Letters to the Editor

• Treat us, don't ill-treat us
• The chickens have come home to roost
• Cricket is still in safe hands
• This honeymoon might end in disaster

Treat us, don't ill-treat us

We decided to write this letter in the hope that similar occurrences could be avoided and parents like us will be spared the nightmare we faced. 

Our daughter was suffering from the flu and when we channeled a specialist, we were advised to admit her to this particular private hospital immediately. On February 3, we took the child to the hospital with all the documents and the test results required by the doctor.

To our horror, the staff refused to admit the child, claiming that the hospital did not have a vacant bed. Leave alone the non- availability of the bed, the child was not attended to for three hours. 

All we wanted was for them to examine the child and at least give her some treatment as shewas running a very high temperature and becoming dehydrated. We pleaded for nearly three hours but to no avail. 

The staff was very rude to the extent that the security officer at the entrance too took the law into his hands by demanding that we leave the hospital.

We had no choice since the doctor we channelled was coming to this particular hospital.We explained this to the staff but we were still not given a bed. Since our daughter was getting very weak, we managed to make her lie down on the chairs reserved for visitors. She remained that way for three hours.

Fortunately the doctor then came to the hospital. The attitude of the staff changed immediately and we faced no further harassment. We were ushered to a ward and our daughter was kept in hospital for five days since her condition was not satisfactory.

During this ordeal, there was another nine-month-old baby who also suffered similar treatment. This baby's parents too had to go through similar trauma until the doctor arrived.

From what we gathered, the security officer was bringing in a patient known to him and thus our daughter was not given the bed. Whatever the reason, this kind of treatment is not what one would expect, especially from a private hospital. After all, we pay for the treatment.

We were devastated. We lodged a complaint with a senior official and even volunteered to give evidence if an inquiry was held.

We once again appeal to the hospital authorities to take action and prevent similar incidents.

Devastated Parents
Colombo.

The chickens have come home to roost

Who are these criminals? Police investigations (whenever successful) reveal that many of these are committed by (or with the collusion of) ex-security forces personnel, security forces personnel on leave or security forces personnel off-duty.

Our under-trained, under-paid and under-motivated policemen are, on their own admission, incapable of protecting civil society. We have a serious problem on our hands, and it is going to get worse.

The crisis has a history.

Since the beginning of the war against the LTTE, observers like the Jaffna University Teachers for Human Rights (UTHR) reported, along with LTTE atrocities, serious breaches of military discipline by security personnel who on occasion turned on civilians in mindless acts of misdirected vengeance. 

Perhaps these rogue elements felt justified in consciously imitating the enemy and blurred the moral distinction between them in the process. Few of these atrocities were reported in Sinhala and English newspapers and most people in the south are not even aware of the extent of these violations. 

It is clear that military top brass did not take adequate action. 

The leniency sent a dangerous message. And the disease spread. Hundreds of deserters have brought home with them their lawless attitude and the violent skills they acquired in the war zones. 

We turned a blind eye when the problem did not directly affect 'us' in the south. 

Perhaps we dismissed such reports as Eelamist propaganda. 

Certainly we thought criticizing the conduct of our armed forces was unpatriotic. Now the violence has come to our doorstep. Suddenly, keeping a supermarket in Dehiwela open until 8 p.m. has become risky. And asking a group of off-duty servicemen to pay their bill at a restaurant in Seeduwa has dangerous repercussions. 

We have created terrorists of our own. The chickens have come home to roost.

Prabo Mihindukulasuriya
Colombo 5

Cricket is still in safe hands

These are the thoughts of 'parasites' who encumber sporting bodies to enjoy the perks of office and not to serve the cause for which they have been appointed. And to think that it took a non-cricketing type in the form of Mr. Rienzie Wijetilleke to show us all that there are still men who will stand up to injustice and are willing to resign for the sake of a principle is heartening, to say the least and gives us much hope for the future. 

Another heartening factor is the solidarity shown by the entire Interim Committee who stood firmly behind their Chairman throughout this disgraceful episode. These are rare qualities seen only in men of stature in these days when opportunities abound. The Chairman who has not been known for his cricketing prowess, has in my view, shown greater mettle than all his predecessors in terms of steely resolve and nerve. To stand up to a powerful politician and a Cabinet Minister in the manner he did, is a quality seen only in strong men who act through the courage of their own convictions.

Such attributes are good for cricket, good for the country and good for us. Throughout all this, the Minister of Sports seems to have cut a very sorry figure in reading these honourable men all wrong. 

He has in his own way, brought himself a degree of respect through his humility in inviting Mr. Wijetilleke back. That is a healthy sign. There are many lessons to be learnt from all this and standing up for what is right and not being bullied into submission has been the biggest of them all. 

Cricket in this country, after all, is still in safe hands.

Rohan Wijeyaratna 
Colombo

This honeymoon might end in disaster

The LTTE wants nothing less than Eelam and the war against terrorism is likely to go on.

Most of our politicians, as you rightly say, are hell-bent on retaining their perks in the Provincial Councils and the Centre and are unlikely to approve a proposal to revive the Executive Committee system. 

Sri Lanka can no longer afford to bankroll both the ongoing war and Provincial Councils. Most Provincial Councils are to say the least "white elephants". We can do without them. Power can be devolved through Pradeshiya Sabhas, Municipal and Urban Councils, Town and Village Councils working under the District Secretariat.

The time has come to call for a Constituent Assembly to amend the Constitution and establish an Executive Committee system.

Otherwise our honeymoon with PCs will surely end in disaster. 

Surasena Weerakoon 
Galle

Return to Plus Contents