Not the first winner

Reference the item, "Nilakshi wins in Australia" (The Sunday Times of September 19), it was not the first occasion a Sri Lankan student won the Plain English Speaking Contest.

It was won for the first time in 1994 by Kaveenga Wijayasekera of Ananda College.

Mrs. H.H. Kumarapperuma,
Retired Deputy Director General of Education,
English Education

Endless Railway woes

On August 26, I bought a second class ticket to Hikkaduwa at Rs. 56.25. But the fare printed on it was Rs. 46.25. When I asked the counter clerk why he took an extra Rs. 10, I was told that Rs. 46.25 was the old fare.

The Matara Express was scheduled to leave Maradana at 10.15 a.m., but arrived at Maradana only after 11.15. When I boarded a second class compartment it was overcrowded. A majority of the passengers in this compartment were third class ticket-holders. They were happily seated, while I had to stand upto Kalutara, wondering where the checkers were.

Dishonesty, corruption, irregularities and mismanagement are a part of our railway. Isn't it time to privatise the railways?

L.H. Rodrigo
Colombo

Gleaming Benz cars and shattered lives

Mercedes Benz enthusiasts had their annual bash at the BMICH grounds recently. Gleaming Benz cars of nearly every vintage, from pre-war to 1999, filled the car park. There was jazz and draught beer and good food. Enthusiastic men, argued passionately over the merits of their respective cars, their voices shrill with too much beer, and girls in short skirts strutted about.

About the same time, in a little border village far away, more than 50 Sinhala men, women and children, murdered by the LTTE, were being buried in a common grave. I am neither a Benz owner nor a border villager, but from my place somewhere in between, I weep for my country, not so much because terrible things are happening, but because nobody cares.

Sinhalaya
Dehiwala

All for Colombo docs

The news item (The Sunday Times of September 26) reveals only some of the underhand deals going on at the Health Ministry.

Often, outstation doctors nominated to attend conferences/seminars abroad sponsored by UN agencies do not receive this information early to enable them to get their travel documents/visas in time to attend them. On the other hand, doctors in Colombo are given this information immediately, sometimes even before the minister's approval is obtained.

Some doctors even receive direct invitations from the UN or other international organisations. They represent Sri Lanka without obtaining approval but going abroad on leave.

It is understood that some of these organizations are issuing air tickets and allowances to these nominees. Is this correct procedure? If not will this racket be stopped? Will the Health Ministry clarify?

Victimised Outstation Doctor

Return to the Plus Contents