Letters
View(s):Amangalle Hotel: I know racism when faced with it
Racism is alive and kicking in Amangalle Hotel, Galle. The letter by Mr. Wijegunaratne in the Sunday Times of January 19, relating to the despicable treatment he and his family faced at Amangalle is certainly an eye opener. But this is not an isolated one. My family and I too were subject to similar treatment
After exploring the picturesque Galle fort, my sister and I entered the foyer of Amangalle Hotel and inquired if we could have lunch there. The stewards seemed reluctant to let us in any further and asked us to sit on a sofa in a corner. Thereafter, a man in a suit (I will not call him a gentleman) approached and unsmilingly informed us that the hotel was full and he could not serve us lunch. We thanked him and while leaving we could not help noticing the manner in which he welcomed a couple of western tourists in slippers and 
backpacks to the hotel.
The following day, we strolled through the town again and approached the hotel to have some refreshments and have a look at the swimming pool. This time, we did not even have a chance to enter the foyer. The same black- suited man barred our way. In reply to our request, he gave the same refrain- “sorry, hotel is full”. When I then asked if we could go through the hotel and have a look at the pool, he repeated rudely, “sorry hotel is full”. It was at this moment that we realized that people with the skin colour of our countrymen were not welcome at this hotel. We left, disgusted.
I am sure the management of this hotel will deny this charge. However, I know racism when faced with it. Can someone please inform the management of Amangalle Hotel that we are now living in the third millennium and that a dark-skinned man, elected by his white-skinned compatriots, is now the president of the United States of America?
Ayanthi de Silva
Battaramulla
Hirunika: The voters must decide
She crashed into the limelight with a vengeance, with strong media support, to avenge the assassination of her father Laxman Premachandra, accusing in no uncertain terms, the UPFA government of being corrupt and also citing the alleged inefficiency of the Judiciary and law enforcement authority. She received public sympathy and admiration for her bold utterances, and everyone expected this young, pretty political star to keep to her promise of weeding out corruption, waste, crime, etc.
As time passed, several matters may have passed under the table, which may be the reason for her to change her original stand. Now she has been nominated to contest under the UPFA ticket.
The Western Province has the most educated, intelligent voters and it is left to them to decide whether she is worthy and could be trusted to serve the people. We of the Kolonnawa electorate, who had high hopes and faith in her are rather disillusioned. Will we be considered as grass-eating voters, as some politicians have branded voters to be in the past after elections? Of course we have options and alternatives.
Here the media, both print and electronic have a sacred duty by the voters, to educate them to elect honorable, reliable candidates who would serve the people and not serve themselves as is the trend today. We place our trust in the media to be impartial and honorable.
The irony is that political leaders blame the voters for electing unsuitable, corrupt candidates, while the same political leaders nominate them. This goes for journalists as well. They too boost such candidates and later blame the voters. Perhaps they need material to keep the people interested.
Josephene Gamaaratchi
Wellampitiya
It’s now or never, fellow pensioners
Us pensioners have been agitating for decades for the same salary increases granted to other service officers and retired politicians with a few years in parliament. Pensioners have been paid only a small percentage, which is most unreasonable.
Please act now fellow pensioners – we should forget about party affiliations and party politics and in case we do not receive our dues before these two elections, we should vote for opposition candidates, as our block vote of many lakhs may well be a matter for serious consideration?
This is our one and only Normandy battle. It’s now or never?
Poor Pensioner
Colombo
‘Mr. Minister, you are two minutes late’
This refers to G.A.D. Sirimal’s letter on the public service rules (The Sunday Times of January 5, 2014).
When W. Dahanayake was the Education Minister, he often travelled by train. On one occasion he told the Station Master that he would be travelling that morning. B.D. Rampala, the Railways General Manager, was on that train. When it did not leave on time, Mr. Rampala asked the Station Master what the delay was about.
He was told that they were waiting for the minister. Mr. Dahanayake arrived two minutes late. Mr. Rampala got down to the platform, met the minister and told him, “Mr. Minister, my trains leave on time. You are two minutes late!” The remarks drew an apology from the minister.
A classmate of mine, now dead, was the guard on the train.
That was the brand of public servants we had.
Dr. Chandra Weeraratne
Ratmalana
Bravery in murky waters
Saving a life under any circumstance is a heroic deed. It becomes more so when it is the life of a little girl.
The hero in this instance was a chauffeur to an Army Brigadier living in the Pamankada area. On January 11, when he was on his way to the Army Camp in the Pamankada area, he saw a little girl falling into the dirty, smelly canal close to the Pamankada bridge. Though this area is thickly populated no one apparently witnessed the incident except for a little boy who ran to the edge of the canal, shouting out, “akka akka”.
Realizing the gravity of the situation this brave man did not think twice before jumping into the dirty water. Most people would shrink from getting even a splash of this dirty water, let alone jump into it. But heroes are of a different calibre.
The soldier pulled out the girl from the deep mud she was stuck in. If not for his timely action a young life would have been lost that day.
I am a resident of the same area and feel that such bravery should be rewarded. We should be proud of such courageous soldiers. Is it a wonder that we won the civil war in spite of all obstacles?
The brave man is Lance Corporal D. B. J. K. Jayalath of the Army Engineers Corps, No S/239352
L. Weerasekera Colombo 5
Urubokka Dutch canal a big stink
By now a site which can be considered a national heritage, the Dutch canal at Urubokka in the Matara District is in a dilapidated state. Its maintenance has been totally ignored. It is an eyesore. It is dirty and stinking.
We earnestly request the relevant authority to take prompt action to restore it for the common good.
P.H. Masmulla
Urubokka