Letters to the Editor
View(s):Renewal of FDs: Adding more burdens on senior citizens
The Sunday Times of March 20, had a news item by Ranjith Padmasiri reconfirming that from March 2022 Senior Citizens will have to report personally to the bank branch where they have special fixed deposits at 15 percent to renew their FDs for another period. The writer had cited a Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) directive to banks as the source of information.
Upto now, the system was that these special 15% interest FDs were automatically renewed on the day they matured without our presence being required in the banks.
We seniors, especially those in the 80s and 90s, will be severely affected by this ruling as we are unable to move alone or effectively due to old age ailments and various disabilities. Even if we show up with difficulty and hardships how can banks identify us from the photo in our NICs which in most cases, would be more than 10 years old. Seniors age faster after 70. If identification is needed, our friendly Grama Niladhari officers who know us personally would be the best to certify that we are living.
If the intention of the government is to catch fraudsters who are receiving interest even after their deaths, or flouting the scheme, we can produce a life certificate certified by Grama Niladharis as in the case of pensioners. If WHT is to be applied again from March 2022, still we can forward the WHT declaration form plus life certificate and any affidavit required to banks for renewal of 15% FDs. (via registered post or courier) without having to ‘rasthiyadufy’ in the banks at this stage in our lives.
If more proof is required, banks could phone the senior citizens on WhatsApp video call as all homes have such technology for online studies of grandchildren.
Renewal of FDs: Surely staying in bank queues under a COVID atmosphere is a danger given our age and fragile health. The government can tax us but we don’t need a COVID gift from banks’ air conditioned small spaces.
We hope the government would not stress us unnecessarily when simple options are available to solve these issues.
Sumith de Silva
(On behalf of colleagues who have such accounts)
Power cuts: Why are some areas left out?
I write on a matter that troubles me, among the many I can choose from in our seriously blighted land. My concern centres on power cuts, and awakes a pronounced sense of injustice in me.
I could rail against the government for depriving me of a basic service that is rightfully mine, or write about the promises and contradictions of government which make me very skeptical about anything they say, but I will do neither in this letter.
Instead, I am complaining that many of us face power cuts daily, when others suffer none at all.
I know many people in the latter category. My friends who thus “benefit” empathise in varying degrees (at one extreme, one of them complained on the hotline that her power supply was not being cut). I wish none of them ill, but it is impossible for me to swallow this injustice. I understand that people close to essential installations needing uninterrupted power can benefit due to their location, but I take grave exception if some of these “essential installations” are politicians, their families, and their entourages.
The PUC website posts a list of “Exempted Feeders” alongside their daily schedules of power cuts. Both can be accessed at https://www.pucsl.gov.lk/power-interruption-schedule-25-feb-2022/. My reading of the list of “Exempted Feeders” does not answer my question – how are so many people “exempt”?
Now, if for every 10 people who suffer power cuts, 10 don’t, shouldn’t the cuts reduce substantially if all 20 are treated equally? Crudely calculated, every hour of cuts should then reduce to 30 minutes. That would be fair to all, and equitably share the pain.
Can the tone deafness of government be penetrated enough to balance the scales of justice in this way?
Richard Ebell
Nawala
Cancel all state and religious functions and set an example
I think authorities should cancel all kinds of state and religious functions forthwith. We are hardly over the COVID-19 pandemic and are not in a position to go for any more lockdowns. Obviously, as we are having a financial crisis with the depreciation of the Rupee, and advising people to tighten their belt, engaging in functions which will cost a lot of money to the taxpayer is not fair. I think it’s the responsibility of all religious leaders to cancel these big events, and set a good example to the people.
It is encouraging that the so-called motorbike parade had to be cancelled due to pressure from ordinary people. These villagers who initiated such protests are real heroes, as they took the initiative to save much needed diesel and petrol. How could somebody even think of organising such an event when people are waiting in long queues for diesel and petrol. One elderly man (71) collapsed and died while waiting for kerosene in a queue and since then there have been other such tragic occurrences.
It’s time for rich and influential people to share their wealth with the vulnerable and poor. It is time to practise love and kindness as taught by all great religious leaders.
Champila Munidasa
Via email
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