Letters to the Editor

Net in those politicos to fatten the Treasury
There have been full page advertisements in August seeking public suggestions for incorporation in the 2004 Budget. Bearing in mind the enormous expenditure the government will be called upon to bear in the coming year, mainly due to the unexpected increase in the price of crude oil, it is wise to widen the income tax net of the Inland Revenue Department.

Apart from all the on going expenses of keeping the country afloat, there will have to be an added income to the Treasury to meet the salaries of the 40,000 unemployed graduates who are due to be provided jobs very soon.

Even at the rate of Rs. 5,000 a month, these graduates will cost the Treasury Rs. 200 million every month. Therefore it is imperative that more people are drawn into the income tax paying category.

Isn't it unbelievable that there are only 150,000 income tax files in a country of 19 million people? Those who should be included in the group are politicians voted into power by the masses at general elections and provincial council elections.

There are at least 500,000 such politicians and political appointees, living off the people, getting tax-free salaries, allowances and perks which include luxury food, luxury lodgings, luxury vehicles, luxury services, luxury travel abroad and luxury purchases. All Tax Free!

If the new Budget could rope in such persons - politicians and political appointees - to pay income tax, I am sure the government would be able to meet its commitments.

I appeal to Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama to incorporate the taxation of the official income (drawn from the Treasury) of politicians. I am sure they will welcome it as a patriotic gesture - especially those in the JVP, who at least at the moment feel deeply for the country and its underprivileged.

First clean up the Bar Association!
I was somewhat amused reading a news item recently stating that Bar Association President Ikram Mohamed, P.C., and his committee had pledged their support to the President to help fight corruption in our country. Very laudable indeed.

This, I suppose, is because Mr. Mohamed is under the illusion that everything is tickety boo in his association and what is left now is to solve the problems of the country.

I would like to enlighten Mr. Mohamed that sometime ago my wife and I sent a written complaint in the form of an affidavit to his association against two lawyers, who as Joint Managing Directors of a finance company they had formed, cheated us and many others of our hard earned savings.

They did this by giving bogus documents in the form of deeds as securities for the monies invested. Sad to say that upto now we have not received even an acknowledgement from this august association. Nice way of trying to fight corruption.

When we realized that nothing was forthcoming from the Bar Association in the form of at least an inquiry, we complained to the Supreme Court and thanks to the present Chief Justice, to whom we are indeed grateful, the two lawyers had to present themselves before him and give an assurance that our monies would be returned, which they subsequently did, as the consequence of non-compliance would have been disenrolment or being struck off the roll.

So Mr. Mohamed, my advice to you is to clean up this important association by getting rid of members who have sullied its good name - a task which would require all your time and energy.

Incidentally, the other 'worthy' Directors of the finance company are a medical doctor, her husband, a well-known medical consultant and another medical consultant attached to the Jayewardenepura Hospital who is married to one of the joint Managing Directors. All respected and honourable ladies and gentlemen!

The difference just across the Straits
During India’s freedom struggle, many intellectuals, professionals and others joined the Indian Congress and worked as full-time volunteers. One day one of the volunteers had asked another for a loan of Rs. 25. But the latter, as he did not have the money, had told him so with regret.

After the visitor left the house, the volunteer's wife had told him that she had some money and could give the Rs. 25. The volunteer had run after the visitor, brought him back and given him the money. After the visitor had left with the money, the volunteer had asked his wife how she had extra money when she was struggling to manage the family with the meagre allowance of Rs. 30 a month which he was getting from the party. She had told him that she had saved the Rs. 5 increase which he had been getting from the office for the past six months.

When the volunteer went to the Congress office next day he had told those who were paying the allowance to pay him only Rs. 25 as his wife was able to manage the house with this amount. After Indian independence, this volunteer became a Member of Parliament, a Minister and finally Prime Minister of India but lived frugally as before. He was none other than Lal Bahadur Shastri.

Over to our politicians who say that they will shed their blood and even sacrifice their lives for the people but enjoy and ask for all the privileges and perks, including Benz cars!

Sundered even in death!
Strolled I, through a path which wound its way to a ground where the dead lay; Around I glanced - 'Buddhist cemetery', 'Hindu cemetery', ‘Christian cemtery’, Moslem cemetery - the signboards say;

A bird perching on the nearby tree chirped as if reading my thoughts:
"You humans are sundered even in death;
Alas! how could you live in harmony,
When you are all a band of hypocrites?
Your age-old religions are nothing but accidents;
The gathas, Upanishads, sermons and verses are only spun out stories.

“Sacred if they are, they should have purified
your hearts and souls;
If they did, you would have long ago,
shed your prejudices!

“We dumb creatures are wiser, sans your code of ethics,
Undivided, we die, in whatever form death comes."
so said the little bird and soared into the blue skies!!

Pension delays:Is it an election gundu?
If the pension anomalies are not rectified and the arrears paid before the end of October, the vote lapses. No payments can be made after that unless provision is made in the 2005 budget.

Although approval was given to rectify the anomalies in January 2004, nine months hence we are still awaiting redress. What is the reason for the delay?
What is the explanation given by the Director of Pensions?
Will the pension anomalies ever be rectified or is it another election gundu?

Some have hope, others know only suffering
Teachers who are serving in 'congenial' schools until retirement face no transfers. They have hopes, facilities and everything. Teachers serving in difficult areas also face no transfers from first appointment to retirement, for want of a reason.

They have nothing before them except suffering.
This is a terrible punishment and great injustice.
A select group has been treated differently from others. The delay of justice is injustice.

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