Letters to the Editor

Together let’s fight that stinking menace
Garbage is a big problem. Yes, not only because there is no proper dumping place, more so because people do not care enough about their country to dispose of it wisely.

Often we see garbage on the main road - even in front of hi-fi companies, shops and residences. In Dehiwela, between 2nd Lane and Campbell Place right on Galle Road, there is a stretch where the sili sili bags full of garbage are thrown, with cows eating out of them. Now, where does this garbage come from?
There is no residence or shop near this place.

Obviously, people living nearby bring their garbage from homes and throw them surreptitiously onto the main road. I know of people who dump their garbage over other people's parapet wall or in front of other's gates. These are the callous culprits who want to keep their own premises clean, but do not care whose doorstep they throw their garbage at. These probably are the people who shout loudest that the municipality does not maintain cleanliness in the city.

Such selfish acts only make us sick - literally and metaphorically. If everyone cares enough to get rid of their own garbage in a decent way, the problem won't be so bad.

At Vandervert Place we have decided to utilize compost barrels, which take in all the kitchen garbage. The papers and bottles are sold to the "bothal karaya" and only a little garbage remains. This too, is not allowed to litter the common road.

We have come up with an idea of a "bakkiya" outside the premises over the drains, which is unobtrusive, too heavy to be carried away by drug addicts and neat and nice to look at. Just 2' x 1' x 1' it takes in the balance garbage neatly tacked in for the garbage collectors to remove.

This way one need not wait for the garbage collectors, and even if one is not at home, the collectors will remove the bags from the bakkiya. All we need to get rid of our garbage is a little ingenuity and a little concern for the country.
Do the garbage disposal the Vandervert way - and we can overcome this menace in no time.

On threshold for how long?
Through the state print media, it was boldly stated that we are on the threshold of achieving peace. Referring the Oxford dictionary I found the definition of threshold as the "point at which effect begins to be produced".

This obviously is the meaning any reader would attribute to this word in the context in which the word is used. Accordingly peace would be achieved very soon.

But mind you, one cannot stand at the threshold for months. If you do not move from the threshold soon, you will obviously fall off it. Are we, therefore, to assume that peace will at last dawn on this nation within the next few months? Or will the media one year later maintain that we are still on the same threshold?

What about keeping peace here?
As a reader from Matara wrote recently, violence is on the rise in Sri Lanka and we seem to be heading towards anarchy. We have been informed by the press, which had quoted relevant authorities that there are about 40,000 illegal weapons in circulation and about 35,000 criminals are on the run, whom the police have not been able to apprehend.

Every four hours a murder is committed in our country. Suicide bombers too pose a threat as many seem to have infiltrated the city and its suburbs. So much so that the ordinary people of this country live in constant fear and wonder what fresh horror may loom next .

As such, it is ironic to note that Sri Lanka is sending army and police personnel to keep peace in foreign countries. It was reported in the press that even the chief of the police crime division is due to join one such peacekeeping force. What about his duties here?

The need of the hour is for all defence forces to join the police in its efforts to maintain law and order here and secure the safety of all law-abiding people.
We must first ensure that there is peace within our shores before leaving to maintain peace in other countries.

False numbers can fuel racist sentiments
Earl Beaconsfield said there are three kinds of lies – lies, damned lies and statistics. He could not have been closer to the truth. Since the results of the 2001 census were published, attempts have been made to make out that Muslims are out-breeding the other communities.

To say the least, this is a lot of rubbish.
The Census of 2001 left out Jaffna (non-Muslim population 98.2%) (Kilinochi was part of Jaffna District in 1981), Mannar (72.6%), Vavuniya (92.9%), Mullaitivu (95.1%), Batticaloa (76.1%) and Trincomalee (70.1%) but included the district with the largest percentage of Muslims, namely Ampara (41.7% Muslims).

(Department of Census & Statistics release, October 23, 2001.)
One does not need to be a mathematician to realize that leaving out the districts with hardly any Muslims and including the district with the largest concentration of Muslims will result in erroneously showing the percentage of Muslims to be larger than it is in fact.

Sri Lanka's first Census was conducted in 1881 and Muslims were 7.1% of the population. Hundred years later in the 1981 Census they were 7.5%. This was not a real increase but merely a statistical adjustment since large numbers of non-Muslims (Christians, Burghers and Hindu estate labourers had left for Australia and India respectively).

The figure of 8.5% for 1,425,780 persons that is cited, is out of a population of 16,864,000 in 2001 which left out the districts mentioned earlier. However, Report No. 19 of the Department of Census & Statistics (March 2002) gives an estimated population of 18,732,255 for 2001. If the omitted districts are included. 1,425,700 of this is 7.6% not 8.5%. This is not an increase but merely a statistical adjustment as shown earlier. Statistics should not be manipulated to serve baser instincts or fuel racist sentiments.

If there’s a law, let it be known
I am given to understand that there is a law prohibiting the use of crash bars, also known as "bull guards". There seems to be quite some confusion about this, as most police officers are unable to distinguish between a crash bar and one on which fog lights are fitted.

Having to travel upcountry on work regularly, I find it necessary to have fog lights on my jeep and these are fitted on a bar, but behind the fender. In case of an accident, it will be the fender that will make contact.

A majority of four-wheel drive vehicles that are imported come with these accessories as standard factory fittings not merely as safety devices but also, to enhance the look of the vehicles. If there is a Gazette notification or any law relating to "crash bars" on vehicles, we would be grateful if it could be published so that vehicle owners know the exact position and can take necessary measures such as refitting the existing ones according to the required specifications and thus avoid confrontation with the police.

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