Letters to the Editor
View(s):We all shout about traffic jams, but nothing seems to move!
Traffic blocks are endlessly talked about. In fact, this column itself has published so many articles addressing the woes faced by commuters. And yet, the problem persists.Traffic jams during rush hours are inevitable- true- and are common enough around the globe, but they can be minimized! There may be many reasons that can be cited for the cause of traffic jams such as the increase in population and vehicles, the road system remaining the same, the flouting of rules, etc. One of these reasons is undeniably the extremely civilized conduct displayed by our bus drivers. I choose not to even write about the three wheeler drivers!
Without a doubt, not all bus drivers are the same. In the midst of these uncouth fellows, there are gentlemen who know road rules. Drivers who don’t honk unnecessarily; who stick to their lanes. If only some sort of regulation and training could be provided to the drivers, a definite change will be visible.
Let’s illustrate a simple situation here: In a junction, take one lane that falls into the junction. This lane will most probably have two sub lanes, one leading straight on and the other leading to the side roads (turning). Sometimes the straight lane traffic lights turn red while the ‘turning’ lane remains green. But certain bus drivers who have to go straight (and sometimes other vehicles as well) drive in this lane and stay there, right in front (so that they can be the first to go when the light turns green), blocking all the vehicles that want to turn. Commuters on Galle Road will know what is being referred to here (this happens in other routes as well).
Not only is this frustrating and downright rude, but also directly causes the traffic to stagnate and increase.
Furthermore, some drivers seem unable to decide which lane to stay on even when going straight. If the lane in the right is moving, they must go there: then the left lane moves so they come back zigzagging, and sometimes, drive in the middle of both lanes! When the vehicle that is doing this is a MASSIVE bus, the problem is amplified manifold… blocking both lanes!
These problems have to be addressed, and soon. So many tired workers going home get more exhausted because they get stuck in these endless traffic jams. The effect on development is also enormous with lost time. It is also a major problem for youth, and students. We have a well distributed system of public transport; trains and buses. All that is left to be done is regulation and strict enforcement of discipline.
Occasional upgrading won’t hurt either. Security cameras can be used to detect rule-flouters, and the fines can be posted to the registered owner of the guilty number plate after a stipulated time, say maybe monthly, instead of the archaic method currently being used. The slow and arduous process of fining is one reason why rule breakers get away at peak times.
L.Rauff Via email
Holistic long term plan needed to resurrect tea industry
Nimal Sanderatne in his column titled “Killing the goose that lays the golden eggs” in the Sunday Times of May 13, quite correctly indicates that “a new resolve to enhance productivity and increase production of tea to increase exports could be of immense benefit to the economy”.
Although tea is considered the highest export earner, its performance during the last five years has been dismal. Production of tea during this period has shown a downward trend from 340 million kg in 2013 to 307 million kg in 2017 except for a marginal increase during 2017. The average tea yield (kg/ha) does not show any substantial increase and in fact, has decreased during the last two years. About 95% of the tea produced is exported. The weight of tea exported during the period 2014-2017 has continued to decrease from 327 million kg to 288 million kg. Export earnings from tea in US dollar terms has not increased by any substantial amount during this period. In fact it has decreased during 2015 and 2016.
A number of factors could be attributed to this state of affairs in the tea sector.
Low yields:
The average tea yields are considerably lower than the potential yields. It has been reported that some of the cultivars developed by the Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka had been yielding around 8,000 kg/ha in South India under commercial conditions. However, the average tea yield in Sri Lanka is much lower. In the smallholder tea sector the average yield is around 1800 kg/ha and in the estate sector it is about 1200 kg/ha.
Increasing cost of production
The cost of production of tea (Rs/kg) has continued to rise during the last few years. The average cost of production of tea, has risen from Rs. 390 /kg in 2010 to Rs. 434 in 2014. In 2017 COP is Rs. 466/kg. It is likely that it will increase in the present year due to the rise in fuel cost. This is mainly due to rising prices of all the inputs such labour, power, fertilizers, pesticides and decreasing yields.
Land degradation:
Productivity of tea lands indicated by yield/ha has declined during the last few years possibly due to undesirable weather, and soil erosion leading to infertile soils.
Land degradation due to soil erosion is evident in many parts of the country. In the up and mid country, i.e lands above 300 m, severe land degradation has been reported. In up country districts such as Nuwara Eliya, tea is one of the main crops cultivated and in those lands where proper soil conservation practices are not carried out soil erosion takes place.
