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to the Editor |
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Let East decide
its fate
The LTTE's desire
for a unified autonomous north-east region and the SLMC's counterdemand
for a separate Muslim unit, prompt me to put down my thoughts in
writing. In my opinion
neither a unified north and east, nor a unified north and east with
a separate Muslim unit is a permanent solution. Separate Northern
and Eastern Provinces will be the only solution. The people
of the Eastern Province, regardless of race, caste or religion must
decide for themselves what they want. It is not for the LTTE, the
UNP, the SLFP or the SLMC to decide that. The Muslims
and Sinhalese of the Eastern Province will never agree to a merged
North-East Province for the simple reason that they will be reduced
to second-class citizens. Not only the Muslims and Sinhalese, even
the Tamils will be treated as second class citizens. Already, Eastern
Province representation is almost non-existent in the ongoing peace
talks. Just because
the people of the Eastern Province have not murdered civilians in
cold blood and carried out bomb attacks on buses, trains and cities
and resorted to other terrorist activities it does not mean that
they have no right to speak and demand for themselves. The people
of the Eastern Province should unite and organize themselves to
demand a separate province where they will be equals, free to practise
their own religion and be masters of their own future. All people
must, whether they like it or not, learn to respect and recognize
the rights of others, irrespective of religion or race. Another
victim of union scam I was also
a member of the Government Clerical Service Union retirement donation
scheme for nearly 30 years. But I too have not been paid a cent
after my retirement. I have come across many past members who have
been led up the garden path by this union controlled by the Lanka
Sama Samaja Party. Here are some
suggestions to solve this problem. *Refer the
matter to the Human Rights Commission, No. 36, Kynsey Road, Colombo
8. *Get an MP
to raise a question in Parliament and bring this matter to the notice
of the Minister of Finance. *Take legal action. Opposition
and ethnic crisis The Tamil Language
Special Provisions Bill was approved by Parliament in 1966. Thereafter,
the District Council Bill was approved in 1982 and again the Provincial
Council Bill in 1987 which everybody hailed as the final solution
to the ethnic problem. Of course,
as in the case of any democracy, there was opposition to the bills.
But what must not be forgotten is that these bills were approved
by Parliament and their provisions were implemented. It is therefore,
incorrect to state that every opposition has scuttled moves by the
party in office to solve the ethnic problem. Unfair
tax hike This is unreasonable
and unexpected, placing more burdens on the people who are already
facing a high cost of living. Can rates be increased without consulting
council members and the public? What of the services rendered to
the people? Will there be an improvement in the facilities in the
area too? But the reality
is that services have deteriorated. With garbage collection being
haphazard dirt is lying in piles all over the area. This is testimony
to the inefficiency of the DMMC. Murali: The
boundary boy He was a shy
little boy when he was admitted to the college hostel where no student
was allowed to speak in any other language but English. He was a keen
cricket fan and used to collect the balls that went beyond the boundary
line and throw them back to the field during first eleven cricket
practices. This he did every evening after school till the bell
rang for the hostellers to get back. At the junior
sportsmeet, Murali was always first in the 'throwing the cricket
ball' event. When he was old enough to play Under-11 cricket he
came under the wing of Sunil Fernando, one of the best cricket coaches
in Sri Lanka. Murali read
up to the G.C.E. A/L, but when he was called for trials for the
cricket squad, he had to give up his studies. Murali's father is
Sinnasamy Muthiah, a leading businessman in Kandy. I hope this message
will go to Australia, so that they will know who Murali is. Restore fertilizer
subsidy The high cost
of fertilizer and unfavourable weather conditions have been the
main cause for the drop in production.To boost production, the government
should re-introduce the subsidy without importing coconuts. Ekala potholes
'Letters
to the Editor' should be brief and to the point.
Address them to: 'Letters to the Editor, The Sunday Times, P.O.Box 1136, Colombo. Or e-mail to steditor@wijeya.lk or stfeat@wijeya.lk Please note that letters cannot be acknowledged or returned. |
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