Letters to the Editor
View(s):A failed President flees – time to rebuild the beleaguered nation
When politicians become religious (patrons, protectors and promoters of religion) and when religious (monks, priests, maulavis and kurukkals) become politicians and mouth political theories and bless their patrons) – that becomes the most toxic concoction ever that can ruin any country. We see this happening in many countries, and our own is a good example. We are in ruins because of this uncontrolled and corrosive phenomenon.
Citizens must beware of politicians wearing the garb of patrons of religions (at taxpayers’ /state expense and not their own expense) and beware of religious leaders straying from their own territory and prescribing irreligious strategies for governing the country. People should see through these ploys of both devious politicians and wayward religious representatives and not be deceived or misguided by them. If citizens fall prey to them, the nation is doomed and no miracle economic strategy can ever help us.
Will the politicians learn a lesson and will our religious leaders learn a lesson? The response will indicate if Sri Lanka will ever be put on the right path of development.
The aragalaya has created a climate of unity, respect and caring for all (without discrimination on caste, creed, class, race, culture or whatever), equality before the law and justice and above all, single mindedness in purpose. We all hope that these aragalaya values will persist in our land! We have to work on making them permanent features in the Sri Lankan landscape.
All these ingredients are absolutely vital for building our nation and whatever government is formed now and later elected, should promote these features and build them into its system of governance. All civil society organisations too should advocate and promote these vital features of a future Sri Lanka. This is the moment to assiduously nurture, grow all these values among all segments of our population and incorporate them into our political and governance systems. If we lose this opportunity, it may never come back!
Henry de Mel Via email
When normality returns these stately buildings must be opened up for public viewing
People flock to see the President’s House
Though the Sri Lankan people’s wrath at the actions of the current generation of Sri Lankan politicians is understandable, it should be directed at the politicians and not at our historic buildings. The President’s House, formerly known as Queen’s House, was built by the British in the 19th Century for the colonial governor. Official residencies of Heads of State, such as Buckingham Palace, the White House or Rashtrapati Bhavan are always grandly furnished, imposing buildings. It is important that Sri Lanka’s Head of State should also be able to welcome foreign dignitaries in suitable surroundings.
Sri Lanka is South Asia’s oldest democracy and the Presidential Secretariat building was its first Parliament. This, too, is a historic building and both President’s House and Secretariat should be restored when normality returns but in future regular tours must be arranged for ordinary Sri Lankans so that they will regard these buildings as part of our heritage and not as bastions of privilege.
Dr R.P. Fernando Epsom, UK
Their duty to customers begins and ends with collecting parking fees
I am a citizen of Sri Lanka living in Kandy. I travelled to Kandy town with my daughter on July 10 on my motorcycle and parked at the Kandy City Centre vehicle park. The arrival time on my parking ticket indicates 4.06 p.m. We set off to do some shopping in the town and returned after about half an hour to find one of our helmets missing. It had been robbed by some vandal who had entered the premises.
When we complained to the officials who were on duty, they showed us a board which read that they are not responsible for any belongings that go missing and advised us to take it away with us, especially helmets and jackets. This is rather impractical as we had to carry many items which we bought from various shops. By exhibiting the board the authorities have washed their hands off while charging us an exorbitant price as parking fees.
To our utter surprise we were informed that all the CCTV cameras are out of function eliminating a fair chance of apprehending the culprit. Valuable parts like badges of motor vehicles can be robbed in this manner too. It’s very sad to note that authorities are only interested in collecting parking fees and do not take any interest to give their customers the deserved service.
Gimhan Degaldoruwa Via email
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