Letters to the Editor
View(s):Preserving livelihoods and social harmony: A better path forward for Kandy
Recent reports of the Kandy Municipal Council’s plan to forcefully remove pavement hawkers have prompted serious reflection on socioeconomic inclusion and urban governance in our cities.
These hawkers are not just informal vendors, they are fathers, mothers and young adults striving to sustain their families through small-scale enterprise. Many come from economically marginalized backgrounds and represent a beautiful cross-section of Sri Lanka’s ethnic and religious diversity, working peacefully side by side.
Removing them without a sustainable alternative would:
- Push already vulnerable families deeper into poverty.
- Disrupt a rare, organic model of inter-community cooperation.
- Deprive Kandy’s residents and visitors of affordable, convenient access to everyday goods.
- Miss an opportunity to bring the informal sector into the formal economy through regulation and support.
Cities worldwide are learning that inclusive urban planning yields stronger, more resilient communities. Instead of removal, I urge the Kandy Municipal Council and stakeholders to consider pathways such as:
- Designating regulated vending zones with clear guidelines.
- Introducing an accessible licensing or permit system.
- Providing basic infrastructure like waste collection and shelter.
- Engaging hawkers in dialogue to co-create sustainable solutions.
A thriving Kandy should be measured not only by its cleanliness, but by its compassion and inclusivity. Let’s champion policies that uplift all citizens, especially those who demonstrate resilience, entrepreneurship and unity in the face of hardship.
I welcome a thoughtful discussion on how urban policy in Sri Lanka can balance order with equity.
Sunil Gamage Via email
Don’t be hasty over the educational reforms
The ongoing debate on the proposed education reforms has generated considerable public attention and rightly so. There is near-universal agreement that Sri Lanka’s education system requires reform and that such reform is long overdue. However, the method by which sweeping and consequential changes are introduced matters as much as the changes themselves.
Education reform should not be an exercise in haste. It demands careful planning, wide consultation, professional scrutiny, and above all, consensus among stakeholders: teachers, academics, administrators, and parents . While the general public is understandably concerned, it would be unreasonable to expect ordinary citizens to judge the academic quality of curricula or the feasibility of implementation. That responsibility rests with those entrusted with authority and expertise.
What is deeply troubling, however, is the poor quality of the reform document now in circulation. The abundance of spelling, grammatical and structural errors points to a far more serious problem than mere carelessness. It strongly suggests that, beyond a proofreader, the document has not been properly read—let alone critically examined—by those responsible, from the subject clerk to senior officials, consultants, secretaries, and even the minister concerned not to mention the Cabinet which gave the seal of approval.
When documents of such national importance are released in this condition, it undermines public confidence not only in the reforms but in the entire decision-making process.
Only weeks ago, the President observed that “the government cannot do business”. Incidents such as this sadly reinforce that perception. In the private sector, critical documents – whether policy papers or board submissions -are subjected to meticulous checks and multiple layers of review. There is no tolerance for substandard content or sloppy presentation, because credibility and accountability are at stake.
Education reforms will shape generations to come. If the state cannot ensure basic standards of professionalism in drafting and presenting reform proposals, serious questions arise about its capacity to implement them effectively. This is not merely a debate about grammar or spelling; it is about governance, responsibility, and respect for the future of the nation.
Upali Weerasinghe Via email
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