Letters to the Editor
View(s):Should we as a sovereign country sign the CEPA?
File picture of the CEPA street protest
Very few in Sikkim realised that by their leaders signing the Agreement with India, judging from the small print, the citizens of Sikkim have sold their lives and birthright to becoming another state of India. India built a road into Nepal; consult any Nepalese, it is a one way road.
If Sri Lanka signs the CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement ) , a questionable paste-up document, we will be signing away the birthright of our generations still unborn. Please read the fine print. It is the duty of the Sri Lankan government, to make copies of this once and for all sales agreement freely available for all to see, read and discuss before it is signed. It is important enough to even hold a referendum, like that for entry to the European Union by the countries in Europe. Even SAARC recommendations are not respected today.
Many economists welcome the signing, as they see only the immediate picture where, in theory, little Sri Lanka has an “inbuilt” advantage of being next to big India. However, all statistics available present a different picture. The biggest export to India is arecanut, collected by Indians and exported by Indians all done on the one month visa. Sri Lankan exports to the international theatre, are concrete evidence of the real capability and expertise of the Sri Lankan exporter. The export of tea, rubber and garments to India is banned. All the agencies held in the past by Sri Lankans have been taken over by Indian companies.
Indian architectural students and professionals have come in droves from the 1970’s to see what the Sri Lankan architectural professionals have achieved and are doing, very different and shocked by what many of their own professionals, bar a very few, have achieved.
CEPA will permit free access to Indian graduates. There is no proper screening mechanism in place and there are some 4.6 million graduates and approximately 400,000 engineering graduates unemployed in India. Sri Lankan Universities produce hundreds of graduates every year – what does the future hold for them? Do we send them all unemployed and fester another youth uprising? If expertise is required we should buy the very best from the international arena, and not what the cat brought home.
Each state has a different set of rules to that of the author of the CEPA-the Central Government of India and many Sri Lankan exporters have come a cropper. Why not consult them? It is an ambiguous iron wall of protection to keep most non-Indians out.
According to the CEPA section on the Movement of Natural Persons, if a person of Indian origin is granted a visa to work in Sri Lanka, he or she is allowed to bring his or her family and dependents and they are allowed to be gainfully employed in anything of their choice. So if a family member ran a house of ill fame, he or she would be permitted to do so in Sri Lanka as well. This is similar to what happened in the Kandyan period, when the immediate family and all the dependents of the wives of the Kings arrived and never left, even leading to the creation of a special Malabar Street in Kandy.
Sri Lanka, wake up and stop selling your birthright. Don’t leave the decisions to self-seeking politicians and those who speak of competition. Remember that competition by rule requires an even playing field, apples with apples, not apples with kosatta. Stop, think, we owe it to the generations still unborn.
Ashley de Vos
Colombo 2
FIFA scandal a “wake up” call for local sports bodies
The favourite “whipping boy” of many a critic is the USA. However, as regards the FIFA scandal, it was solely due to the law enforcement authorities of the US and their initiative that brought the shenanigans of the FIFA body to the notice of the public.
In marked contrast , the Asian, African and Latin American countries with their “ostrich in the sand” attitudes have been puzzling for reasons best known to themselves. In like manner, the SLFA should also probe the past activities and the links that a former SLFA bigwig had with the disgraced Qatari Vice President of FIFA. After all, he “hobnobbed” with him and even travelled on his private jet.
This truly is a “wake up” call for all local sports bodies to put their house in order- particularly the Sri Lanka Cricket Board!!
A.J. Pereira
Via email
Service at Delkanda Land Registry Office – a few shortcomings
In the past one year, I have been attempting to get my land title registered under the “Bim Saviya”. Accordingly, I have diligently followed up its progress through its different stages passing through the relevant institutions, namely the Land Settlement Divisional Office in the area where the land is located, Registrar General of Lands at Battaramulla and the Delkanda Land Registry office, which is the last step in the process for the conclusion of registration.
I was informed about a gazette number and its relevant date and that the land particulars have been sent to the Delkanda Land Registry. Upon checking from the Delkanda Registry Office, (telephone number 0112815316), I was asked to come there with the original deeds and my NIC on June 3, 2015.
When I went to the Delkanda Office which is more than 30 miles from my home, I was in for a surprise when I was informed that the particulars of my land had not been entered yet, and hence it is not yet ready for me to obtain the “Bim Saviya” land title registration. Hence the whole day was wasted, due to correct information not being conveyed to me by the lady officer who was answering customer inquiries pertaining to Bim Saviya via the telephone line 011 2815316.
