Letters
View(s):There’s still time to educate the people on dangers of 18A
I read with admiration and with high regard, the bold and forthright Editorial in the Sunday Times of last Sunday (October 26, 2014), whilst acknowledging that over time, the Editorials were assertive and focused on issues at hand, even brave in blaming the officials or powerful personalities for their scant disrespect of human rights or legitimate grievances of ordinary people when compared to other print media 
publications.
However, even the Sunday Times Editorial is ‘ four years too late ‘ to emphatically highlight the adverse repercussions of the 18th Amendment with clear indications of the country heading to dictatorship, ostensibly chosen by the people by vote like how Adolf Hitler was installed as the leader of Germany through Nazism. Granted that the Sunday Times may have shone the red light occasionally on this dangerous possibility during the last four years, the golden opportunities to express the serious concerns now highlighted were perhaps not availed of at the breakfast meetings the President has with Editors.
The opinions expressed by former Chief Justice, Sarath Nanda Silva are certainly too late, like closing the stable door after the horse had bolted. Supreme Court rulings are virtually impossible to reverse. He paved the way for unscrupulous MPs to cross over at whim from the party they were elected from, to the more powerful government with a huge financial largesse to offer, in search of pecuniary and other benefits and his decision in 2005 to clear the current President of any culpability in the Helping Hambantota scam allowed him to contest the Presidential election and win it unhindered.
The conduct of 43rd Chief Justice, Shirani Bandaranayake is equally deplorable in that she allowed the passage of the 18th Amendment without subjecting it to the essential legal procedures. She herself had a taste of what was to come when she was unceremoniously thrown out of office by Ministers and MPs with dubious credentials when she tried to interpret the constitutional provisions on a bill that had vast financial implications, not to the liking of the powers that be.
Now, at a time when all those culpably responsible including some sections of the media, feel remorse for what they have done by putting the whole country and its people in a right royal mess and feebly attempt to absolve themselves, all is not lost yet. If all those can educate the people, the voters, on the dangerous implications of the 18th Amendment and the untrammelled Executive powers, the country can still be salvaged.
I appeal to editors, to take the initiative in this regard.
T.Mallawatantri
Via email
Where’s the Meththa Karuna to thy neighbour?
This is to add a few lines to the letter written by Callistus Jayathilake in the Sunday Times of October 19. I am in full agreement with him. My house is surrounded by three Buddhist temples from three directions. Poya day is a nightmare for me.
Even though I liked to listen to “Bana Deshana” from my childhood I do not have any interest now.
All these temples use loudspeakers to compete with each other. I can’t see any Meththa Karuna to any neighbourhood!
So much so to be away from this noise I go somewhere on Poya days. I wonder why can’t these temples use some broadcasting system catering for those devotees who come to temples and not for the the whole village.
Last but not least, let me remind a part of a sermon delivered by a most venerable Buddhist monk,” Mehu Budu pilima thibena vena ratakuth neha, Mehu bana kiyana ratakuth neha, Mehu aparada karana ratakuth neha !”.
NJ
Ragama
Give us good reasons for your bad decisions
This refers to three articles viz; ‘Helping Hambantota’, ‘Does ‘sorry’ swansong soap Sarath Silva’s sins?’ and ‘Ex CJ’s self-impeachment bid ‘ in last week’s Sunday Times. (October 26).
According to these articles former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva (SNS) has confessed that he did not give the right judgment in 2005 relating to a case filed after CID investigations following a complaint by UNP MP Kabir Hashim. Since many people have seen the ‘confession’ over TV, I am sure, everyone wants to know the ‘right decision/judgment’ that would have been! Also the reason/s for not giving the right judgment.
These articles describe the behaviour of the ex-CJ as contempt of court but I see this as a high degree of professional negligence. Since this ex-CJ is a strong practising Buddhist, this episode better be more than a ‘confession’ but an effort/attempt to follow ‘samma vayama’, which includes ‘not to repeat past wrongs/misdeeds’ after realizing mistakes. After reading these highly critical articles, we would all like to have the response from SNS, who definitely should have good answers/reasons for these actions.
K.U.Pushpakumara
Pitakotte
Moon and stars!
Pre-election: The gullible citizens are promised the moon
Post-election: All they see are ‘stars’!
Dion J. Walles
Colombo 6
Third term or not: Let the people decide
There is much controversy regarding the eligibility of the incumbent President to run for a third term.
I, a humble citizen of this country do not understand the legal implications regarding this issue. All I desire is that our next President will be honest, just, and work towards the welfare of the country and its people.
Presuming that the incumbent President is legally eligible to contest for a third term, he could still be voted out of power if the majority of the people are dissatisfied with his governance and feel that he should not be re-elected as the next President.
In a democratic country the opinion of the majority of the people is the most important factor.
So, let the people decide.
G. Buddhadasa
Dehiwela
Please give us a better road from Kodikamam to Point Pedro
We welcome the Yal Devi train to Jaffna. It is a great relief to the people of the Northern Province. Our heartiest thanks to the authorities concerned.
While welcoming this move it is my duty to highlight a shortcoming. Kodikamam is one of the busiest stations in the north and several people patronise this station. The main road from Kodikamam to Point Pedro is in a deplorable state. The road is very bumpy and motorists and people who travel on push bikes and motorbikes find it difficult to travel on it. The distance from Kodikamam to Point Pedro is only 16 km yet it takes about 1 1/2 hours from one end to the other by car.
The people from Vadamarachchi area have to come to Kodikamam to go to various places like Colombo, Trincomalee, Mannar, Mullaitivu, Batticaloa and other places in the south.
We would appreciate it if the relevant authorities take necessary steps to carpet this road so that the people can travel easily without any hindrance
G. Manoharan
Point Pedro
Come to Pelawatte to see all that’s ugly and smelly
Colombo is looking more and more beautiful with all the roads being redone and the surrounding areas being beautified. However, at Perera Mawatha, Pelawatte, just a stone’s throw from the Parliament, residents are dumping their garbage on the road.
There is a fairly efficient garbage collecting system operational by the Pradeshiya Sabha, but the residents living on Perera Mawatha just cannot be bothered to have their garbage collected by the truck. They fling the garbage from their fancy cars onto the road and drive away. The Pradeshiya Sabha has erected a notice not even two feet away from this dump, warning the public that they would be liable for a Rs. 5,000 penalty if the offender is caught. The irony being, the garbage is also dumped just by this notice.
There are quite a few VVIPs living at Perera Mawatha, but I guess they just don’t choose to see the garbage which is piling up daily almost to the middle of this road. The vehicles plying on this road, run over the garbage and the stench is unbearable.
Attempts at alerting the Environmental Police have proved futile. Hope the authorities will take some meaningful steps to rectify this problem and apprehend the offenders so that Perera Mawatha is kept clean and free of putrefying garbage.
Over to you Mr Minister !
Kamini Perera
Pelawatte