7th June 1998

Why discourage the savings habit?

I have been banking with a leading private sector bank for over three decades. Recently I found that interest on my Savings Account had not been paid. Upon inquiry, I was told that due to new regulations, when there are over four withdrawals per month I won't be entitled to interest and they conveniently put the blame on Central Bank regulations.

I cannot understand how interest could be withheld when I have been maintaining over Rs. 35,000 in this account even though there had been more than four withdrawals. Furthermore, out of the usual withdrawals, four are in respect of loan deductions and Standing Orders favouring Insurers.

I contacted the Central Bank Main Office at the World Trade Centre building on telephone to obtain clarification on this and no one could tell me whether or not such instructions have in fact been given to Banks. Would at least the Finance Ministry clarify why such regulations which discourage the savings habit have been introduced?

Changes: better or worse?

It was indeed a very disappointing performance by Sri Lanka that saw them lose the first Test against a reformed New Zealand outfit. To begin with we did well to restrict the Kiwis to 305 but then the batsmen notably Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Attapattu and later Ruwan Kalpage, picked specifically for his batting failed to deliver the goods. We should have totalled 350 or 400 in the first innings. In the second essay New Zealand made merry in their batting, exposing once again the weakness in our bowling. Except for the ever reliable "Murali" and with Vaas sidelined with injury, our bowling cupboard looks bare. We cannot expect "Murali" to deliver the goods every time. It is high time we found a spinner to share his burdens. Malinga Bandara had a terrible introduction to Test cricket like his predecessors in the spin department Roshan Jurangpathy and Sanjeewa Weerasinghe in the mid '80s'. Bandarathilake had a reasonable game both with the bat and ball, but I wonder whether the selectors must be regretting the fact that they dropped Roshan Mahanama and Kumara Dharmasena. Marvan Attapattu must feel his place is in jeopardy with Thomian Captain Upeka Fernando breathing down his neck. Our fielding too left much to be desired.

It is good that the selectors have brought back Kumara Dharmasena for the second Test. He is a fighter especially when it comes to batting. Hashan Tillekeratne's inclusion might raise a few eyebrows but the selectors have opted for experience rather than experiment with the new comers who haven't performed well. Ruwan Kalpage, when he is given a chance doesn't grab it with both hands but lets the opportunity slip. Let's hope for a better performance in the coming Tests.

Don't be indifferent to atmospheric pollution

The feature article on Sunsets by Prof. Dissanayake in The Sunday Times of April 5, highlights the colourful spectacle of a sunset or sunrise that can be enjoyed in Sri Lanka today. The writer also has shown that the colours seen in the evening sky are a good indication whether the atmosphere is clean or polluted to varying degrees.

One of the pictures reproduced shows a very colourful sky seen early morning in Kandy before sunrise. He asks a pertinent question as to whether the skies over Sri Lanka would be clean and clear, to portray such colourful sights, fifty years from now when the nation celebrates the centenary of Independence. Alternatively, would the Sri Lankan skies be dull and different like those portrayed in his article for sunsets in a highly polluted region of the world? As he concludes, the choice is ours, the responsibility is ours today.

There are many sources that contribute to such pollution. Industrial waste effluents, vehicular exhaust gases, and chimney smoke are some examples. No doubt there are regulations prohibiting such pollution of the air. Considering vehicular exhaust specifically, about fifty percent of the older diesel vans and trucks leave a cloud of thick pungent smoke behind. What action are the Police taking in this matter? None, as far as we know. What do the environmental authorities have to say about such flagrant violation of the rules restricting pollution of the atmosphere?

Environmental pollution is a serious matter that deserves immediate attention. Will the environmental authorities begin to take action only when the problem of air pollution is heavily upon us? Is it not true that those highly industrialized regions which are heavily polluted are doomed, with no meaningful correction possible? Is Sri Lanka to be condemned to the same fate through the indifference of our authorities?

How people waste our natural resources

Everybody is aware that during the Sinhala and Hindu New Year holidays this year, Sri Lanka Telecom had granted a concession of free telephone calls to everyone and it was found that the lines were fully occupied on those two days. The reason I understand, given by Sri Lanka Telecom for this concession was that they wished to estimate the demand for telephone facilities.

I wish to state in this regard that the demand for a product/service cannot be estimated when it is issued free, because the general attitude of people is to over -consume when concessions are granted. Effective demand is defined as 'the demand for something with the ability to purchase same".

The over-consumption of telephone facilities during the New Year holidays clearly shows how people waste our natural resources. People should realize that even free items have a production cost and market value as well and they should not waste this resource just because it is issued free.

When an item/service is issued free, it not only loses its actual value, but also results in abnormal wastage. I have observed this during Wesak and Poson seasons when food is served to the public. Usually, excess food is served and people eat only part of it throwing away the balance without any care not realising the value of it as it has been given free.

It is estimated that when a food parcel is issued free, there is 10% wastage and when it is issued at a nominal charge of Rs. 5/- there is 5% wastage and no wastage when it is priced at the usual value. In a similar manner, when liquor is issued free, people over consume creating not only hazards to their health, but also to the public.

I am not against charities and donations being made to the poor and needy. What I am trying to say is that there should be a limit to such gestures, as we may be making more people beg by offering easy means resulting in a national disaster. People will become lazy and not willing to work. i.e., the dignity of labour is diminished. Most of us would have come across instances where requests made, to do a small job of work for a suitable payment to a beggar who has come to your door step had been refused, as he has become so used to receiving food or money without lifting his finger.

When items are issued free or at cheap rates, over-consumption and wastage is inevitable. But, over-consumption due to ignorance has to be clearly understood. We are aware that in the present "hurried" life-style, people find it easier to buy their meals from restaurants and fast food outlets at whatever cost, and end up consuming food of less nutritional value and consisting of more saturated fatty acids and salt which are harmful to their health.

I presume the above facts will make more people aware of the adverse effects of over-consumption and help them to lead a better life.

They're a menace to all

This is a case of mena*ce being caused to the pedestrians by a businessman who runs a three wheeler service/ washing centre on the Jayantha Weerasekera Mawatha, Colombo 10 without having any consideration for the pedestrians.

He uses the entire pavement for his business activities. As such, the waste oil, grease, kerosene, water etc., are allowed to run all over the pavement. Hence the pavement becomes very slippery and the pedestrians find it extremely difficult to use the particular stretch of pavement. Whenever the three wheelers are washed by high pressure of water the pedestrians too, get shower baths very frequently.

We earnestly appeal to the authorities concerned to take necessary action to solve this problematic issue.

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