The Sunday Times Letters to the Editor Section

Letters to the Editor 1st July 2001

Contents Do we need such wide roads? Defunct board and suffering land owners It's a struggle for pensioners Esala thoughts Trishaws invade pavement Stop this vandalism Muddy mess, not a road Do we need such wide roads? The proposed Colombo-Kandy dual carriage way, has been marked across my village, Kendaliyadda Paluwa-Meddagoda, Ganemulla in the Gampaha district. My house and property as well as the house and properties of my parents will be eventually bulldozed, leaving us with no place to live in our own village. Having obtained the necessary permits from the Greater Colombo Economic Commission it took 20 years for me to complete building my house. Now more than two million and a substantial period of my life will be turned into rubble once the proposed highway is built. I am 52 and there is no time for me to build another home. The proposed highway will leave my family without a roof over their heads. Although this area is residential now, I started construction of my house when it was like a village. Do we need such a wide road at the expense of our houses? Only a few developed countries have such wide dual carriageways for such a long distance. Apparently there is no plan by the government to provide houses to those who are left homeless. The government has to accept full responsibility for these demolitions and provide alternative housing. Bur do we have the resources to construct 6000 houses at once? I don't think so. Therefore, why doesn't the government consider building a single carriage way comprising two lanes. It could be designed in such a way with lay-by vehicle parking to ensure a smooth traffic flow. A high speed would be imperative with a minimum speed being maintained together with regulatory signs and road surface markings. The most pragmatic approach would be effective traffic management, coupled with strict road discipline controlled by the police rather than widening roads, extensively. Sunil S. Ranasinghe Modera Defunct board and suffering land owners When the government acquires land under the Land Acquisition Act and offers compensation (just peanuts) the law provides that an appeal could be made to the Land Acquisition Board of Review. Alas! This Board of Review is defunct now. No fresh appeals have been heard for the past two years. The Board should be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Minister of Lands. This has not happened due to an apparent disagreement with regard to the persons nominated by the Minister, who reportedly selected every one from the Kurunegala area! The result is that land owners who have lost their lands have to suffer. No compensation has been paid to them. The President should appoint a suitable Board and monitor its workings as it has over 1000 appeals to hear. The total value of 1000 appeals amounts to quite a lot. The irresponsible attitude of the government in regard to this matter is unfair. The relief envisaged by the Act has been obliterated by the lethargy of the government machinery. It has been the policy of the government to appoint retired officers to the Board of Review. Even when the Board is functioning normally, these officers do not work for more than an hour a day. When the top officials are like this, there is no point in talking about other staff. They attend to their private affairs and collect the pay at the end of the month and the pension after they retire. Young , energetic and impartial Board members should be appointed and the minister instructed to review its progress from time to time. Otherwise, cases will be dragged on for years; the public will be compelled to spend time and money on court cases. The Valuation Department at the preliminary inquiry gives a very low valuation to the property. The Board then tries to maintain the original valuation. Hence, the basis of appointing the Board also should be changed. Appointment of members from other professions, such as engineering, accounting, legal and both the public as well as private sector would be good. Although the Board has not heard any appeal for nearly two years, the law is strict about filing appeals within 21 days. The Board gives only three weeks for the public to do all the paper work and file an appeal and then, hears that appeal for two years or more.There is very little justice here. Hence, it is suggested that both, the Land Acquisition Board of Review as well as the Land Acquisition Act itself should be revised and amended. Sunil de Silva Ratmalana It's a struggle for pensioners Pensioners shudder even to think of the dreadful and uncertain future they face with their meagre earnings. Deprived of nourishing food due to the very high cost of living and substituting plain tea for fresh or powdered milk as even locally produced powdered milk is beyond their reach, pensioners are reduced to walking skeletons. The disparity between the pensions of the old and new pensioners has not been bridged. In countries like Australia and England pensioners and the elderly are looked after very well. They are even entitled to free medical facilities. Merely having an Elders' Day does not suffice. If the government can put words into action and grant even the facility of a bed in a paying ward in a state hospital at a concessionary rate to sick pensioners, it would be a great boon. Let not desperation drive the pensioners to suicide. Distraught pensioner Polgolla Esala thoughts On this significant Esala full-moon day Myriad thoughts arise as I lay, In contemplation... King Suddhodana's magnificent palace I visualise Queen Mahamaya fast asleep before sunrise A white elephant walking in her room Silently entering her womb. An illustrious baby was conceived Later to enlighten the world of misdeed. Twenty-nine years elapsed... To seek the truth for man's liberation The Prince set out - the Great Renunciation Leaving Yasodhara and babe Rahula born that day On the back of Kanthaka he galloped away. On this full moon day in His thirty-fifth year The 'Panchavagga" monks and Devas did hear The melodious Dhammachakka, the Wheel of Law Establishing the Arya Sangha without a flaw. Furthermore, on this historic day For the Sangha, his disciples, he paved the way A retreat "Vas" to be observed During the rainy season, to this day preserved. Let's not forget, His visit to Thusitha heaven To preach the Abidhamma to his mother, in one session. Finally, the twin-miracle performed The Niganthas reformed, their arrogance curbed. Last, but not least, after the Great Parinibbana... At the First Council at Rajagaha, Five-hundred Arahats gathered Buddha Sasana purified, heretics submerged. Amara Samaratunga Dehiwela Trishaws invade pavement The pavement at Gampola, opposite the Post Office is occupied by three wheelers obstructing pedestrians. People are compelled to walk on the road endangering themselves. The Urban Council Chairman and the Police should take some action against the trishaw drivers. J.P.Wickremasuriya Gampola Stop this vandalism I was stunned to hear that vandals attempted to burn the Kelaniya University library. How did the vandals enter the library which is so close to the university premises? This is a sure indicator of the poor security at the University. It is the duty of the University administration to strengthen security and prevent university property being damaged. Mahesh Chandrasekera Kelaniya Muddy mess, not a road I was surprised to see a patient being carried on an improvised palanquin at Katugastota, very close to the Kandy-Matale main road. The palanquin was a chair strung on two poles and the patient was being transported like this because the road gets very muddy after a heavy shower and walking is risky. This road was cut about 20 years ago , but nothing more has been done so far. C.P.Liyanage Katugastota
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