Letters
View(s):Getting away with bribery?
The recent pronouncement by the Minister of Health that a certain party had offered Rs. 300 million to thwart the introduction of the National Medicinal Drugs Policy Bill in Parliament has raised many an eyebrow, even though the Minister chose not to divulge the identity of the scoundrels who attempted to strike a deal with him.
Strangely, nor did he think of complaining to the Bribery Commission on the matter. If we are to believe the Minister he had failed to make use of an opportunity to net a big shark.
Though it is too early to comment on the consistency of the proposals of the draft Bill with that of Professor Bibile’s as the Ministry ignored our numerous appeals to publicise the document for open discussion, the Minister also thought it unnecessary for the other stakeholders like the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA), the People’s Movement for Patients Rights (PMPR) and many others and individuals to put in their two cents worth into the 40 year-delayed vital policy. A bill bringing in far-reaching changes in the medical drugs supply was kept away (even when it was presented on the last occasion) from the GMOA and others concerned.
The possibility of proving bribery charges are remote; but in this instance if the Minister had acted promptly, the rogues would have been caught and the gang exposed.
The mafia who have even bought over Congressmen and Food and Drug Authority officials in the US spending millions of dollars, will not leave a single stone unturned considering the lucrative market they enjoy in Sri Lanka.
K.K.S. Perera
Via email
Reduce the dual citizenship fee
We as senior Sri Lankans living abroad are very thankful to the Government for re-activating dual citizenship but we have a grievance — we are not able to pay Rs. 500,000 required to obtain dual citizenship.
When a person domiciled in a foreign country works there for ten years, the pension which is a sizeable amount could be brought to our country only if the person gets the dual citizenship. So dear Minister, treat us with more consideration and get us to pay a reasonable amount of money to get the dual citizenship. Especially as senior citizens, we would like to make our beautiful dream of settling down in our Lankaboomi in the twilight of our lives come true.
We ask that the dual citizen fee of Rs. 500,000 be reduced to Rs. 200,000 as decided earlier. We would like to bury our bones in our motherland. We left with a heavy heart dreaming of returning with our valuable pensions after retirement abroad. So many seniors with a bonus earned by them in a foreign country want to return. Please respect our seniority and get us down with the dual citizenship back to Sri Lanka with a lesser fee.
-Senior citizens of Sri Lankan origin living abroad
A lesson from New Zealand- kindness to a stranger
I spent three weeks in Auckland in New Zealand, recently. One morning I decided to visit Queenstown in the South Island. I boarded a beautiful blue bus
(Airbus) to the airport but after passing two or three bus halts realised, to my horror, that I had forgotten my passport which I had left in my locker at the hotel.
When the bus stopped at the next halt I went up to the driver and told him about my predicament. He politely asked me for my ticket and wrote something on the back of it. He then told me to show it to the driver the next time I take a bus to the airport. He said I need not pay the bus fare again. Thereafter he wished me a good day.
I crossed the road and boarded a bus back to my hotel. The bus driver, a lady, said it was not necessary for me to buy a ticket and that I could ride free as the hotel was just three bus halts away.
The next day I went to the airport. This time too the driver was very helpful. He even carried my bags into the airport building.
I was really touched by all this kindness – shown to me a total stranger from another land.
I wondered what my plight would have been had this happened to me in Sri Lanka.
To me, this is real development. I am writing to show my appreciation to all these human beings who not only make this world a better place, but will stay in my heart forever.
Rajithangani Unantenna Fernando
Maharagama
Stop and consider the risks of going nuclear
The Sunday Times editorial of February 22 raises concerns over Sri Lanka going nuclear.
For too long, Sri Lanka has been governed by non-scientific minded politicians who lack the necessary knowledge on environment protection and ecology, taking decisions detrimental to Sri Lanka as a whole.
Going back further, the British plundered the hill country forests and a power-hungry politician recently plundered the forest cover in the south. What we need now is not nuclear energy but to redeem the forest cover we lost with a rapid re-forestation programme, to increase precipitation especially in areas where dams were built.
With regard to nuclear energy two important issues need to be addressed:
Where would the nuclear waste be dumped as even in a large country such as Australia the places selected for dumping were rejected through protests?
Another serious issue is that if a nuclear accident does occur, the whole of Sri Lanka will be unlivable.
Considering risk management, accidents and disasters of dams, coal power plants and energy producing petroleum plants, they would be far less than a nuclear blow out as the whole island would be affected since the land mass is so small.
So why is Minister Ranawaka taking this unwise decision being an engineering graduate without going through a proper risk management study?
Even today we are at the risk of a South Indian nuclear blow- out, so why aggravate this susceptible situation?
-Sunil Vijayapala
Australia
Buses are not using the bus halt bays
The bus halt bay no longer serves its rightful purpose of accommodating the bus during its brief stop for passengers to get on and off. Bus drivers have taken it upon themselves to stop at the wonderful carpeted road lane adjacent to the halt.
Thanks to the crossings within close proximity to these halts and at times used by the bus to haul in passengers, the disrespect for rules and self-interest has motorists and pedestrians alike inconvenienced. This places further strains on the already congested roads and increases the difficulty in manoeuvering through traffic.
It is hoped that someone will take note and we can change for the better and follow the rules.
-Thasleem
Mount Lavinia