5th July 1998

• Turning wheel of law
• The all important NIC
• Trying to hood-wink whom?
• In memory of Premnath Moraes
• Come on, give us a break!
• Paradise of sin
• Dye or die
• So much cruelty....
• Those who suffer the deepest are the ones who pray for peace

Turning wheel of law

Two thousand five hundred and eighty more
Summers have gone by since this day;
Yet the same Esala full moon peeps,
With remembrances of the noble way.
There within the deer park of Saranath
Light of the world - turned the wheel of law.
Beside Him five disciples earnestly sat.
The master spake the words that show
The path of righteousness for man to follow
Two extremes oh monks! you shall shun
Avoid the path of sensual pleasures and lust
Likewise be freed of asceticism that's austere
These are ignoble, low base and leads
Not to the perfect goal - the bliss of Nibbana.
Oh monks! Uphold the middle way.
The path realized by Buddhas long past
Yet remains for all times - unsurpassed
New - never to change - ever realistic.

The all important NIC

The Elections Commissioner has once again drawn attention to the production of the National Identity Card (NIC) for eligibility to vote.

This is quite sensible and reasonable and an absolute necessity in the context of the present situation, where intimidation, thuggery and gunfire is the politician's forte.

Apart from elections, the all importance of the NIC is too well known and needs no emphasis or elaboration. The issue of NICs became law by Act 32 of 1968. It was quite understandable to start with, for delays and refusals in the issue of the NIC to the upcountry Tamil community, large numbers of whom became stateless by the Citizenship Act 18 of 1948. But with the passage of "The Grant of Citizenship of Stateless Persons (Special Provisions) Act" 39 of 1988, all difficulties have been removed and 10 years have passed but complaints of non-issue and unconscionable delay are a regular feature. There is a need to closely monitor this situation. Those of us who have been regularly following this subject have little doubt that the Registrar of Persons Department as a whole is not properly organised or geared to expeditiously handle the issue of NICs. From time to time the department gives statistics of the numbers of NICs issued. Why do they not give the statistics of the number of applications outstanding and for how long?

In the middle of 1997, when the question of producing NIC at elections was raised and spotlighted in the media, I made some practical suggestions in a letter to the press, which appeared very prominently in almost all the newspapers.

It is a statutory requirement for the Registrar of Persons to issue NICs and if the department fails to do so or delays unnecessarily, it is failing in its duty and violates the rights of the citizens. There is provision in Section 3 (2) of Act 32 to appoint such numbers of persons as may be necessary as registration and/or certifying officers.

Why does not the department act under these provisions and appoint officers in various parts of the island? This will not only expedite matters but relieve persons in the outstations from coming on frequent pilgrimages to Keppitipola Mawatha. Section 25 of Act 32 provides for the establishment of one member Tribunals to appeal against decisions of the Registrar of Persons. Government will do well to act immediately under these provisions.

Trying to hood-wink whom?

Sri Lanka Telecom's new tariffs are now in circulation. I draw the attention of the Chief Executive Officer SLT to his letter "to dear customer" which was received together with the tariff. It states SLT has traditionally structured its tariff to maintain a low domestic one. What I feel is that it has been structured very systematically to get every customer, business or otherwise to pay the same rate, thus taking the customer for a ride to believe that a low domestic tariff has been implemented.

Taking into consideration the 'Revision of domestic charges', where it states monthly rental Rs 180/-. monthly usage of 200 units or less charged at Rs 1.10 a unit. exceeding 200 at Rs.1.65 a unit, is fair enough. Yet there again it appears if usage exceeds 200 units the customers will be charged at Rs. 1.65 for all units. So, is there any justice in calling it a low domestic tariff? May I remind the customers that years back when the services were under the Telecommunication Department, the rental differed for private and business. This too is forgotten now. However the present rate of charging at Rs.1.65 from thefirst unit, if usage exceeds 200 units is really inhuman and highly arbitrary. I think there will not be even 1% of domestic users whose monthly units will not exceed 200, unless they refrain from using the telephone for about half a month or so for the mere reasons (one) meters have not been connected to customers to monitor the calls, (two) Unit times rate had been brought down, (three) whatever the readings in the bills have to be accepted. The customers have no way of challenging the reading. As a matter of fact, no customers will ever oblige even the most helpless person at an emergency with a telephone call.

Every organisations that provides amenities to the general public has a consolatary charge slab. That too having meters connected to residences unlike the Telecom. The present charge rate is a mere exploitation of the customer by Telecom, trying to draw every possible cent from the poor customer. Is Telecom trying to recover the losses incurred by the recent bomb blasts, from customers? However whom, is Telecom trying to hood-wink by stating that it is a low domestic tariff? There is an age old saying in Sinhala, "Sinhalaya modaya kevum kanna yodaya." That era is long over.

In memory of Premnath Moraes

When I shook his hand
for the first time'
Forty five years ago
I perhaps shook the hands of Ten
or many more
I was yet to know
that so many personalities
could be blended into a single mould.

On those extra broad shoulders
rested that handsome head
of a barrel-chested man
with a wasp-like waist
His features could have stirred envy
in the hearts of "STARS" of his day.

Wrestler, Weight-lifter, Footballer,
Singer, Lyricist, and Actor
Many others were yet to emerge
Journalist, Commentator, Copy-writer
Film-maker with the added faculty
of a SILVER tongue, impeccable speaker
and linguist
Too much to believe
Too good for small countries
where small men relish
only small values
and deify men
of minor virtues.

I dared not gaze upon
that motionless body too long
nor join the final prayer
from the fringe of the crowd
that thronged around
his final abode
for fear that I might have shed
the tear I held back
Had I let it pour
in the presence of the world
I would have deprived myself
of a precious private moment
I would want to hold selfishly
for myself.

I waited until
I returned home at dusk
In the semi-darkness
seated where we sat before,
He and I
shared the Scotch
recalling in silence
the stories of old
unknown to most others
who stood around him
at his last sunset.

Dear Pradeep, Rani, Rehani
forgive me
I stole that precious moment
from you.

More Letters to the Editor * Come on, give us a break! * Paradise of sin * Dye or die * So much cruelty.... * Those who suffer the deepest are the ones who pray for peace

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