Letters to the Editor

Rally round to protect the dignity of the Sangha
We salute with deep reverence Most Venerable Udugama Sri Buddharakkithabhidhana Maha Nayake Thera of the Asgiriya Chapter for his bold decision "not to participate in any government sponsored functions" as a mark of strong protest against the most atrocious and disgraceful manner in which several government MPs including two ministers behaved in that 'august assembly' on June 8.

The rowdysm, thuggery and hooliganism displayed by the UPFA ranks are condemned in the strongest possible terms by the peace-loving, right thinking general public of this country sans any discrimination on grounds of ethnicity, religion, class, creed or political affiliations.

The most deplorable issue is, that the leaders of the UPFA - the President, Prime Minister, other senior ministers, the JVP leadership (who normally shout themselves hoarse on simple issues) did not have the backbone, courage or the will to either condemn this despicable action of their ranks or to offer an open apology to the Buddhist monks. This has raised eyebrows and aroused suspicion in the minds of the people.

The Most Venerable Maha Nayaka Thera of the Asgiriya Chapter has set a hitherto unprecedented example worth emulating by all other Maha Nayake Theras who should now shed their political affiliations to the main parties and rally round the JHU in their numbers. Is it not a shame for other Buddhist monks to align with and support these political parties which have shamefully defamed and physically manhandled the respected monks of the JHU who were elected to the legislature to 'stand up and speak for the inherent rights, privileges and status of the indigenous Sinhala-Buddhists who have the bhoomiputra rights to every inch of this land' - an important issue we sadly lacked in the past 56 years?

In the name of justice, fair-play - and the prophesy of "Samma Sambuddha" who said that his teachings - Buddhism will flourish in this land called "Helaya or Sinhale", we appeal to all Buddhist monks to rally together to protect their own rights, privileges, status and dignity from being ridiculed and brought into disrepute.

Horton Plains: Dirt beyond the barrier
We were surprised to see about three three-wheelers selling ice cream up at Horton Plains. No polythene bags are allowed inside the park. This is good.

But what good is it to litter the roadside and the plains from Pattipola onwards, with ice-cream cups and wrappers? This all happened when we spotted a three wheeler emptying the day's litter of cups and wrappers up at Horton Plains into the jungle.

When we inquired into this, we were told to mind our own business. No litter is allowed beyond the barrier but what about outside the barrier on the plains where sambhur graze? Won't they eat polythene and die?

The warden, H.S.B.C. and other organisations involved with Horton Plains conservation should take immediate action and stop the vendors or soon it will be another Sri Pada.

Paying for a place in the visa queue!
I was a visa seeker at the British Embassy last week. I joined the queue outside the Embassy at 5 a.m. To my surprise and dismay I noticed a number of street urchins occupying the beginning of the queue without any documents in their possession. This queue was just in front of the British Embassy security post, Kollupitiya Police Station. At the end of the queue you find a special police guard post.

As soon as I joined the orderly queue, a street urchin approached me and inquired whether I could pay Rs.1000 to get a place within numbers 1 to 5 of the queue. I said I did not have the money. However, the other urchins were able to convince many visa seekers and got places for those who arrived late and were prepared to pay the money they demanded. Those who paid Rs.1000 were in front of the queue. Then the urchins moved a few numbers down the queue and reduced their fees to Rs. 750. The rate came down, as the queue moved on. This operation went on till the entire lot was permitted to enter the embassy compound.

I am sure the British Ambassador is perhaps not aware of this modus operandi. What surprises us is that Embassies having a reputation for democracy and fairplay in their own countries permit people to cheat and exploit visa seekers. I understand that this scenario takes place in many Western Embassies in Sri Lanka.

My earnest appeal to all administrators in foreign Embassies is to treat and facilitate our citizens to transact business easily so that they don't have to undergo hassles or fall prey to unscrupulous street urchins.

Stop the mining before it’s too late
Despite repeated protests, there has been no action, even by the new government to put a stop to the sand mining in the Mahaweli River. Although environment lovers and geologists have warned of the dangers, few measures have been taken to eliminate this illegal act.

Any one could observe every morning under the Katugastota bridge, how mining is taking place. The danger of the Katugastota Bridge collapsing and also even Katugastota town being submerged is probable if no immediate action is taken to stop this sand mining.

Shed the image of parliament jokers
Parliamentary sessions are hopefully due to get off the mark on July 20 and all members of Parliament and ministers should well be advised to be armed with some protection after the ugly incidents that transpired.

Such dismal performances of our state legislators, enacted in the midst of a large number of schoolchildren, parents and visitors have rarely been witnessed in the annals of our country.

Patriotic statesmen of the highest calibre, in the days gone by strove relentlessly to maintain the dignity and decorum of the House. Democracy, at all costs, was upheld.

This reminds me of a story that is doing the rounds - a class teacher had inquired from the students whether they would like to make a trip to the zoo. A bright spark immediately stood up and retorted, "Why go to the zoo when we could go to Parliament?" This goes to prove that the antics of our Parliamentarians have now become the laughing stock of schoolchildren too.

This sort of unruly behaviour and rowdyism in the hallowed precincts of Parliament, should be condemned and deplored by all right thinking people. In the eyes of the world, our politicians have earned a reputation as a pack of jokers. This would certainly contribute towards tarnishing the good name and image of Sri Lanka.

Tax the public servants
What struck me most when I was reading the June 20 Sunday Times editorial was that all our public servants are tax dodgers. They do not pay income tax on the payments they receive from our coffers, which cover their salaries, allowances, vehicles, houses, phones, trips abroad, etc. The cumulative amount is a staggering Rs. 260 billion a year.

Can Sri Lanka carry this burden? It is a well-known secret that 80 percent of the public servants are best sent home. They contribute very little to this country. Otherwise, why are we in this mess, year in, year out?

There should be laws brought in to make public servants, liable to income tax again. Then we will not be beggars going around asking for loans from the international community. Neither will we have to dance to the tune of the World Bank or the IMF.

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