Letters to the Editor
View(s):Astronomical pay hikes and CB decision makers working in their ivory towers
It is inconceivable that the hierarchy who recommended this decision were not aware of the trials and tribulations that our public service consisting of university professors, highly competent medical professionals, engineers in different fields ranging from electronics to construction plus of course, personnel handling administration, nursing, mid-level persons of varied professions and the office assistant grades seeking enhancement of their salaries to fairly reasonable levels. Their demonstrations and marches were doused by water cannons and their breathing was impaired by tear gas.
The country which had declared itself bankrupt was not in a position to meet these demands. Whilst some of the more educated strata from these groups migrated to developed countries, others had no option but to “grin and bear”. Of course the government did give a pay rise of Rs.10,000 across the board w.e.f. April this year. Medical officers were given an immediate raise of Rs.35,000 which they have accepted in good faith realizing the plight of the country.
The Central Bank decision makers working in their ivory towers may not be aware or chose to ignore this when they deemed fit to pay themselves astronomical pay hikes. In this context it is sad but hilarious that the pay of a peon in the Central Bank is more than that that of a new entrant MBBS qualified medical officer.
The extremely lame excuse given by the independent Governor of the CBSL is that it will be difficult to retain his experienced staff as they may opt to resign and migrate. He does not seem to bother that the country is in an abyss from which it is struggling to extricate itself. More than 50% of their fellow citizens have cut down their food intake and other sundry necessities to make ends meet.
The Central Bank may not be the only place in this country that has Economics and Accounting professionals. Let the persons holding the proverbial sword of Damocles over the finances of our country depart. Hopefully suitable replacements could be found. Failing this, the government could appeal to friendly governments like Singapore, South Korea, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia and a couple of Western countries to second a few of their personnel to our Central Bank to get matters moving.
Let the thick skinned present day staffers proceed singing a modified popular refrain of the days of yore viz “Give me a Home where the buffaloes roam and the thick skinned hippos and rhinos play
all day”.
Air Vice Marshal (retired)
A.B. Sosa Via email
The true legacy of Japan in WW2
For many years it was the propaganda of the victors full of hate speech directed towards the losers i.e., Axis powers, Germany and Japan, and demonizing one of them i.e. the Japanese, as cannibals and savages that characterized the World War II narrative.
The people of Asia no longer accept the Western-sponsored narratives as Gospel truths. There is increasing resistance to propaganda masquerading as historical fact.
The Society for Dissemination of Historical Fact based in Japan is a striking illustration of such resistance. People of the former European colonies are demanding accountability for rapacious colonialism.
Unfortunately, the conversation in Asia having an international impact is an echo of conversations that are manufactured and manipulated in the West.
It is however, being slowly corrected. The most dramatic correction is the recent elevation of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose to the No. 1 position in India’s narrative on how freedom was won. The revered Mahatma Gandhi has been demoted to the No. 2 rank.
While the West glorifies their military commanders as national heroes, their admiration for Asians and Africans is limited more or less to the likes of Gandhi, Mandela, and Martin Luther King of the non-violent creed. These are people who have never won a single battle on the battlefield.
Japan helped Subash Chandra Bose and his Indian National Army(INA) to attack British military bases and fight against the occupation of India.
The battles for India’s independence fought by INA with the support of the Japanese 15th Army at Kohima and Imphal are part of the national story of India today. Though the combined liberation forces comprising Japanese soldiers and INA lost to enemy forces superior in numbers and military equipment, the ramifications of the daring war efforts led eventually to the grant of independence beginning with India and later other South Asian countries like Burma and Ceylon.
Indian children learn the valour of their Netaji at their mother’s knee. But that is another story.
Japan was the only non-European country that defeated imperial Western countries in battle by sea, land, and air. That itself was inspiring for those who could only stand and watch in dismay their nations being conquered and occupied for centuries by Western imperial nations.
Japan awakened the enslaved people of Asia and Africa with their daring military exploits.
That is the true legacy of the Japanese during WW2 in respect of which expression of gratitude is long overdue from Asian countries that benefited unmistakably from their efforts.
Senaka Weeraratne Via email
FD interest rates and our plight
State banks and some other banks increased the fixed deposit interest rates last year up to 20% and senior citizens’ fixed deposit rates too increased at the same rate. However, from this year the fixed deposit interest rates reduced significantly. Most of the senior citizens lost the benefits which they enjoyed from increased interest rates due to this decrease.
It is not a secret that senior citizens have deposited their hard-earned money in fixed deposits in order to earn something for their day-to-day living expenses such as food, medicines and other living needs. While the cost of living is high rocketing, their meagre earnings are decreasing steeply and this situation is unbearable.
As a citizen who became a victim, I request the authorities concerned to look into this matter and grant again the previous interest rate for senior citizens’ fixed deposits.
C.D.J. Weerasena Boralesgmuwa
A plea to reintroduce interest scheme for senior citizens
We senior citizens are the most affected lot with the interest rate on deposits hitting rock bottom. Even though interest rates and inflation have come down, the prices of goods have not come down. We pensioners need medicines but the prices of the medicines are very high. How are we to live?
Sometime back there was a scheme for senior citizens getting 15% interest for a one-year deposit. That is now abolished.
We kindly request the government to introduce that system again. Those days it was for a deposit of Rs. 1.5 million. Now that should be increased to Rs. 2.5 million
Will the government look into it?
G. Manoharan Wellawatte
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