Letters to the Editor
View(s):Arahant Mahinda’s words 2,300 years ago and the liberation of animals
Sri Lanka can lay claim to being the land where one of the greatest pronouncements of all time, which laid the foundation for the establishment of animal rights as part of State responsibility was made.
It marked a glittering milestone in humanity’s march towards the liberation of animals, a moment in global history that Sri Lanka can be justly proud of, having established the world’s first wildlife sanctuary after the extraordinary moving plea of Arahant Mahinda to King Devanampiyatissa at Mihintale 2,300 years ago which still resonates today.
He said:” Oh! Great King, the birds of the air and the beasts have an equal right to live and move about in any part of this land as thou. The land belongs to the peoples and all other beings and thou art only the guardian of it.”
These are the facets of Sri Lankan history that should be taught in schools as well to visitors to this country.
A triumph in the movement for the liberation of animals.
Senaka Weeraratna Via email
Robbing people of bus fare balance
Most of our bus conductors are reluctant to pay the balance for ticket fares from Rs.2- Rs.5. The bus owners and the government are keen on revising the fares now and then, but do not consider how the balance is paid to passengers, a longstanding problem.
Many thousands are robbed from the passengers daily. This money neither goes to the owners nor the government. Tickets, which determine the income of the owners are not issued. This is tax evasion.
When the CTB started operations, the one and only passenger transport provider, drivers and conductors were in uniform. Since this service was opened to private owners, this practice died slowly. Now one cannot distinguish between a conductor and a pickpocket.
When the conductor is busy in an overcrowded bus at the front, a pickpocket standing near the rear footboard may collect the fares from newly boarded passengers and disappear at the next halt.
The law should be properly enforced to see that tickets are issued, the exact balance is paid, net income declared and tax duly paid.
I hope this receives the attention of the authorities concerned. I also wish the IMF worthies hop on to these buses, see what is happening and suggest ways to increase government income.
A regular commuter
Safety and importance of road bumps
A few years ago, I suggested to the management of the Road Development Authority (RDA) that road bumps be established in critical areas such as before dangerous bends in the hill country, before each bridge, and within town limits. Unfortunately, my request was not heeded.
During a recent visit to Tanzania, I observed a highly effective use of road bumps in towns and on freeways. These bumps serve a dual purpose: they reduce speeding and act as pedestrian crossings. The implementation of such measures has significantly curtailed accidents and saved lives.
Sri Lanka urgently needs to adopt a similar approach. With an unacceptable rate of road fatalities, we cannot afford to delay. However, for this to succeed, safety must become a priority for the RDA, not an afterthought.
Sunil Vijaya Mount Lavinia
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