She gave me the impression that she did check the records and that the process had reached a “ready state” and hence it would be possible to conclude the “Bim Saviya” registration if I bring along the original deeds and the NIC on the given date. My inference of this episode is the sheer irresponsibility and lack of diligence by the lady officer responding to “Bim Saviya” registration inquiries. I was prompted to write this letter to the Editor, because I noticed there were several other customers who were turned back due to the same reason.
I assume that this will capture the attention of the authorities, especially the Officer in charge of the Delkanda Land Registry, to check the irresponsible behaviour of the staff under their charge and initiate corrective action immediately. Please note that after the generous salary increases granted to government servants under the new Budget the general public tend to be far less tolerant of service inefficiencies from critical government organizations such as Land Registry Offices. We want to see the taxes paid, channelled to work towards the delivery of more conveniences to the general public.
I wish to also bring to the notice of the Delkanda Office Chief the very poor telephone etiquette of some of the officers when the general public call for inquiries. They are far from prompt and make the person seeking information hang on to the phone for a long time. I hope my letter would be taken as constructive criticism, to help improve the service to the public at the Delkanda Land Registry.
P. Fernando
Moratuwa
Accept and recognise the disabled
Sri Lanka is an island paradise yet to fulfil its great potential. It is a country that was embroiled in civil unrest based on allegations of discrimination. But there is a larger discrimination that has raged over many decades that has affected people regardless of their ethnicity, race, religion or social status. This discrimination is ‘being disabled’. Only a handful of people have come forward to fight for the rights of the disabled. Why is this?
In Sri Lanka, society’s reaction to a person changes dramatically, based on his/her disabilities. It is a traumatic experience fraught with much heartache inflicted on the individual concerned as well as his or her loved ones. Yet in many cases, the individual concerned is forced to fight a lonely battle against the whole of society including sometimes, his own family.
Some Sri Lankans believe that the families of children with disabilities, in particular the mother and the child have done something wrong in a past life. Consequently, empathy and understanding for the disabled is rare. In some cases, families with disabled children can be ostracised from their communities. It’s very sad the way in which Sri Lankans address and come to terms with people with disabilities.
Like all others, people with disabilities come into the world for a purpose. It is not a disabled person we are looking at, but a person with a disability. This means that these individuals have much more to offer than what the label of a “disabled person” implies. People with disabilities are unique, talented and have much more to bring to the world than what society expects. Sri Lankan society needs to learn to recognise and acknowledge this fact.
Currently there are two politicians, who can definitely understand the plight of this most marginalized section of our society. One is Senarath Attanayake (Member of the Uva Provincial Council) and Ajith Mannapperuma (Member of Parliament). In the case of Mr. Mannapperuma, he was injured in a tragic accident recently. A former minister in the previous regime had the audacity to remark “He sustained the injuries because he was speaking against the former President’s regime, bad karma etc.”This is a disgraceful remark; He should have been asked to resign or sacked immediately.
The real challenge now is to create the awareness and a conducive environment in which acceptance of such special individuals into society is facilitated, so that they could thrive with the dignity that they deserve. The way that society treats these special people is a true reflection of the spirit of humanity.
I would like to request President Sirisena and Premier Wickremesinghe to consider setting up a separate department for disability affairs and appoint a Discrimination Commissioner to investigate cases of discrimination. This would immensely contribute towards improving the quality of life of the entire disabled community in Sri Lanka.
Primal Fernando
Via email
Hats off to the Suriyawewa local authority Chairman
Let us take our hats off to the Suriyawewa local authority Chairman and the members for having the wisdom, foresight and the courage to ban polythene in the area coming under their purview. We must congratulate them.
The Bangladesh government banned the use of polythene in the city of Dhaka from January 1, 2002. We are far behind. The way our environment is being polluted by polythene waste if timely action is not taken the repercussions could be disastrous.
This is a matter for the central government. Till then let us hope that other local authorities will follow the action taken by the Suriyawewa local authority.’’
A.G. Weerasinghe
Via email
The cane was thrown into a waste paper basket
The interesting article by Tissa Devendra on a waste paper basket has prompted me, also an octogenarian, to refer to the waste paper basket. In my last capacity as H.M of a famous school opposite the Welikada jail, during the last five years, before retirement, the cane was thrown into a W.P.B. I had no occasion to use it!
On retirement, I took this cane home hidden under in a long sleeved shirt, to prevent my successor from using it.
Shelton, who is older than me, related a very interesting story of a boy who was reported to his father, for cutting school very often.
The father questioned the boy and gave him a thundering kick, sending him flying into a W.P.B.
In later life, this boy was so popular that he rose to be President of 14 associations!
Edmund
Thalawathugoda