Letters to the Editor
View(s):Motorists, beware of thugs who use gimmicks to extort money
On Sunday, March 2, I was in my car with my wife, driving from Moratuwa to Mount Lavinia. Shortly after Katubedda junction, at about 8.30 a.m., two riders on a motorbike came from behind and banged a fist on the car and beckoned us to stop. I did so and lowered the shutter to ask why.
Then the rider said due to my ‘careless driving’ his pillion rider was injured and showed his bleeding left palm and foot. I wondered how could one from behind be injured unbeknown to me, even without a scratch on my car? Besides, it was the pillion rider and not the other. I told him I had the right of way to drive forward and if anyone came from behind and sustained an injury by hitting an object, that was due to his own fault and not mine.
The rider became aggressive at this statement and started yelling at me spewing filth and even attempted to assault me. Seeing that I would be assaulted, my wife intervened, offered her handkerchief to bandage the bleeding palm and offered Rs.1000 to go and get a dressing for his injury. He would not accept it and demanded at least Rs. 5000 to let us go. I refused and dialled 119 to seek Police help to settle the matter.
Knowing that Police would not arrive at the scene promptly, the rider called his gangster friends over the phone and asked them to come quickly as we were being held as their hostages. This I consider to be an act of intimidation to drive fear into us and make us surrender to their demand for money.
Being utterly helpless without Police coming to my aid on this lazy Sunday morning, my wife made a compromise and agreed to pay Rs.3000, saying that was all we have at this time. I still insisted we wait for the Police. The moment they saw the money in my wife’s hand, they almost snatched it and went away saying they accept it for the sake of the motherly lady, though it was not enough for the injury and damage. That was it, and we continued on our journey.
As we reached our destination my phone rang, it was the Police, and I explained what transpired. Police blamed me for paying the money and said it was a racket which they are well aware of, and added even the injury could be fake. Asked if I could recognize them or if I had the presence of mind to take a picture of them, I said due to fear psychosis I was not able to do so. Police said there had been many such incidents in the past where motorists had been victimised in like manner. However, I thanked the Police for their response and said ‘it’s now over’ and I do not intend to pursue the matter.
I remember a friend of mine told me of an identical incident down Frazer Avenue in Moratuwa, where again there was no let up until money was paid.
The purpose of my writing is to warn the public of this menace and caution motorists to beware of thugs who use various gimmicks to extort money. It is my fervent hope that the Police would catch these rascals one day and bring them to justice for the good of society.
Nihal Fernando Moratuwa
More about the Kandyan treaty
L.B. Senaratne is right to question whether the Kandyan treaty was signed by the Kandyan Chiefs on March 2, 1815. He quotes a section of an article in the London Times published on November 18, 1815 which does not mention a signing ceremony.
An earlier paragraph in the same article states: ‘The treaty was read in English, by Mr Sutherland, Deputy Secretary to Government, and afterwards in Cingalese, by Modeliar of his Excellency’s gate, Abraham de Saram. This important document was listened to with profound and respectful attention by the Chiefs; and it was pleasing to observe, in their looks, a marked expression of cordial assent, which was immediately declared with great earnestness’.
The same issue of the paper published the Official Bulletin of the ceremony, an Official Declaration of the Settlement of the Candian Provinces and a Proclamation. A paragraph in the Bulletin states: ‘A public instrument of Treaty, prepared in Conformity to conditions previously agreed on, for establishing His Majesty’s Government in the Candian provinces, was produced and publicly read in English and Cingalese, and unanimously assented to’.
It is clear that there is no mention of the Chiefs signing the treaty on March 2, 1815. The British took their verbal assent and the issuing of the Declaration and Proclamation as the instrument by which they established their rule in the Kandyan provinces.
Dr. R.P. Fernando Epsom, UK
Don’t forget pensioners when increasing govt. servants’ salaries
In the past, upto 2024, whenever the government servants’ salary was increased, the government pensioners’ amount was also increased – by half that amount.
At the beginning of 2024, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe increased the salaries of government servants by Rs. 10,000 and the pensioners had an increase of Rs. 2,500. Later the pensioners received another increase of Rs. 3,000 at the end of 2024. Hence in 2024, the government servants’ salaries increased by Rs. 10,000 and the pensioners’ income increased by Rs 5,500. The Rs. 3000 allocated by the Ranil Wickremesinghe government was implemented by the new administration and we are extremely thankful to the President for seeing this through.
We do believe and hope that the President will continue to make sure that the pensioners’ increases are also granted like they are to government servants.
H.K.S. Alakeshwara Kekanadura, Matara
Thank you Handagama, for bringing out a dark period in our country
The film “Rani” by veteran film maker Asoka Handagama which is currently being screened is based on a political assassination of journalist Richard de Zoysa that took place 34 years ago. This is the third film Handagama has made with a political background. The previous two “Vidu” and Ini Awan” also had certain political undertones.
The killings and kidnapping of journalists have become dark spots in Sri Lanka’s political history. I would like to express my gratitude to Handagama for creating a film based on such a background. I also appreciate the contribution of the actors especially Swarna Mallawaarachchi who has shown her skills brilliantly in this film. Also Rehan Amaratunga, who plays the role of Richard has perfectly contributed to the character even though he is new to film acting. He has done a good job.
My heartfelt thanks to Handagama with a request to present more such creations for the Sri Lankan audience.
C.D.J. Weerasena Boralesgamuwa
Stand tall, rise above!
Isn’t it unfair
For the decisions she makes for herself,
When you feel hurt and roused,
Every time she wears or thinks of something?
Oh, isn’t it sad to see you,
Unable to control yourself, laying dirty hands
On women?
Are you that broken, that insecure,
As you grow angry when a woman,
Surpasses your expectations?
Is it the attention you seek?
When you slap on labels, despite the battles
She fights every day to make a living.
You favour it so much to whisper,
“Quiet!” “Your opinion is irrelevant,”
While she rises amidst your
Poor complaints.
Your ego is too fragile to witness her
Standing tall.
Dear ladies, make it your day, every day.
Be the woman of your own life,
Then you won’t need anyone.
Stand tall,
Heads high and proud
Don’t quit when you feel down,
Don’t settle for anything less—
You are not allowed to give up,
Even when those with toxic souls
Try to drag you down.
-Marian de Silva
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