I returned to the island recently after a short tour abroad. The BIA had earned a very poor reputation in the recent past with adverse press reports. But in contrast, I found it comparable to any other International Airport. The emplaning and deplaning sequences did not leave anything to be desired. Frontier formalities were handled expeditiously and with courtesy.
I recall with justifiable pride the years 1971 to 1977, popularly referred to in aviation and tourism circles as the Golden Era of aviation and tourism in Sri Lanka under the then Minister of Shipping, Aviation & Tourism, P.B.G. Kalugalle. Dharmasiri Senanayake, the present Minister of Aviation & Tourism was Chairman of the Tourist Board. He was considered to be the best authority in tourism in Sri Lanka and South East Asia. It was entirely due to the efforts of Mr. Senanayake that the above epithet was earned. We for our part made the airport facilitation contribution, as tourism begins and ends at the airport.
I was then on the management of BIA after a stint as an Air Traffic Controller. Airport Commandants and Deputy Airport Commandants as we were designated then, were largely and essentially Air Traffic Controllers with considerable experience and maturity both in age and outlook acquired in service. All airport operations pertaining to the Civil Aviation Department came under the direction and control of the Air Port Commandant whilst he also co-ordinated the activities of other Government Departments and other agencies and exercised positive control over the entire airport.
The present Chairman, Capt. Sudharshan Manamperi with an Aviation background and a 'no nonsense' approach has certainly brought BIA back 'ON COURSE'
GG (Jr.) on the subject of 'GG (Sr.) and the Indian Tamils', bases his position on the following averment, I quote: "It was this law (Act No. 18 of 1948) that took away the voting rights, for it is only citizens who have the vote."
The second half of this sentence is contrary to facts. Citizenship was not a necessary qualification for voting, but only residence in an electoral district for a continuous period of six months in the eighteen months preceding. Even today in Britain for example, non-citizens who have the requisite residence in the electorate are registered as voters. Lankans who have lived in Britain as students, etc. have voted in British elections without ever becoming citizens.
When Act No.18 of 1948 was passed, a large number of Indians (who the Privy Council considered were "not sufficiently connected with the island," by reason of their migratory habits, etc.) lost the right to be registered as Ceylon citizens, but did not lose the right to be registered as voters, provided they had the requisite residential qualification. This right they had under the Ceylon (Parliamentary Elections) Order- in-Council of 1946.
It was this right that was taken away by Act No. 48 of 1949, which GG (Sr) voted for.
In fact, the Privy Council in referring to this Act, gave it the short title "The Franchise Act".
Having said this, I entirely agree with GG (Jr) that his father, in voting for this legislation, "did the correct thing"; as did the voters of Jaffna who overwhelmingly supported him.
More letters to the editor - * Bentota: a lost paradise * Electricity supply to Nawala: does anyone care? * Beware! They are not honourable
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