Letters
View(s):There’s little justice and fair play for the common man
It seems the laws in Sri Lanka are not for the common man or the ordinary citizen. Judging by the recent occurrences in this sector, the high and mighty, the rich and those who are very well connected have a good chance of escaping punishment, or obtaining a Presidential pardon after conviction.
We are aware of a former minister’s wife being granted a presidential pardon after being convicted of killing her husband’s paramour while there are so many murder convicts languishing in jail.
In the Seya Sadewmi’s rape and murder case two innocents were arrested and remanded whereas in the case of a high court judge’s alleged attempted rape charge he was able to escape being arrested and remanded.
Recently the Police was warned by a magistrate for bypassing original courts and producing two top suspects in the high court and obtaining bail.
A few weeks back a litigant was jailed for yawning in courts but when a senior lawyer was summoned for contempt of court when his mobile rang in courts the entire legal community was up in arms in his defence.
We say that the era of common man dawned in 1956 but as it appears we might have to wait for another 60 years to see and experience justice and fair play in the legal domain.
A. G. Weerasinghe
Via email
Jaffna post box stamped with colonial history
If you happen to visit Jaffna, you will come across a Pillar Post Box, bearing the Royal Cypher of King George VI. This box is on the KKS Road about a kilometre from the Jaffna Fort.
The inscriptions on the postbox have a rich history. The letter G stands for George and the letter R stands for Rex which in Latin is King.
The letters GR VI means that it was during the reign of King George VI that this postbox was installed. The crown also depicts the design of the crown that the King wore during his coronation.
King George VI ruled the British Empire, including Ceylon from 1936 until his death in 1952.This included the World War 11 period. During his reign, Ceylon was a British Colony and was governed by a British Governor.
Queen Elizabeth II (The present Queen) succeeded him in 1952. This Post Pillar Box stands out as an iconic monument to British Rule in Ceylon.
R.B.C. Ariaratnam
Via email
Adding insult to injury: Having to pay for stolen water meter
Residents of Rawatawatta, Moratuwa, especially those living on the land side of Galle Road, opposite Prince of Wales College are disturbed by a spate of robberies which have taken place in recent months, some in the day-time.
The thieves target laptops, phones, cameras and steel and brass items such as grilles, gates and water taps.
They have been so bold as to cut and remove a Water Board water meter of a shop selling ornamental fish. This shop is almost opposite the Prince of Wales gate on the other side of Galle Road.
Thousands of gallons of precious water had gone waste as the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) staff had taken hours to come and repair the damage.
To add insult to injury the NWSDB is charging the owner/tenant of the premises the cost of the new tap and meter.
Despite complaints to the Police, no results appear to be forthcoming.
Some residents have written to a prominent government politician, the son of a well-known head of a Christian organisation. This area has a large Christian population.
However, the politician’s private secretary is reported to have been non-committal when asked whether the letter had been received.
Residents are hoping that some action will be taken.
Concerned resident
Rawattawatta
Stop sending our mothers, sisters and daughters to West Asia
“A married 45-year-old, a maid in Riyadh since 2013, was convicted by a Sharia court in August to be stoned to death”.
This high-handed measure and haughty disregard of others by the Saudis and their regime, inflicting barbaric and brutal punishments, under the guise of religion, showing lack of human sensibility, should be brought to an end without any further delay.
Stoning to death is not a punishment in Islam – but a Mosaic Law practised by the Jewish community almost 600 years prior to the birth of the Prophet of Islam.
“Mary Magdalene is often associated with the woman whom Jesus saved from stoning after she had been taken in for adultery (John, Chapter 8, Verses 1 to 11)
“So when they continued asking him, he lifted a stone and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.(8:7)” – King James Bible.
Belief in Jesus Christ is part of their commitment as Muslims. We tell the Saudis – “Whoever among you is without sin, let him cast the first stone.”
Let them impose and enforce their barbaric tribal punishments on their citizens. The question is – will they? Do they impose their punishments on their own people? That is a big question mark.
In 2013 newspapers worldwide carried the following shocking news report, : “Saudi preacher who raped and tortured his five -year-old daughter to death is released after paying ‘blood money’.
Fayhan al-Ghamdi had been accused of killing his daughter Lama, who suffered multiple injuries including a crushed skull, broken back, broken ribs, a broken left arm and extensive bruising and burns. Social workers say she had also been repeatedly raped and burnt.
The case caused a scandal in Saudi Arabia, with public calls for the cleric to be put to death.
Despite the country’s notoriously strict legal system however, activists say the law protects fathers from being executed for murdering their children.
Enough is enough – It is time that our President takes strict and severe action and stops sending our mothers, sisters and daughters to West Asia. The late Most Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera also called for this move.
If any country requires the services of our people, it should be made compulsory they should draw up an extradition treaty between governments–a written agreement between sovereign states and properly ratified –formally approved and invested with legal authority to the effect that our people cannot be subject to their cruel and barbaric laws and punishments.
Our citizens, should be sent back to us, if they are being charged with a crime, even if it means, in handcuffs, so that our country will take necessary action and pass appropriate punishment according to the laws of our country.
Sri Lanka needs the support, assistance and muscle from the international community to make this a reality.
M. Zulkifli Nazim
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