Letters to the Editor

Stop telling fairytales, it's time for the truth
We pensioners are an abandoned lot, who have been led up the garden path by all governments. We are victims of bureaucratic bungling and now earnestly appeal to the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, who we understand is an exemplary and considerate public officer, to grant us relief from our miserable plight.

To start with, we were publicly assured a 70% rise by the then Minister concerned. The Devendra Commission recommended a 10% increase. Then there was a circular in February 2004 to correct anomalies based on the December 1996 salaries, which date was grossly unfair. Then the papers carried a news item that the new Minister and his Secretary have announced the basis correctly and justly as the 1997 salaries. Then there was talk of a revision. The delay they said was in including pensions of teachers and those in the Armed Forces and due to the lack of trained officers to do the calculation. A new amended circular was to come out within two weeks.

Many other fairytales have been told from time to time. Helpless Divisional Pension Officers and their accountants looked clueless and they admitted so. As it is, of the nearly 400,000 pensioners, not even a handful have received anything.

Therefore we earnestly appeal to the Ministry Secretary to make a candid statement on the true position as early as possible and effect a quick remedy, as we have been cheated and most of us are with one foot in the other world.

Tax: Net in the politicians too
In the past few weeks there have been many letters about methods to widen the tax net, so that Sri Lanka can comfortably meet its commitments. The best suggestion has been to start collecting income tax from politicians again. It was jumping Ronnie who exempted them from taxes back in the ’70s.

Politicians receive enormous salaries and allowances from the Treasury, not to mention other advantages such as free foreign travel, duty free purchase of luxury items and pensions.

It is true the tax net was widened to include politicians. Since they have come to work for the country, I am sure they will be patriotic enough to welcome this idea.

With the taxes so collected, the Govt. can easily carry out development schemes that benefit the underdog.
It is time for the Finance Minister to incorporate the taxing of politicians in the Budget of 2004.

There should be merit in accuracy
My attention was drawn to an error in the certificates awarded to graduates at a Convocation held in a local university on December 23, 2002. The grammatical error referred went as, "Was awarded this Certificate at the Convocation holden on 23rd December, 2002".

When I pointed out the error in the sentence to the university concerned in writing, the reply was that the sentence was grammatically correct and most appropriate on a certificate.

The university says, the world "holden" is the past participle of the verb "hold" and quotes Shakespeare in a bygone era, "I summon your grace to his majesty's parliament holden at Bury the first of next month". King Henry VI part II Shakespeare.

The university admits the word "holden" is archaic, but says that the word "holden" is still in use in legal language. I contacted a number of senior lawyers and was told that they had yet to come across the word “holden” in legal language.

The university in question says " was awarded" is aptly used in the sentence in dispute, referring to an event that had taken place in the past. The awarding of certificates takes place on the 23rd of December 2002 in recognition of a past event, therefore the verb has to be “is” not ''was''.

I am not fully satisfied with the vague explanation of the university defending the right and accuracy of the use of the word "holden", quoting Shakespeare. The university cannot surely be ignorant or unaware of the importance of the English language and the need for preserving its purity. Let us not forget, there is merit in accuracy. Could any reader, please, have my doubts dispelled ?

Spend time, clean up the UNP and get ready for the future
I have been a UNP supporter since 1950, and belonged to the Women's Organization in its early formation.

It distresses me to see what a sorry state the party has come to, and I foresee its disintegration, which is happening at an alarming pace. It is timely that at long last the UNP has decided to take seriously its perilous state and invite public opinion, which in my rightful role as a responsible citizen, I seize the opportunity to air.

Leadership
Ranil Wickremesinghe is an exemplary gentleman. Unfortunately, his soft spoken ways, gentleness, and 'wait and see' policy is provenly not effective against ruffians, cowards, ignoramuses, liars, cheats, thieves, hypocrites and rogues without an iota of scruples - both in government and (sad to say) even within his own party.

We need a leader who can counter and overcome these thugs. Clean out the Augean stables, even if it means losing numbers to make us a minority Opposition. A little while in the doldrums could be usefully spent in rebuilding, to become a good clean government in the future.

So it is time for Mr. Wickremesinghe to step down and hand over to Mr. Karu Jayasuriya - the most likely successor who fits the bill. He is down to earth and appears to have leadership qualities to harness the faithful and able, and take the UNP forward.

Hunting for votes not the priority
The UNP must quickly set about putting its own house in order. Drastic times need drastic measures. Hence, members - whether parliamentarians or their relatives, if wanted by the law or legal bodies, and are prima facie suspects in a misdemeanour or crime, should be transparently suspended from membership, until such time as their innocence is proved. Likewise, no person with a blemish should be allowed into the party however tempting and seemingly valuable that vote may be.

The UNP must not by its apathy condone the unlawful actions of family members of UNP parliamentarians, which reflect adversely on the party and cause it disrepute. Such incidents of hooliganism and banditry, flaunting parental power, must be regarded harshly by the party authorities, and dealt with accordingly.

Unethical/Anti-Conversion Bill
The overall objective of the bill is an absolute interference in the spiritual life of a human being. The UNP should boldly and unequivocally adopt the stance that the proposed legislation against 'unethical' conversion is a blatant negation of the fundamental rights of a person, and hence should be vehemently and openly rejected.

"To work for the establishment of a Statutory Council of Religious Leaders to exercise jurisdiction in all complaints and promote freedom of worship and reconciliation" - as stated by the Sri Lanka Movement for Justice Peace and Conciliation!" should be the alternative.

Procrastination - the downfall of the UNP
To act swiftly and decisively against all persons under public scrutiny without procrastination, fear or favour.
In all of these, proper leadership counts, and this is where an effective leader could pull this party and the trampled people of this country out of the morass. Who else can be the man of the hour?

Not the time for revamping
I read with interest, the views of your columnist Rajapal Abeynayake on how the process of leadership selection in the UNP required to be changed. To the best of my recollection, UNP leaders, be they kindly and ineffectual or ruthlessly effective, have got there through the same system that pertains today.

Ranil Wickremesinghe is again drawing a lot of flak, for his seeming inaction at a time when the UPFA is under siege. Feeling the pulse of the people to accurately diagnose their state of mind at any given time, is no easy task.

A newly elected government sometimes has surprising resilience. Mr. Wickremesinghe may not be wrong in waiting. I recollect reading that Ranil's uncle JR, at the time of D.S. Senanayake's death is reported to have said, "If Dudley does not want it, they could think of me," or words to that effect. However, he had to wait another 25 years, before he swept the polls. In the period since 1973 when the edifice of government was visibly crumbli

ng, JR spent his time in rebuilding and reorganising the UNP, and not indulging in polemics.

Mrs. Bandaranaike called elections in 1977, blissfully oblivious to what was happening around her. A subservient media and an opposition, which worked silently, lulled her . The 2002 debacle was a different ball game altogether. Any government having to face an election when it is in its second year would be hard pressed to win.

It is akin to the small hours of the morning, when one is most likely to have a heart attack. A democratization of the selection process may be a worthwhile long-term objective for the UNP.

To embark on it now and divert energies into the in-fighting that must surely occur, would be all that the UPFA could possibly hope for.

No one understood your loneliness
You jumped
From the fifth floor of your alma mater
The school you had been attending
For many long years.
Before you jumped
You removed your shoes
And socks.
Did they represent what had become
Unbearable?
The school bag whose weight
You had carried on your shoulders
For many long years.
Why did it suddenly become a burden?
Or was it a deep despair
And loneliness -
An isolation -
No one understood
That made you take that leap
Into nothingness?

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