Letters
View(s):PET scan fund: Shame on you politicians
I refer to the recent news story regarding the collection of funds to get a PET Scanner for the Maharagama Cancer Institute, initiated by Mr. Mohamed. We appreciate his efforts.
What is shocking to me are his revelations that the Cancer Hospital not only did not have a PET Scanner but it also did not have a latest Ultra Sound Scanner or even an MRI Scanner? He says the Ultra Sound machine there is 18 years old .
Isn’t it a crying shame to have that kind of outdated technology to diagnose cancer?
I wonder how the leading Cancer Institute functions like this in a country that boasts of good health care index according to the World Banks reports. Isn’t it a shame for our country not to have at least one PET scanner (in the state sector) for the most dangerous diseases that our people face.
I wonder what the Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne was doing all this time? He has held this position in previous governments as well.
The most worrying situation is that our present President, Maithripala Sirisena who was the previous government’s Health Minister could not source these most needed equipment.
I fail to understand how the previous government of Mahinda Rajapaksa which spent colossal amounts of money on unwanted public activities did not acquire this equipment either? What type of country are we living in? Isn’t it a shame to tell the entire world that we do not have a PET Scanner in the Cancer Institute?
Has the President, Prime Minister or at least the Health Minister visited the Maharagama Cancer Institute even for shelter on a rainy day?
Shame on us.
Shabir Zainudeen
Dubai
How the 1920s Beira Lake scheme was meant to lower flood waters
Low-lying areas around the Kelani River were flooded out during the recent rains
The Beira Lake with an area of about 175 acres is meant to be a flood water outlet when the Kelani water level rises. The Kelani bund on the north side is close to the river bank, thus protecting the area behind. But the south side bund is located far away from the river bank thus the low lying areas between the river and the bund get flooded when the water level rises, as seen in the recent flooding.
The St Sebastian north canal gates on Nagalagam Street are closed when the river water level rises above the canal water level, to protect the surrounding areas along with the bund. The St. Sebastian south canal is connected to Beira Lake at St. Sebastian Hill near the Court complex but the lake water level is higher than the canal water level. The Beira water level is six feet above sea level held by three structures namely St. Sebastian locks (now replaced by a wall), McCallum locks (near Lake House on the opposite side) and the semi circular shaped Galle Face spillway whose crest is six feet above sea level (located near the Presidential Secretariat).
The pumps at St Sebastian locks pump water from the canal into the lake and the water that flows into the lake system spills over at GF spillway when the lake water level rises above six feet. The essential condition is that the canal must be clean and not polluted otherwise the lake too would get polluted. This operation would lower the water level in the surrounding areas of the Sebastian Canal.
In the past there were extensive marshy lands around Kelani river like the Kimbulawela swamp to hold large volumes of water until it drained out to the sea.
When there are no adequate retention areas then excess water would fill up roads and other developed low lying lands until it drains out.
The Wellawatta outfall, Dehiwela outfall and Mutwal tunnel outlet flowing into the sea near the flour milling complex at Mutwal are the available sea outlets which are limited in quantity and water retention areas to hold water volumes temporarily.Water retention areas are an essential flood mitigation measure that must be looked at in the future.
To prevent flooding in low lying areas along the Kelani which are located between the river bank and the south side bund either the bund has to be relocated close to the river bank or the families have to be relocated. In addition it is essential to preserve water retention areas as much as possible.
The primary function of the Beira Lake scheme developed around 1920 is not to act as a flood relief but to assist in lowering flood waters by pumping at St. Sebastian pumps.
D. Godage
Via email
Budget 2016: Some clarification needed
We appreciate the efforts taken by the Finance Minister to provide relief to the common man through his second budget, presented to Parliament last year. e.g. curtail prices of local milk powder, gas etc.
On February 15, 2015, I wrote that the age limit of the senior citizen be made 55 years and amount of the fixed deposit of Rs. one million be increased to five m. In the budget proposals for 2016, the minister indeed redefined the age of the senior citizen to 55 years and increased the quantum of the fixed deposit to Rs. 1.5m, which however is not adequate! In addition, the withholding tax on interest income was removed which was much appreciated. I presume the above three proposals were approved.
To my dismay, the three proposals referred have not been formally communicated to banks/financial institutions (circular not issued) even after the lapse of 3½ months. When I checked with the Bank Supervision division of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, I was told that discussions are being held with the Ministry of Finance. When asked about the time frame for implementation, the Officer said she is unable to confirm.
I am appealing to the relevant authorities to take steps to issue the circular to the Banks/Financial Institutions without further delay.
Hiranthi Weerasekera
Vie email
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