Letters to the Editor

Welcome the party

But then, no other country is ruled by Sinhalese politicians, whatever be their party. 

The Sinhalese Buddhists should regard this party, if it lives up to its intentions, as their hope for preserving their safety and existence as a nation. 

The Sangha should protect it, as it is expected to protect the race, religion and country. 

Sinhalese Citizens 

A feeble attempt by your political correspondent

I have seen no reference, in the same column, to other racist parties, the Muslim Congress, and the plethora of Tamil liberation and other organizations. How is it that he sees the polarization of the Sinhala people as hard-liners. 

The newly formed Sihala Urumaya has filled a much needed void in our political firmament. All major political parties are obviously only interested in power. 

Today the emergence of Sihala Urumaya is being watched with apprehension by those who made power their profession and business.

The Sihala Urumaya has come into being at a time when the majority Sinhalese are looking with disappointment at the major political parties. 

Your political correspondent's feeble attempt at branding the unity and coalition of all Sinhala forces as hardliners is but another attempt by interested lobbies and parties to keep the Sinhala forces divided. 

That ugly and unfortunate era is over. The resounding support that the Sihala Urumaya is receiving and will receive in the future will demonstrate that under proper and clean leadership the Sinhalese are prepared to march to a single drum.

Sunil Ranasinghe 
Matara

Lecturers who teach sans pay

In most colleges, the last payments were made in May last year! Still, the visiting staff are carrying on in hope. The first term of this year ended on April 7.

It has been the practice of the Department of Technical Education and Vocational Training to enlist the services of qualified, experienced and competent teachers for a number of years. And it is generally believed that such teachers have discharged their duties well. 

In some Technical Colleges, certain courses of study depend entirely on the services of visiting staff. 

The department says there is no money to pay the visiting teachers. 

If money is not sought from some quarter and the arrears not paid immediately, the back pay of the visiting teachers will keep on piling. We understand that some college principals have already sounded out the authorities that they'll be helpless if the teachers finally decide to keep away. 

Moreover, if a visiting teacher dies his/her next of kin are not entitled to such remuneration. There is no provision in the official letter of appointment.

It is unbelievable that the Government doesn't have money. What is lacking is the will - the will to redress grievances. Let there be justice and fairplay. 

Disapaamok
Kuliyapitiya

Milking wounded soldiers 

The pictures and captions are good examples of exploiting human tragedy and suffering to gain publicity in the name of the national war effort. 

Common decency should have prevented the publication of a photograph showing a bedridden soldier bending his head and opening his mouth to be fed an apple by a tele-actor who plays the role of a ruthless and hated village moneylender, watched by another who is an alcoholic layabout on the idiot box. 

The other picture shows a politician "consoling a soldier who was hit by shrapnel". 

I can visualise the hired photographers on their mark awaiting the "dan ganne" signal as the soldier opens his mouth to be fed an apple and the politician, exposing his best profile, bending his head low to utter an unctuous word to the disabled soldier.

Nalin Fernando 
Wariyapola

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