Misleading public with political baby talk
Certain cabinet ministers and former Members of Parliament of the People's
Alliance are going round the country declaring at political rallies that
President Chandrika Kumaratunga will be appointing the Prime Minister and
the Cabinet of Ministers after the elections. That, theoretically, no doubt,
is the correct position as the Constitution stands.
However, what the People's Alliance, consisting of the former red shirts
and Marxists is attempting to do, is to mislead, especially the rural voter
into believing that even if the UNP (UNF) wins, the President would still
appoint a PA Prime Minister and Cabinet of Ministers.
Of course, the President will most certainly like to appoint a PA (SLFP)
Prime Minister. She may, in fact, prefer Anura Bandaranaike, her brother,
who went back to the SLFP in deference to the wishes of his mother (as
admitted by him).
But still, she will be compelled to abide by the provisions in the Constitution,
by calling upon the party leader who commands the backing of the largest
number of Members of Parliament to form the government. Accordingly, if
the UNP (UNF) secures the largest number of seats it will be Ranil Wickremesinghe
who has to be invited to form the Government.
There is a precedent. The conglomeration of political parties that was
the PA did not get a mandate at the hustings, both in 1994 and 2000 to
form a Government alone. It had to seek the support of the SLMC and minority
parties. D.B. Wijetunge, the then UNP President invited Mrs. Chandrika
Kumaratun-ga to form the Government as she had a one-member lead over the
opposition. Hence President Kumaratunga, whether she likes or not, cannot
depart from the correct Constitutional practice.
The PA in resorting to such political baby talk, only exposes its political
immaturity and foolish tactics to mislead the masses
Upali S. Jayasekera
Colombo 4
Why this special treatment?
If those over 65 years of age are not eligible to function as Judges in
the Supreme Court of this country, why is it considered logical to appoint
such people to ministerial posts or even as deputies to serve in state
departments? Shouldn't such restrictions be applicable to the President
of the country as well?
What is the rationale behind the supply of meals at subsidized rates
to Parliamentarians when state officers are not entitled to the same?
Likewise, is it not considered quite irregular to pay an attendance
allowance to Parliamentarians when state officers are not given such an
allowance for attending to their legitimate and normal duties?
Why are Parliamentarians provided with extra privileges by way of official
vehicles, security personnel etc. more than those provided for Judges of
the Supreme Court?
Political leaders must give an undertaking before the forthcoming elections
that such practices will be ended to gain the confidence of the members
of the general public who elect them.
S. Amarasuriya
Ratmalana
More on fighting the sting
Reading Seetha Wanigatunga's letter in The Sunday Times of November 4,
about a method of water treatment against mosquitoes, I was somewhat skeptical
at first. But, after a few days, out of curiosity, I tried it out. To my
great surprise I found it did just what it purported to do - keep the mosquitoes
away.
My sincere thanks to Mrs. Wanigatunga for being so kind as to pass on
to others the benefit of her experience.
I have been hanging up a clear polythene bag full of water every day
for the past ten days and have been able to have mosquito-free nights sans
mosquito coils or mats for most of these ten days. However, on two nights,
mosquitoes had entered the house towards the early hours of the morning.
Since I change the water in the bag every day, I am at a loss to know how
this could have happened.
I wonder whether Mrs. Wanigatunga could be of a little more service
by finding out from her Spanish friend, if possible, further advice on
the use of this method.
Could the success of this method be scientifically explained or is this
also something similar to what is known as "kema" in Sinhala? Whatever
it may be, I will continue to use this method.
K. Pathmanathan
Wattala
Lighten the burden with fluorescent lamps
In order to overcome the energy crisis the country has been facing and
for which there seems to be no immediate solutions, the govt. should distribute
energy saving CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamp) bulbs free of charge to every
household in this country.
This will reduce electricity consumption on lighting purposes by 80
percent and perhaps the total electricity consumption of the country by
about 50 percent. Hence it will not be necessary to build and operate another
five or six power plants. This move will reduce the burden on the economy
by, saving the cost of building power plants (50 to 60 billion rupees),
reducing the cost of living by reducing electricity bills and reducing
wastage of productive hours (due to power cuts). Moreover it is environment
friendly since it does not require the commissioning of additional power
plants.
If each household is given at least five CFL bulbs of 25 watts (which
is equal to 05 of 100 watts of normal bulbs) free of charge, it may cost
the govt. around Rs. 5 billion but it is less than half the cost for a
new power plant of 150 MW. Therefore, the net savings are enormous and
much more practical. This could be a bonus especially for the low and middle
income groups.
Further, the use of ordinary bulbs could be banned in phases within
six months to one year after the successful implementation and acceptance
of this programme by the general public, after which the CEB can collect
the ordinary bulbs used by households and destroy them. The production,
import and sale of ordinary bulbs could be banned altogether some time
later.
This programme, if implemented could be successful because the public
would be glad to reduce their electricity bills.
Gotabya B. Kirmani
Engineering Student
USA |
