities are to be blamed! Although the pedestrian crossing traffic signboards are erected on either side at the edge of the road, drivers on the middle lanes cannot see them when their view is obstructed by tall vehicles, especially buses. There are no yellow or white lines across the road showing that it is a pedestrian crossing!
Up-to-date the van involved in the accident had not been traced!
The road is being widened in this area and the road markings have been obliterated.
Here’s an inexpensive solution that can be adopted.
Take six empty tar barrels and paint them in luminous yellow and black. At pedestrian crossings, where road markings are not visible, place four at the edge of the road – two on each side so that the pedestrians can walk in between them. Place the other two on the middle of the road to demarcate a midway boundary for the two way traffic- and allow pedestrians to walk between these two barrels while crossing the road.
Over to you- Road Development Authority (RDA) officials/ the DIG Motor Traffic and the IGP.
Senior Citizen Yakkala
The law has to change regarding dual citizenship
My family and I moved to Sri Lanka in November 2005. We were American citizens at the time but subsequently in 2007 applied for and received dual citizenship for the three of us with the exception of my daughter who was US-born.
I have been living in Sri Lanka for nearly 13 years. My daughter is still on a yearly residence visa though attending a leading school in Colombo. I thank Namini Wijedasa for writing about this issue of citizenship as consecutive governments have failed to change the law pertaining to this.
It is a long time to wait to get dual citizenship at the age of 18. At 21 these children are required to renounce one citizenship and re-apply. It is an unfair law that has not been looked into by any ruling party. Until the age of 16 these children were issued a visa for free as dependents.
I thank the Sunday Times for highlighting this problem.
Kamani Unantenne Fernando Via email