At the first national workshop on Sustainable Land Management held a few years ago, Dr. M.A. Wijeratna of the Tea Research Institute revealed that around 40 t of soil/ha/year is lost due to soil erosion in the mid and up country tea lands. There are some tea lands in which the average yield is as low as 600kg/ha/years and this is likely to be due to depletion of soil fertility due to soil erosion
Old crops:
A considerable part of the tea crop is old. For example, according to Tea Research Institute data, about 40% of the tea extent is under seedling tea and about 90% of the seedling teas are over 60 years old and need replanting. Around 30% of the VP tea is more than 30 years old and these also need replanting. The annual extent replanted has decreased from 1857 ha in 2011 to 1067 ha in 2017. Low replanting is mainly due to high costs involved. There are nearly 400,000 tea small holdings mostly in Ratnapura, Galle, Matara, Kandy, Badulla, Kalutara, Nuwara Eliya and Kegalle and their productivity is much higher than those of the commercial tea plantations. Hence they need to be provided assistance to replant.
As Mr. Sanderatne has indicated we need to emphasize on increasing production and improving productivity in tea holdings. To achieve this objective it is essential to address these issues. In view of the important role played by the tea sector on the socio-economic development of the country it is important that the factors which limit the productivity and profitability are given serious consideration.
Medium-long term measures
There are some tea lands in which the annual production is even less than 500 kg. A survey needs to be done to identify these unproductive lea lands. These unproductive tea lands need to be diversified. Such tea lands may be put under pasture and have cattle. This will reduce our expenditure on milk imports, and also degradation of the lands will be reduced resulting in less silting of the reservoirs. There are many other crops such as spice crops etc. which could be cultivated on the unproductive tea lands. These crops would give better returns to the cultivators.
Those tea lands which are not going to be diversified need to be managed better. In this regard, infilling, cultivation of better tea cultivars and their effective management including better fertilizer and pest management practices, increased rate of replanting, reducing soil degradation and conservation practices are essential In this regard, cultivation of better tea cultivars and their effective management including better fertilizer and pest management practices, diversification, improved manufacturing and value addition of the produce, increased rate of replanting, reducing soil degradation and conservation practices are essential. All these activities would involve a high level of capital investment and also, effective implementation of policies. In the National Plantation Industry Policy Framework developed some time back, it was estimated that around Rs. 83 billion is necessary during 2007-2016 for improvement of the tea sector.
It is essential that a holistic long term national plan to resurrect the tea industry and to develop better land use practices is developed. Such a plan should look into all aspects of tea production including cultivation, processing and marketing.
It may be worthwhile to consider reducing the extent under unproductive tea and bring the land made available under a different land use system, and concentrate on the improvement of the productivity of the productive tea lands. By adopting this approach, the land productivity as well as the worker productivity could be improved while minimizing the cost of production.
Dr. C.S. Weeraratna Via email
Yashodhara, a must see film
Indian actress Pallavi Subash playing the role of Yashodhara
Yashodhara, directed by Professor Sunil Ariyaratne (his 22nd film) woven around the beloved wife of Siddartha Gautama was released recently.
We criticise when a film is poorly made but we very often fail to praise a good film. I urge Sinhala film lovers to go and see this film. At a time when the Sinhala film industry is flooded with low quality films that do not educate or give a meaningful message to society, we thank the director Professor Ariyaratne and producer H.D. Premasiri for their excellent work.
The film was shot on a massive set at Ranminitenne cinema village in Hambantota with the filming taking 45 days. The title roles of Prince Siddhartha and Princess Yashodhara are played by Indian stars A. Chowdry and Pallavi Subash.
Very often films copy Hindi and Tamil films, and making money is their only aim. This is different.
There is a lot for us to learn from Yashodhara. It tells us what a marriage is, what mutual understanding entails, what qualities a young girl should have, what qualities a young man should have, how you respect others, what discipline is, the importance of honesty and good conduct, importance of spiritual values etc.
D. Weeratunga Via email
Linking rail lines to promote tourism
K. Wickremasinghe of Piliyandala writing in the Sunday Times on the CGR mindset and the attitude change needed in running the colonial Railways inherited from the British Raj was most welcome. The British laid the track with economic objectives.
The Rail network is not second to any railway line in the world with regard to its capacity for tourism. It runs through mountains, different climates and along the coast reaching the wild life sanctuaries.
As the writer said, the importance of linking Mannar via Wilpattu along the coast route will facilitate the route to link with Kataragama being the final destination for the tourist. This investment will promote tourism since many tourists come here to travel on the coastal route. It is one of the rare rail routes along the beach front with a view of the Indian Ocean.
As the writer suggests like the Bharatha Darshan we can have the Samudra Darshan when we link the Mannar – Kataragama rail route. Over to CGR GM!
Bandula Nonis Via email