Letters to the Editor
View(s):Late to work every day: Bus lane causing traffic nightmare
Pix by Indika Handuwala
Prior to the implementation of the bus lane with the road construction taking place for the fly over at Rajagiriya junction, there was free flow of traffic down Cotta Road as the buses were using the Sri Jayewarde-nepura Road. Except for some days, we managed to clock in on time at our workplaces.
However, with the implementation of the bus lane my colleagues and I who have to use the Sri Jayewardenepura Road seem to be clocking in more than an hour late.
In addition to time being wasted in the traffic block for over an hour, consider the amount of fuel and foreign exchange that is wasted.
The Minister of Megapolis should travel at this time and see for himself whether his idea is workable when there is no proper infrastructure in place.
The Galle Road, Negombo Road and of course the Sri Jayewardenepura road can afford a separate lane for the buses. But with a road construction taking place and Cotta Road having only two lanes and a railway crossing, how can a right-minded person implement a dedicated bus lane? With one lane used only for buses the rest of the traffic needs to move only on one lane which impedes the smooth flow of traffic down Cotta Road. This congestion overflows to the Sri Jayewardenepura Road, then to the by-roads Rajagiriya Road, Kotte Road, Battaramulla etc.
With so many traffic cops on the road has no one realized the impracticality of this particular bus lane or are they all scared to go against the minister?
Vinodini Jayawardena Via email
Thank you for helping Polonnaruwa farmers
On Monday evening (September 11) a stranger walked into The Salvation Army Sri Lanka Headquarters in Colombo 2 and handed over a bundle of 5000-rupee notes. The stunned staff member found she had been given Rs. 250,000.00 in cash.
The gentleman said he had been so moved by Dinoo Kelleghan’s feature article published by The Sunday Times the previous day – describing the suffering of farmers in Polonnaruwa District and how The Salvation Army was helping them confront the issues – that he wanted to help in whatever way he could. He left his name and address but no other details.
Such generosity! We are so grateful to your paper for telling the story of our efforts to alleviate the suffering of farming families hit by the killer chronic kidney disease that has baffled scientists all over the world because its causes are a mystery.
This gift, truly, is a wonderful example of what The Salvation Army in Sri Lanka is currently trying to achieve –harnessing Sri Lankan initiative and forming domestic partnerships to alleviate hardship, poverty and other local needs instead of relying on foreign generosity. It was the Apostle Peter who once wrote:“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” May God bless our donor and all others like him who are helping The Salvation Army in Sri Lanka create better futures for Sri Lankans across the country and a better future for the nation as a whole.
Major Peter McGuigan Communications Secretary
The Salvation Army Sri Lanka- via email
Tipplers need lessons on disposal methods
I refer to the front page story captioned ‘’Ethanol imports -Liquor sales boom’’ in the Sunday Times of September 17, and wish to add that the 180ml. bottles ‘Nips’, have become popular among tipplers as they look handy, are easy to carry/conceal, fit neatly into a side pocket and are easy on the purse.
Apart from ill-effects of excessive drinking, Nips has become a menace because of the manner in which the empties are disposed of. We see them discarded on roads, drains, kept in the holes in lamp posts and on walls in neighbours’ property and smashed at places when people have finished drinking. It’s time that the alcohol producers and the Excise Department educate the tipplers on proper disposal methods before it becomes a major issue.
A.G. Weerasinghe Via email
Can we bank on BOC’s e- banking?
I sent my remittance to the Ceylon Electricity Board ( Rs. 2015/10) on July 6 by email and this payment has been debited in the July bank statement but the credit had not gone to the CEB. Immediately I phoned the BoC, Kalawana with a written complaint dated August 15, copied to the CEB and made several telephone calls but the response was poor. However after 20 days, I am told by the Bank that the money has been sent to the CEB.
How can one trust the so-called e-banking of the Bank of Ceylon?
Rajah Ramanayake Kalawana