Letters to the Editor
View(s):Caring for elders: A Vesak thought
Vesak marks the birth of Siddhartha the Prince who gave up his royal abode and went in search of the truth to overcome suffering and rebirth. Today, the entire Buddhist world marks the Birth, the Enlightenment and the Passing Away of the Buddha who gave up wealth, power and status to show people the way.
He cast off the barriers of discrimination and class that prevailed in India at the time and said everyone should be treated as equals. His way was not with bullets and guns but with kindness and compassion.
Here in Sri Lanka, one of His famous followers was the Anagarika Dharmapala who was born into an elite family in Matara but eschewed his wealth to wage a relentless battle against colonialism. He campaigned for the rightful place for Buddhism and Sinhala culture and for there to be no discrimination against others. He fought for a just society at a time when others of his ilk were paying pooja to the colonial rulers.
At Vesak we also remember the elders, a forgotten lot in today’s society. How often do we hear of families going away on safari or on holiday over the long weekend, leaving their aged parents at home with no one to care for them? Of course, there is a domestic to care for the dogs. This is not according to the Buddha’s teachings if we only pay heed.
Visiting Australia recently, I met Rozanne Pereira who showed me around the old-age home she assists in. Here the elders live in dignity and comfort. It would be good if in Sri Lanka such care is extended to our elders.
Another of my friends, Bertie Wijesinghe turned 93 on May 23. I have learnt much from Bertie and his loving wife Dorothy and wish them many more years in their journey together.
As we mark another Vesak let us always remember the Buddha’s teachings in every aspect of our lives and pledge to serve humanity without distinction of race, class, wealth, power or position.
Bernie Wijesekera Thalawatugoda
Back to dara lipa: Tips to reduce power consumption
With the power price hike, more and more housewives are reverting to the firewood hearth (dara lipa) of the bygone era. If you are still interested in using the electric rice cooker there is a method to reduce the consumption of electricity.
First water should be boiled on a gas cooker or kerosene cooker or much better on a firewood hearth. Then wash the amount of rice needed and put it into the bowl of the rice cooker and put cold water to the required amount. Then pour out the water into a container to measure what amount of water is required. Now pour the boiled water to the required amount.
This method will help reduce the cost and time by one third.
P.A. Binduhewa, Panadura
Escort vehicles: More a status symbol now
Thanks to the security forces, the war is over. If so, what is the need for many guards and escort vehicles for our politicians? It has become a status symbol for them to have many guards and motorcycles and jeeps to escort them.
This is highly unnecessary, and can our poor country afford all this pomp while the ordinary people are struggling to make ends meet.
Further these escort vehicles disregard traffic rules and drive at excessive speed, putting pedestrians and motorists in danger. Many are the fatal accidents where escort vehicles were involved. Why do these escort vehicles travel at high speed? What is the urgency?
The police department says it is short of personnel and vehicles for routine police duties, but quite a number of police officers are providing security to politicians. These guards and escort vehicles should be withdrawn as a matter of priority, and put to better use.
Brig. N. Ferdinando, Colombo
What if the meter reader comes late?
According to the tariff structure first announced in April, if consumption of electricity exceeds each block even by one unit, the consumer will be charged at the unit rate for the higher block.
Although this has been relaxed for lower blocks in the subsequent revision, the higher blocks face the same problem. If the monthly consumption is 180 units, the electricity bill, according to the April tariff structure, will be Rs. 5,355. If it is 181 units, the bill will be Rs. 6,396. In other words, the consumer will pay Rs. 1,041 for one extra unit. This extra unit may be consumed on the day on which the meter reader will be taking the reading. If he delays in taking the reading by a few minutes or hours, the customer may be penalised. Since the meter reader cannot take all readings at the same time, it is necessary for the CEB to introduce a system to avoid this problem. The following suggestions are made for consideration by the CEB:
Meter readings should be automated as done in some countries so that the CEB has control over wrong readings, delayed readings and other corrupt activities.
The meter reader should be given specific instruction as to the period before which the reading should be taken.The time and date of reading should be recorded in the bill so that the customer could make an appeal to the CEB for delayed readings.
Concerned Customer
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