Letters to the Editor
View(s):Anti-defection law is a must, but who will be bold enough to introduce it?
Mr. Yusuf emphasised that an ‘anti- defection law’ is a must. Present-day politicians have taken it as a right to change their party affiliations to suit their whims and fancies once they are elected by the gullible voters in their respective constituencies.This fact was quite evident in the recent fiasco staged by several unbridled Parliamentarians.
This scenario was tragic and an absolute betrayal of the voters who placed full confidence in them and expected them to perform their duties for the betterment of the country and their respective constituents. The writer in this article clearly expresses his view – when an elected representative to the Parliament wishes to change colours, he should make an explicit utterance on the floor of the House. As the writer points out, all such changes in their allegiance to another party should be recorded for prosperity.
No leader has brought forth any drastic measures to prevent crossovers, all of them including the party leaders are solely focused on fostering their strength in Parliament and providing unnecessary perks and privileges to these so-called people’s representatives. Some bold measures are needed to curtail this trend of wasting poor tax-payers’ money. We expect an honourable leader to take steps to alleviate the suffering of the people.
Of course I am yet contemplating the emergence of such a leader for our country – it will take donkeys’ years to inculcate such ethics in our parliamentarians.
Lionel Caldera Battaramulla
Media has important tole to play in taking our nation forward
Local television and print media these days appear to encourage confrontational politics. News items and TV programmes such as ‘Dawasa’, ‘Satana’, ‘Illakkaya’, ‘Sanvadaya’, ‘Wada Pitiya’ and others discuss political issues with media personnel playing a prominent role so much so that the average reader/viewer feels that these media establishments are ‘king-makers’.
The average Lankan expects these media establishments to be neutral and impartial only giving the ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ of an issue allowing the public to decide wisely. In one channel there is a segment called ‘Kiyana katha’ which gives a series of excerpts from statements made by politicians on various issues, one contradicting another.
The hot topics that have surfaced now are federalism and state religion with the Buddhist monks taking to the political platform.
Until the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka recently gave a landmark judgment on the validity of the action taken by the President we saw articles and TV programmes about the correct interpretation of the law- for and against.
With the political crisis created on October 26 last year, we saw how the state TV establishments changed their news policy.
In Sri Lanka, politics seems to be everything.
In most other countries such issues are highlighted mostly during election time and after, the victorious party is allowed to run its term in conformity with the Constitution and its mandate. This is not the case in Sri Lanka.
What this country needs after three decades of ethnic conflict is for both its people and politicians to seriously understand the problems facing the minorities (ethnic and religious) and their aspirations and future without further delay so that Sri Lanka could move forward as a united nation.
In the bold quest of uniting this nation, there is a very important role for both television and the press to play.
P.H.D.H de Silva Nawala
Time to regularise these taxi services
On Friday, January 18, my young friend and I took a taxi from the Methodist Church, Colpetty. My destination was Ratmalana, my friend’s destination was Dehiwela.
I did notice that the driver was breaking road rules, but said nothing. Before my friend was dropped at Dehiwela she gave the driver Rs 1000 and requested him to take me to Ratmalana. After my friend was dropped I noticed that the driver increased the volume of his radio. I requested him to reduce the volume, which he did. But he continued to chat with someone.
I gave him my destination, and also told him that I needed to buy my dinner. I got off to get the dinner, requesting him to wait for me. As I was the first customer I got my dinner in about five minutes. When I returned the taxi was gone! When he dropped me to get my dinner, I did notice that he did not turn into the parking space but stopped on the road and had the engine running.
I tried to contact some officer from this taxi service but failed to do so as there were only recordings. The following morning I contacted Telecom and got the numbers. I dialled these numbers only to be answered by recordings.
I talked about this with some of my friends who related similar experiences.
For the last three years I have used another taxi service, which is known by an animal Down Under – they have never let me down. More importantly, they have a human voice that answers the phone.
It is time the authorities took action to draw up regulations to protect the drivers, passengers and other road users.
S.Wickramasinghe Via email