Night out at Sigiriya
With regard to "Lighting up Sigiriya" (The Sunday Times, January 13), it
is indeed a laudable idea, that should have been done a long time ago.
Sigiriya is unique and stands sentinel among the vast open fields. This
fortress built by King Kassyapa, is distinct to those put up by foreign
invaders.
Thus, Sri Lankans do not fail to visit Sigiriya in their numbers. There
is much to see and much to be proud of the marvellous feats of engineering
and architecture of our own. Thinking of Kassyapa, his retinue of men and
maids, who lived there, one can visualise their lifestyles, their romance
and their fighting spirit of patriotism.
Travellers have to hurry to get to Sigiriya before the noonday sun makes
climbing difficult. Often they skip the ancient rock temple at Rangiri
Dambulla, a must on the trip. Therefore, if Sigiriya and its environs are
lit up, more time can be spent in the night there. It will be a boon to
both local and foreign tourists.
One can well imagine the enchanting sight of Sigiriya lit up at night.
Stanley Geevaratne
Dehiwela
Ask the crucial question
There have been several ceasefires between the government and the LTTE
and many peace proposals. But all have failed because a crucial point has
not been put forward by any government for a positive answer from Velupillai
Prabhakaran.
We hope Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and President Chandrika
Kumaratunga will ask him whether he is prepared to forfeit his claim for
Eelam or a separate state. This should be done before any discussions involving
India or Norway.
If Prabhakaran gives a positive answer then there is hope of success,
however long the discussions may last. Otherwise, history will repeat itself.
Derrick Weerasooriya
Hikkaduwa
Please shed light
Could Minister Karu Jayasuriya please clarify the following:
1) Why are the electricity bills nearly the same in spite of long power
cuts?
2)Would anyone trying to avail himself of an appliance to keep out the
dark be liable to pay duty to the government, if the appliance was imported?
3) How many Ministers actually spend time in the dark?
V.E. Potger
Nugegoda
Plea from prison
It is characteristic for a bishop to select a place away from his usual
abode to celebrate mass on special occasions like Christmas Day. Bishop
Vianney Fernando picked the Bogambara prison.
After the service, the prisoner who gave the vote of thanks had asked
Bishop Fernando to request the government to mitigate the sentences of
prisoners, when celebrating national and religious festivals such as Vesak,
Independence and Christmas. The Bishop has promised to take up their plea.
Lenard R. Mahaarachchi
Moratuwa
Start discipline at ground level
As a long suffering resident of Station Road, Dehiwela, I hope the new
government will stop the blatant violation of laws by various people and
institutions. These violations have made this peaceful road a nightmare.
Here are a few examples:
* Three-wheelers and other vehicles park near the Station Road - Galle
Road intersection in violation of road rules.
* Three or four buses await passengers, again near the intersection,
blocking traffic.
* Buses allow passengers to embark a few feet from the junction in full
view of the Traffic Police with no regard for other vehicles.
* The Dehiwela Mount Lavinia Municipality has set up Coca Cola stands
on the narrow pavements, forcing pedestrians on to the road.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has quite rightly said that the
first thing needed to put this country right is discipline. I hope he and
his team will start at ground level and ensure that we have law and order
on our roads.
The police and the local authorities have totally failed in this regard.
An Old Resident
Dehiwela
Noisy intruders
I'm prompted to write this letter due to the behaviour of certain individuals
in our society.
These are the ones that you encounter at lectures, cinema-halls etc-
those who constantly disturb others by answering mobile phones, talking
loudly with the neighbours,basically making a nuisance of themselves. Every
Tom, Dick and Harry is now in possession of a mobile phone.
Obviously it helps people communicate. But should it be on when lectures
are in progress?
What happens in certain lectures is that various mobile phones with
various tones (theme songs of Mission Impossible or M.I.B. ) ring at the
loudest possible level, breaking the concentration of the rest in the hall.
Most of these phones are equipped with Caller Line Identification (also
called Caller Number Display), and have the Vibra alert option.
Why can't people switch to these options without disturbing others?
Is it sheer disregard for the rights of others? Or is it that they have
not been 'brought up' properly by their parents?
Another set that can be found in concerts, movies and sometimes towards
the back row of lecture halls are the noise-makers, who keep jabbering.
Imagine having to sit in front of a group like that? A wise person once
said :"How nice it would be, if each of us respected each other's rights?"
Mahisha Warusavitharana
Colombo |
