Letters
View(s):The sound of nuisance: Act now and save us from becoming deaf
Appropos letters in the Sunday Times “Making a noise: Vendors are comparatively innocent” by Irritated Citizen and “ Let the sound of peace and solace prevail” by Concerned Buddhist, Rajagiriya, I am a real victim of blaring sounds through loud speakers from a Buddhist temple which is in front of our house on each and every holiday – Poya, Saturday and Sunday – thus denying me the opportunity to have a peaceful day after working hard on the week-days.
On a Poya day, we are forced to get up at 5 in the morning and then suffer the nuisance of blaring sound from the temple for almost the whole day upto about 9 – 10 p.m. The consequences of this noise is that we are unable to answer a phone call, watch TV, listen to music, read a newspaper and even take a small nap, which I consider to be cruelty to humanity. It is very pathetic that the Buddhist monks who preach “Siyalu satywayo niduk wewa. Nirogi wewa” (Let all human beings be happy and healthy), openly breach their preaching by way of this noise pollution towards their neighbours whatever religion they may belong to.
One wonders if laws such as Public Nuisance Ordinance and environmental pollution do not apply to these temples and whether there are any avenues for redress to the suffering public on account of these encroachments into their private lives, on the pretext of religious freedom.
Although, the BBS made a hue and cry about the Call for Prayers from mosques some time back, as a person who has lived in the Middle East for quite a considerable time, I can safely say that such calls in those countries and in this country do not amount to such disturbances as they are short lived at a time unlike the sounds blared through loud speakers by the Buddhist temples in the vicinity lasting a full day. In actual fact most of what is blared through are CDs containing viridu, kavi Bana, patriotic songs etc. and not much of real Bana anyway.
I wonder why can’t these temples be considerate enough to follow the practices of other religions such as Christianity, Hinduism etc. and confine their preachings to those attending their services inside the places of worship rather than disturb the neighbourhood.
As Brig. Neville Fernando mentioned in his letter “Police deaf to blaring bus horns”; noise pollution is injurious to health and a three second exposure to loud noise could cause severe damage to the cochlear of the human ear.
So, isn’t it time that some authority came down hard on these offending temples and save the public from becoming deaf – sooner than later.
Calistus Jayatileke
Panadura
Plight of Bamba flat owners a serious human rights issue
The plight of flat owners to be re-located in a fashionable, efficient, single high rise condominium scheme at the Bambalapitiya old flat premises earmarked for re-development by the UDA has met with serious protests by a majority of the flat owners. Certainly it is a serious human rights issue. There are four categories of flat owners. The Sunday Times should be commended for highlighting their imminent deprivations.
There are, (1) The old pensioners, (2) Widows and orphans, (3) Present generation inherited occupants (employed children), and (4) Those who bought the flats from the old occupants, a handful.
The human deprivation issue affects old flat owner categories (1) and (2) being the majority. The monthly operations, utilities and maintenance charge in a proposed condominium today averages Rs. 12,000. Once this is paid, the (1) and (2) category occupants will have nothing left to defray their daily living, medical, travelling and social expenses. The UDA will have to propose a financial option for this in the Re-Housing Plan. It is relevant that category (3) owners be mindful of this future deprivation that will confront them in retirement.
Lastly, it is relevant that the Minister of Housing deal with the imminent socio-political danger of unbridled prices and cost escalation affecting housing via lands and building construction sectors in so far as the future pensioners and EPF retirees – population.
D. A. Meemeduma
Nawala
Questions to higher ups: Who are the Royal play-makers?
Your revelations two weeks ago in the ST of 11/9 under the title “A Royal hash” is startling! As a concerned old boy living abroad, I beg to ask:-
i) Why the Old Boys Union of Royal is doing nothing to repair the damage done by the various play-makers mentioned?
ii) Why the PM, a distinguished old boy himself, does not instruct the Minister of Education (not an old boy) to conduct a full inquiry into the devious activities of the SDS and the Principal?
iii) Why the 28 old-boy Parliamentarians do not form a committee to liaise with the Old Boys Union and the Principal to ensure smooth running of Royal and maintain the high standards and traditions it is known for?
iv) Why can’t the Ministry of Education take action when Royal stood for unity amongst all races and promoted ethnic harmony, always.
v) Why can’t a Principal of strong will, character and rectitude, like the ones we had yesteryear, be appointed to lead Royal from the front without caving in to the many play-makers who seem to call the shots at Royal today?
Royal has a proud history and her death could be the death of our education.
Many thanks to the ST for the exposure.
Castro Ismail
Seychelles
Listen to the pleas of tea small land holders
Payment of dividends to the members of the Tea Small Land Holdings Fund has come to a halt since 2008.
The fund was set up in 2002, under the guidance and patronage of ex-parliamentarian Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, solely for the upliftment of the small tea land owner.
We appeal to the relevant authorities to take prompt action to pay the members of the fund, their dues with reasonable interest.
Sena Senaratne
Pothupitiya
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