Letters to the Editor
View(s):Time to stop cronies from mouthing useless rhetoric at political rallies
Politicians’ mouthpieces, please know that we, the general public are sick and tired of your vociferous, loud-mouthed blabber and rhetoric through diverse radio channels and television broadcasting stations. Further, we are forced to see these outpourings in the newspapers. What madness is this?
The forthcoming presidential election is being spoken of now. Disclosure of prospective presidential candidates has begun. Already, it was announced that Gotabaya Rajapaksa is one of the contenders. The next day, Sajith Premadasa announced that he will contest the presidential elections. I was glued to the TV watching both Mr. Rajapaksa and Mr. Premadasa appearing in person and speaking to the nation. Both made sure to deliver speeches the way a President of a nation must do. There was no character assassination. Both put on the table ‘what they would do’ to keep the uniqueness and integrity of the motherland.
Sadly, a side-supporter speaker in Mr Premadasa’ s rally, to my dismay, went howling about a ‘Sudu Van Cult’, ‘Mr. X’s assassination’ etc. Prospective candidates for the Presidency, Parliament, all local councils etc must bear in mind that they should reveal ‘the legitimate activities they would perform for the betterment of the country when they would assume duties in the respective office’, not just be vehemently attacking opponents of opposition parties.
An election platform is no longer the podium to shout about past unfortunate events (such as abductions, muggings, killings, etc.) that had got ingrained in the minds of people owing to repetitive broadcasting by mass media. There is no place for shedding crocodile tears to reveal that ‘we took over a country in debt to the hilt’.
I hope the prospective candidates for the forthcoming Presidential elections will adhere to the following:
(a) Not allow just any person to address election campaigns / rallies on your behalf
(b) Not allow spokesmen on your behalf to rattle off speeches ad hoc,
(c) Insist on a written text of the speech which can be scrutinised prior to being delivered
With respect to selecting a President, Parliament, Local Council, the voter must be aimed at picking ‘the right individual with foresight’.The question for each of us voters is; ‘How many of our parliamentarians are gifted with far-sightedness?’
My fervent appeal to the Sri Lankan voter at this juncture is: ‘assess the Presidential Candidate on his track record of competency and his integrity’. Do not be misled by unfounded rhetoric of his cronies or opponents. Remember, this is your motherland – the motherland of your children. Select the most suitable President to take this country forward, disregarding the colour of the political flag!
Dr. Susil W. Gunasekera Mount Lavinia
Please save this park for the people of Wellawatte
The Rudra playground maintained by the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) is the only playground available for recreation of children as well as adults in Wellawatte apart from the Peterson playground which is closer to Pamankada. Wellawatte is a densely populated area due to the large number of apartment blocks and Rudra ground is the only ground available to the residents. This playground is used by a large number of area residents including children, nearby schools, youth, elderly and military personnel for their recreational activities daily.
We understand that this playground is to be handed over to a contractor to be used for a waste treatment project of the nearby pumping station funded by the ADB. If this happens, the residents are going to lose the only ground available to us. At a time when the Government has declared a sports and fitness week and also is trying hard to get children interested in sporting activities due to the increase of non communicable diseases among children, it is an anti public act to deprive the residents of the only play ground available to them. Further at a time when the Government is trying to eradicate the menace of narcotics from society, this move could turn youth towards narcotics as they will be deprived of any place for recreation.
In this modern era with technologies available for waste treatment in-house, using the only playground available to a large number of residents for a project of this nature is an ill advised decision which will deny the basic rights of the residents of the area.
A.J.R. Anderson Colombo 6