Letters to the Editor

• Police 'porn apart'
• NSB where modernisation is confined to media ads
• When match referee bowled a no-ball
• Privileged palate 
• We're also hit, say security guards
• Students seek order in Mahapola payments

Police 'porn apart'

Though being in the war zone, the police have not forgotten their duties as guardians of public morals. But what is happening in Colombo and other towns is disgusting. Two cinemas in Wellawatte display lewd posters to attract viewers. These cinemas are close to schools and temples. But the police turn a blind eye. The Inspector General of Police should instruct his officers to crack down on cinema owners who display such posters. 

P.V.S. Ranjan
Dehiwela

NSB where modernisation is confined to media ads

We have a savings account at the Nugegoda branch. On July 6, I walked into the Borella branch at Castle Street around 12.30 p.m. to deposit some money. My experience there was unpleasant. 

Since, I wasn't familiar with the forms, I asked a staff member to give me the appropriate deposit slip. I filled up what I was given — a Cash Credit Slip. 

When I went to the counter, the male clerk told me that I had filled the wrong slip, since mine was an account at the Nugegoda branch. He seemed annoyed that I had walked into his branch to deposit money. I was taken aback by this attitude, as I was under the impression that in this day and age, with computer networking, the NSB system would be able to accept a deposit at any branch. 

I had to fill another form, named 'Mail Transfer', which was in quadruplicate. When I handed over this second slip, with the money, the counter clerk went inside and discussed the matter with a woman officer. After about three minutes, they came to the counter and told me that I could make the deposit there, but Rs. 63.50 would be deducted "in transferring the money to the Nugegoda branch". 

I was dismayed to hear that within the same bank, I would have to pay a 'transfer charge' to deposit money into my own account. I had no choice but to ask for my money and walk away. I had spent nearly half an hour at the Borella branch in an exercise of futility. I then drove to the Kollupitiya branch of a foreign bank and deposited the money there — which took me less than 10 minutes. 

Several issues arise from my experience . The NSB is projecting the image of 'your family bank', yet its officers are not courteous, efficient or friendly. The bank is supposed to be modernised and streamlined, but doesn't even have the basic network facility linking different branches. To add insult to injury it rips off its customers by levying a 'transfer charge'. If this is how the NSB treated a customer who went to deposit money, how much harder it must be to withdraw money. 

In the competitive banking environment that prevails today, the NSB is a misfit: it is still backward, its attitudes retrogressive and it is not prepared to face the 21st century. 

Modernisation is not achieved by simply acquiring expensive computers. It also requires trained staff who need to shake off their 'state' bank mentality that treats customers as a nuisance. Today, it is the quality of service, and not just higher interest rates, that attracts discerning customers to a bank. 

Disgusted Customer 
Nawala

When match referee bowled a no-ball

I was surprised when the match referee announced the winner as Jaques Kallis of South Africa. Kallis himself appeared to be surprised when he heard his name being announced. The almost deafening silence showed that the vast crowd too could not believe it.

Tony Greig in his inimitable way stated the following day that such situations had occurred before and will of course happen in the future, too. Greig, the seasoned cricket commentator, knew what he was saying.

A few minutes before the awards ceremony, Ranjith Fernando, when being interviewed, had no doubt that the winner would be a Sri Lankan. It is common knowledge that the Man of the Match award is almost always given to the person who contributed most towards the victory unless there was some exceptional performance by a player on the losing side. Sri Lanka won all the matches and there were some regular and exceptional performances by most Sri Lankan players. 

South Africa won only two matches of the five. Kallis no doubt played well but his performance cannot be classed as exceptional. There is no way the match referee could say that Kallis performed better than Sangakkara or Avishka. Right or wrong, his judgement prevailed. 

Who won the car does not matter to me. Nor does it matter to anyone else other than the winner and others who deserved to win. What matters to us is whether the decision was just. In this instance I am afraid there was a miscarriage of justice. I think the match referee has erred in his decision. Maybe, we should accept that ordinary mortals like the match referee are not infallible. 

Therefore, methods should be adopted to minimise such injustices. When a " Man of the Series" is being selected, a panel of judges consisting of a minimum of three members should be appointed. Let the majority vote carry, like in the Supreme Court. There will be fewer questions and more people to answer them. 

Sunil B.
Kegalla

Privileged palate 

Our so-called patriotic MPs and parliamentary staff members indulge in sumptuous meals at a subsidized rate of Rs. 15 while the people have been called upon to tighten their belts, in view of the ever-escalating cost of living.

This privileged group also enjoys salary increases with arrears and other perks including duty-free vehicles. Politics in Sri Lanka, has no doubt, become a thriving and big-time business.

The general elections are round the corner and "carrots will start dangling" to entice unsuspecting voters. Hope the voters will not fall prey to this.

Election pledges such as a loaf of bread at Rs. 3/50 and other similar "gundus" will not fool the electors this time. These broken promises still fresh in their minds, the people are certain to make a wise decision.

Mohamed Nalim
Colombo

We're also hit, say security guards

While salary increases are given to public servants and some sections of the private sector, a neglected lot are private security personnel. We do not enjoy government salary scales, leave or even overtime payments. What we receive as monthly wages is not sufficient to feed our families even for two weeks.

All that we — who render such valuable service by protecting people and property — appeal for is a considerable increase in salary. The government should heed our plea and grant us a pay-hike through a Gazette notification.

Private Security Officers
Colombo

Students seek order in Mahapola payments

According to the Mahapola award letter students should receive ten instalments in an academic year. But the Katubedda students who completed their first year in May had received only three, though they began lectures in November 1998. Most of them are from the outstations and face financial difficulties. It is a pity that the authorities do not realise the plight of these students. 

Why cannot the Mahapola instalments be paid monthly or at least once in two months, without making payments in an ad hoc manner? 

Will the officer in charge of the Mahapola Trust Fund take remedial action?

LW 
Colombo

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