The Public Service Commission was set up by the former British administration to address problems and grievances among public servants.
Since Independence, the Constitution has provided for a Public Service Commission, a government appointed board whose members come from a cross-section of educated persons. Honesty, integrity, impartiality and transparency are expected of the board members. Public servants look upon the Public Service Commission as a kind of Supreme Court.
Typical complaints brought before the commission relate to harassment by superiors. The complaints typically refer to victimisation, deliberate delays, denial of promotions, unfair transfers, wrongful interdictions and dismissals, and adverse reports in personal files.
In my experience, most of the decisions made by the Public Service Commission are in favour of heads of departments. This is not a satisfactory state of affairs.
N. Lekamvasam,
Piliyandala
Germs spawn panic, panic makes money
Somebody has pressed the panic button. I refer to the recurring advertisement on the radio that goes: “Do you know who touched this door before you? Boo…. ha…. ha…. ha. Even holding a railing or opening a car door can transmit deadly germs to your hands. Protect your loved ones from unseen germs.”
The remedy offered? A certain gel sold “to sanitize your hands”. Price: Rs. 315 for 200ml. There are 20 million people in this country, and how many have contracted a disease by touching ordinary objects?
This is just another anti social act to make money.
Over to the Consumer Protection Authority.
Wij Gk,
Via email
Inner Flower Road and Fife Road are dangerous bottlenecks
Inner Flower Road, the continuation of St. Anthony’s Mawatha in Colombo 3, and Fife Road, between Park Road and Isipatana Mawatha in Colombo 5, are two very narrow roads used by thousands of vehicles every day.
The narrowness of the road and the deep drains on either side have resulted in numerous accidents when vehicles attempt to pass each other.
Instead of wasting time and money digging up good roads and re-surfacing roads with good surfaces, the Colombo Municipal Council and the Road Development Authority should start working on the narrow roads and the intersections and feeder roads, which need widening to allow the free flow of traffic. The widening of all important narrow roads and intersections should be a priority.
Nadesan,
Colombo 3
Dreaming of a park for Welikade
People who love the city of Colombo will unreservedly welcome the decision to close the Welikade Prison Complex, which is an eyesore and structural monstrosity that offends any refined sensibility.
Here is a perfect opportunity to create a much needed park for the city. Congruent lands – comprising the prison premises, the railway grounds, Campbell Park, and the mosquito infested marsh of Wanaththamulle – are not occupied by residents. Creating a park would not entail relocating families. Any losses would be zero or miniscule.
If we are to convert the land into a park, we must use our imagination. The last park created in Colombo was the brainchild of the British. The city continues to evolve in a multi-dimensional way. Planning should be done with an eye to the future.
Sri Lankans are inspired by the genius of our forefathers who, three millennia ago, created the beautiful Mahamega Park, in the centre of the ancient capital city Anuradhapura. We continue to enjoy the tranquility and beauty of this park.
Now Welikade challenges our leaderhip and vision.
A.A. W. Amarasinghe,
USA
Round
about right
of way
We were taught in years gone by that at a roundabout the person or vehicle on your right has the right of way. This tradition seems to have disappeared from Colombo. Certainly no one observes this courtesy at the Galle Face Hotel roundabout.
Sydney Knight,
Via email |
E-mail
