Letters to the Editor
View(s):Won’t the appointment of new CJ also be invalid?
The highest court of the country, the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal following the judgment of the Supreme Court have held that the procedure followed by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) inquiring into the Impeachment Motion against the present Chief Justice is legally wrong and has no legal effect. Therefore the findings and the report made by this PSC on a legally invalid procedure too, is legally invalid. Therefore the debate and taking a vote on these legally invalid findings and report too, is legally invalid. If this motion is passed in Parliament the said resolution too is not legally valid.
If the President accepts and acts on this legally invalid resolution and removes the present Chief Justice from her post, such removal of her from the said post too, is not legally valid. When there is no legally valid vacancy in the post of Chief Justice, a new appointment to the one and only post of the Chief Justice too, cannot be, legally valid. Therefore if an appointment of a new Chief Justice is made by the President, such appointment too will not be legally valid.
From the above it is clear that the above entire series of actions and steps done and taken were made legally invalid due to the Judgment of the Supreme Court itself. Therefore if a legally invalid appointment of a new Chief Justice is made, is the Supreme Court going to accept the said legally invalidly appointed Chief Justice? If it does so, is not the Supreme Court acting against its own judgment?
Furthermore if it does so, are not the Judges of the Supreme Court setting an example to the other courts not to follow the judgment of the Supreme Court? Is this not going to break down the well-established judicial system of this country?
Legal Eagle, Colombo
Kelaniya has had its fill of thuggery and violence and will take no more
Kelaniya is sacred ground. It is one of the three places the Buddha visited. To all Buddhists the place is sacrosanct.
The Portuguese in the 16th century desecrated Kelaniya. Now our own politicians are repeating what the Portuguese did. The monks are subject to political pressure. Thuggery, harassment, drug pushing, extortion and even murder go unchecked. The people do not protest because they are afraid. They prefer to endure in silence.
Now, with the latest killing, residents are demanding justice. They will have no more of this nonsense. Their action was followed by the usual Presidential visit to condole and appease. That is not enough. It will not change the situation. What is required is a permanent solution.
Changing the organiser would help. Hallowed Kelaniya needs someone befitting its sacred status.
Kelaniya Resident,Via email
Grateful commuter thanks courteous, civic-minded bus driver and conductor
I wish to record my personal thanks to the driver and conductor of the Vihanga Express on Route 120, bus registration number JQ3310. This is one of the most crowded and nerve-wracking of bus routes. However, on Sunday, December 30, while travelling from Katuwawala to the Colombo campus, I was reminded of how peaceful and professional bus journeys were in the late 1970s.
The driver of Bus No. JQ3310 drove at a reasonable speed, did not overtake other vehicles, sounded the horn only when he had to, and stepped on the brake gently, so passengers were not thrown from one end to the other. The conductor was courteous and considerate and ensured that passengers got on and off the bus safely. In all, bus driver and conductor were thoroughly professional and deserve recognition.
These are the days of the reckless, maniacal speedsters, four and two-wheeled. They overtake vehicles on both sides of the road, and show no regard for the safety of pedestrians. Our roads are in a truly dreadful state. There are no pavements, only water-filled drains and broken, rock-strewn paths. You cannot walk to a shop or cross the road and be sure you will get home unhurt, or get home at all.
Ninety per cent of our road users have a “me first” attitude. We desperately need safe, comfortable public transport –well-maintained vehicles manned by properly trained and qualified drivers.
I hope that those living outside central Colombo will be provided with such “luxury” features as well-paved pavements, proper storm drains and so on.. Maharagama is in urgent need of proper pavements, feeder roads, markets and general civic refurbishment in view of the tremendous increase in housing and commercial areas.
Faith J. Ratnayake, Via email
Where are we heading as we speed along the social evolution highway?
Is the social evolution of Sri Lankans degenerative? If so, what are the contributory factors? For example, a mature society bases its social contracts largely on trust and the strength of a person’s word. This does not seem the case in Sri Lanka any more. On the contrary, the exact opposite is.
Where will all this lead to in the context of interpersonal relationships? What interests me is how social evolution in Sri Lanka has resulted in untrustworthy relationships spanning all social strata.
As one who is unfamiliar with road protocol in Sri Lanka, I am intrigued by the large stickers on luxury vehicles (often with tinted windows) with the letters VVIP or VIP on the windscreens. These vehicles are always in quite a hurry, breaking road rules and rudely pushing other road users out of their way. Who are they? Does the Registrar of Motor Vehicles (RMV) issue these stickers, and what criteria need to be met? Some vehicles have a Government seal stuck on the windscreens. Do these vehicle drivers or owners have special privileges according to the Road Traffic Ordinance?
Such phenomena were non-existent in the 1970s, when life was ordered, despite an uprising by Southern youth at the beginning of that decade.
Lasantha Pethiyagoda, Australia
Tribute to Tony Greig
True sportsman of past and present, he loved to eat Sri Lankan pineapple and drink king coconut, wearing the noble white hat.
Observer of talented young cricketers, combining critical thinking and bold predictions;
Tony never worried about failures, but always encouraged the home team;
He rendered yeoman service to Sri Lanka as an Ambassador for Sri Lankan tourism;
A great cricketing legend who broke our hearts when his golden voice went silent;
A role model of realism and mild manners, but with a disciplined approach to any situation;
Ever an admirer of Sri Lankan social skills, showing respect and gratitude to Mother Lanka;
Impartial and respected commentator with interpersonal skills who predicted our World Cup win;
A gentleman who combined creative thinking with decision-making.
Ivor Hapuarachchi
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