Plus

Plus

People’s forum
By Hiranthi Fernando and Dhananjani Silva
Health hazards
This is to bring to your notice a health hazard and harassment caused to residents, schoolchildren and road users, due to unauthorised selling of river sand, bricks and metal in large quantities by the roadside on Srimath Kuda Ratwatte Mawatha (formerly Lady McCallum’s Drive) at Katugastota.

The site is situated about 50 yards from the main Kandy–Katugastota road. Sand brought daily in large trucks from the Mahiyangana area is unloaded here and sold to prospective buyers. Unloading from trucks and loading into smaller lorries take place throughout the day. As a result the road is covered with a thick layer of sand and each time a vehicle passes, clouds of dust (sand and red brick dust) envelop the area. The residents are thus forced to keep their doors and windows closed, and further, are made to breathe polluted air.
Written as well as verbal complaints have been made to the M.O.H. and the Municipal Commissioner on a number of occasions. No positive action has been taken up to now to relieve the residents and the road users of this health hazard. - A harassed resident

The People’s Forum contacted Mrs. Meegasmulla, Municipal Commissioner of the Kandy Municipal Council, who said they had already been informed about this by residents. They have sent officers to inspect the site. It has been found that this sales operation is done from the premises of a person who is contesting the municipal elections. This house is by the roadside. When materials are brought, the excess is heaped on the road until collected by the buyers. When complaints are made, the materials are removed, but thereafter they are dumped on the road again the next day, Mrs. Meegasmulla said.
The Commissioner said they have a special squad to deal with such complaints, and she has asked them to take action on this matter.

Payment of salary arrears
I am forwarding herewith my letter dated 16.01.2006, addressed to the Director General of the Meteorological Department on the payment of salary arrears, for which no reply or acknowledgement has been received up to date.
The Divisional Secretary, Beruwela is not in a position to prepare the arrears payable from 23.05.1990, without the particulars asked for in paragraph three in my letter.

Please be good enough to request the Director General of the Meteorological Department to send the particulars called for by my letter of 16.01.2006.
- W. S. Silva

The People’s Forum contacted the Director General of the Meteorological Department G. H. P. Dharamaratne. Having looked into the matter, Mr. Dharmaratne said the arrears have been paid. As Mr. Silva has worked at the Met. Department only in the last year before retirement, the particulars requested are not easy to access. However, he said the department personell have gone out of their way to help him. The details will be sent as soon as possible.

Scholarship for children of migrant workers
As I was a migrant worker and my daughter was a first year student of the B.Com degree at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura at the time an advertisement was seen on 08.02.2004, calling for applications for awarding scholarships to children of migrant workers, she responded to the same.
When the scholarships were awarded on 15.08.2004 her name was dropped and we were made to understand by the Manager of the Welfare Section of the Bureau of Foreign Employment that students who entered the universities before 31.12.2003 were awarded scholarships, whereas my daughter entered university on 26.01.2004. Later she responded to another advertisement published on 07.11.2004.

Later, on 13.01.2005, the Manager of the Welfare Section of the Bureau of Foreign Employment informed her that the scholarships that were suspended temporarily had been approved by the top management, and asked her to send a copy of her birth certificate. The same was sent to them by registered post. In early February 2006, they told me that she will be contacted within two weeks, but we have not heard from them yet. Please let me know the status of this award.
- K. Sornalinkam

The People’s Forum contacted the Bureau of Foreign Employment regarding this and the General Assistant, Gayan Niriella, confirmed that the scholarships will be handed over at an awards ceremony to be held at the end of this month with the participation of Minister Athauda Seneviratne. The People’s Forum was also told that the bureau would send a reply regarding this and that the bureau can be contacted on 2864117 for further clarification.

Back to Plus