Letters to the Editor

Private buses: Night rides and nightmares
About two decades ago, the Transport Ministry, which couldn't provide an efficient bus service, invited private buses to operate. Initially, the commuters were happy to see the mini buses on the road.

Over the years, more and more private bus operators put not only mini buses, but also big buses on the road. We now have so many buses that commuters are unable to distinguish between state-run and private buses. How has this affected commuters?
Commuters have increasingly been burdened by capricious private bus "mudalalis".

They also face rudeness, overcrowding and harassment. Often, the small change due to the commuter is not given. Buses are also stopped anywhere and everywhere, even on the middle of the road, with horns honking all the time. People have to jump out or jump in as the private bus drivers take off on their mad race to beat the bus before them.

Both pedestrians and commuters face death on the road due to reckless driving by private bus drivers. Countless accidents occur daily. The environment is also polluted by these buses, which emit thick black smoke -- another hazard. To add insult to injury, private bus operators strike at the drop of a hat.

Now we hear of a night bus service. The private bus owners' union leader has said that their buses will continue to operate from 9 p.m. onwards, if the fares are doubled. Consequently, a state bus company has also requested its pound of flesh.

What would be the result? Around two hours before the increased night fare time, the number of buses plying the roads will decrease, awaiting the more lucrative double fare time zone. Commuters would languish on the roads. The crowded night buses will be the utopia of pickpockets and other criminals. Some bus drivers will be under the influence of liquor. Will there be fewer buses in the morning as a result of extended night-time service?

The shortage of buses during the day will affect the workforce of the country. One again, there will also be strikes and the night fares will be tripled. The transport sector needs to be told in no uncertain terms that a night service is not necessary. The need is to address the sufferings the commuters are already undergoing.

These children need direction
I wish to congratulate The Sunday Times for publishing this photograph (October 12). I saw hundreds of children in much worse situations during my visit to the north and the east of Sri Lanka in February this year. The expatriates are doing their best to rehabilitate at least a few.

At least 65,000 children are not attending school. There is an acute shortage of teachers. Most schools have been destroyed or severely damaged. Three hundred and twenty schools are functioning in temporary sheds. Nearly 200 schools have to be reconstructed. The drop-out rate for children in the north and east is 15%. No food, no school, no jobs, what else could they do?

English textbook: A job well done
With regard to Mahinda Ranaweera's letter 'What a way to learn English’ (The Sunday Times, August 24), I would like to point out that he might have laid his hands on an unedited copy of the textbook, English for Better Understanding published by the Department of Official Languages.

The third edition of the book does not contain any gross errors except three spelling errors due to printer's devil (Pgs. 24, 28 and 57). The mistakes, he quotes on pages 8, 16, 17 and 23, are non-existent. The expressions "then we shall not feel how high we have to climb" and "he lives in a village beneath the hill" are quite in order. He even finds mistakes in the message of the Commissioner of Official Languages. Not a single word from the "extract" he quotes could be found in the preface. I advise Mr. Ranaweera to be more careful when he indulges in this type of pastime lest he expose his own ignorance.

Mr. Ranaweera has no reason to feel ashamed of this book, as it has been in circulation for almost three years and has been a great success. The book was first written at the request of former Minister of Justice and Ethnic Integration, Prof. G.L. Peiris. It was to be used as a textbook in his pioneering programme to teach English to school leavers.

It was so popular among students as well as teachers that it was later adopted as a textbook in the All-Island Language Teaching Programme for public servants. This textbook was the result of much toil and dedication. The four writers, including myself, were given only three weeks to produce it. We completed the task within the deadline and feel happy that we were able to contribute positively to English education in this country.

This is what Prof. G.L. Peiris had to say about the book: "If this type of work had been done in any other country, it would have taken at least one year. The writers of the book have done something we all can feel proud of. I thank them and congratulate them for producing such a comprehensive and useful textbook on English, in such a short time."

Upali Indraguptha
Educationist/Lang.Prog.Co-ordinator (retd)
Dept. of Official
Languages

Voiceless depositors and the plunging interest rates
The drop in interest rates particularly over the past few months has badly affected many a depositor, especially those who have retired from the private sector and are dependent on their fixed deposit interest for a reasonable income to survive.

Though over 60, most of them remain breadwinners of their families with no other income and depend on interest accruals through fixed deposits placed in banks or finance companies. The drop in income in the face of the skyrocketing cost of living has made survival impossible.

Average terminal benefits of a white-collar worker (at retirement in 1993) - Rs. 350,000)Monthly interest @ 17% in 1993 - Rs. 4,958 Monthly interest for those over 60 at NSB as at today - 9.7% - Rs. 2,829 Monthly loss - Rs. 2,129

These depositors are desperate and have no voice. Therefore, a special fixed deposit scheme with a higher rate of interest should be introduced for those over 60. Such rates should apply exclusively for terminal benefits. The rate should be enhanced from the 9.07% rate presently offered by the NSB to 14%.

Get tough with these kids
I was shocked at the report that some of the students attending international schools drive vehicles to school and back taking the role of the driver, while the latter becomes a passenger.

I was more appalled that the fine for such offences is a mere Rs. 2500. I hope the relevant authorities will take heed and impose stringent punishment so that these under-age drivers will think twice before embarking on this dangerous game.
A Rs. 25,000 fine and three months in jail would be a deterrent penalty for these spoilt brats.

His columns are pro-victims
This refers to ‘Your columnist sees only one view thru' the Glasshouse’ by K. de Silva of Thimbirigasyaya (The Sunday Times, September 28). Just because Thalif Deen happens to be a Muslim, it does not mean he should give up his right to comment on global issues pertaining to Muslims or the victimised people of the Third World, as long as he strives for accuracy and professional integrity.

As I see it - his columns are not pro-Muslim, they are pro-victims. They investigate current issues from a Third World perspective and call for justice, not subjugation to a global superpower, arms lobbyists or their local agents. I believe that an opinion should be one-sided, on the side of justice. In this context, his columns are one-sided.

The Sunday Times should be commended for its commitment to accurate reporting, providing an opportunity for reply, equality and above all freedom of expression.

Perahera without jumbos
Recent reports refer to the possibility of peraheras having to manage without elephants. The Kandy Esala Perahera is famous not only for its colour but also for the magnificient tuskers and elephants. This is one of the tourist attractions.

The Sri Lankan elephant is the most beautiful among all elephants. The drop in their numbers began in the 18th century when British hunters shot them as a sport. Major Rogers, who was Badulla AGA, killed more than 1,400 elephants.

A second 'Rogers' appeared in 1977. An acreage of 2,900 virgin forest where the elephants lived was given to a foreign company with one stroke of a pen for sugar cane cultivation. The troubles began when the clearing of Handapangala began. Priceless fauna and flora were eliminated, water resources dried up and tuskers and elephants were shot, poisoned or electrocuted. We are facing the consequences of this.

A blessing for students
The re-introduction of English as a medium of instruction in the GCE (A/L) specially for science subjects is a big blessing for students.

Those students, who have sat the university entrance examination in the English medium for the first time (the last time was in 1966) in April 2003 should be encouraged, at least in the transitional period, because the swabasha medium students will be at an advantage.

It’s economic violence
Some people always resort to strikes, hartals, picketing campaigns and boycotts to obtain trivial benefits. This is economic violence and should not be tolerated.
Even public property is not spared and we have seen the roofing on bus halts removed, bus seats torn apart and graffiti scribbled on walls. Religion seems to have failed to instill goodness in people.

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