Letters to the Editor

24th OCtober 1999

Pensioners' political party

In a letter to the newspapers, a pensioner has suggested that pensioners should form a political party, as they are like a "voice in the wilderness".

This is commendable but it cannot be achieved merely by obtaining government sanction. Hard work, much thought and organisation are required.

I, as an ex-Vice President of the All Ceylon Pensioners Society, cannot be in the forefront due to an accident which prevents me from walking properly, but would extend my co-operation nevertheless. I suggest that a dynamic pensioner should voluntarily assume the post of chief organiser and summon a representative from each and every Pensioners' Association island-wide.

The meeting place could be the Community Centre of the Bambalapitiya Government Flats where the All Ceylon Pensioners' Society usually holds its annual general meetings. The chief organizer should get in touch with the Hon. Secretary, All Ceylon Pensioners' Society, No 4, Community Centre, Government Flats, Bambalapitiya. A central committee with a representative from teach Pensioners' Association should be appointed to obtain the views of members. Thus "armed", each rep should be given sufficient notice by the Chief Organiser of a meeting to discuss and finalise matters. A committee comprising not more than five members should also be appointed to go into administrative matters such as obtaining registration and sending out circulars.

Once registration has been obtained, due publicity should be sought in the English, Sinhala and Tamil media to let the public and the government know that such a political body of pensioners exists. With a membership of almost 400,000, we would have a say.

Capt. L.P. Juriansz
Colombo 2

Ashamed to be a Tamil

The great patriot Anagarika Dharmapala, had once said that he would not like to be reborn in Sri Lanka, when he found that the then Buddhists were not interested in regaining Buddhagaya from the Mahanthas.

In another context Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam was woking towards safeguarding the dignity of the Tamils and was helping the government in this regard. The Tamil community understood his cause and respected him and his views. Intellectually he stood far above other intellectuals. Wherever he spoke, people all over the world respected his views. But, how unfortunate that in Sri Lanka the so-called clever Tamils underestimated him. Reading through two articles by G.G. Ponnambalam, I was ashamed to be a Tamil.

No doubt there is freedom of expression in the country, but GG, who even lost his deposit at the last election, trying to belittle Dr. Tiruchelvam is no surprise to the Tamils. In his articles, GG argues as in a court of law, trying to save the wrong doer. However GG cannot hold a candle to the intellectual ability of Dr. Tiruchelvam.

Like what Anagarika Dharmapala wished, I as a Tamil wish that I will be born again as a Tamil in another country, where there is brotherhood in the cause of peace.

T. Thurairajah

Kandy

Race meet counter-charges

The letter "Racing charges on wrong track" (October 10) is misleading.

To start with, the signatory to the letters, the Secretary of the "interim body" is also Vice President of the Up-Country Motor Sports Club - the main club assisting the organizers of the Meet, the Anuradhapura Motor Sports Club - which incidentally held a motor sports event for the very first time, and is thus inexperienced. The experienced club which assisted it has not provided proper directions to the Anuradhapura Motor Sports Club. By writing as the "Secretary interim body", he tries to find flimsy excuses.

The "Interim" Secretary quotes only a part of Rule viii of the General Competition Rules (GCR) of the Sri Lanka Association of Motor Sports and leaves out that part which is detrimental. Part viii of the GCR deals with "Officials and their Duties". Under this Section the "Interim" Secretary has quoted Section 8.10 - "Powers of Stewards of the Meeting" under which, item (I) says, "Authorise a change of driver or vehicle (Rule 06.02)". Here lies the catch - Rule 06.02 refers to "Delegation of competition rights" and goes on to say "No competitor may delegate the driving of a vehicle entered in a competition in his name to another, unless provision is made in the Supplementary Regulations or permission has been obtained from the Organizing Committee before the day of the Meet or the Stewards of the Meet on the day of the Meet". Mr. Interim Secretary, I challenge you to show that the vehicle used by the competitor in question on the day of the race was a vehicle entered in the competition.

The "Interim" Secretary is also a competitor of yesteryear. He has been appointed by the Minister to do justice to the sport and to foster it. The interim body has been appointed to see that the rules of law and fairplay are exercised.

The "Interim" Secretary states that devices such as roll-over bars are essential for "open vehicles" and not for others. Safety in motor sports is of prime concern, not only to the competitor but also to other competitors taking part, their families, spectators and the sport itself. In simple language, a normal road car is made to withstand only certain forces under normal driving conditions. In competitions - such as track racing, the vehicles are "pushed" over maximum performance and as such safety devices should be enhanced by modifications to withstand such forces.

He should be aware that all reputed clubs in Sri Lanka insist by regulation on roll-over bars for no other reason but safety. This is simple logic even a layman can understand. The Secretary says that there were no "protests" at the Meet. The simple answer to that is when the judiciary (the judge and jury) and the executive are one and the same who will complain.

Ajith C. Boteju,
Colombo.

Where are the true Sinhalese?

I agree with Kumbakarana (The Sunday Times, October 3) that the Sinhalese use foreign material and vehicles. The main reason for this habit is government policy and convenience.

Some Sinhalese even authorise the import of components which could be made locally and do not encourage those who want to make them locally.

Another annoying trait is that some Sinhalese enjoy listening to "Pruthugeesi Karaya" and only a few seem to like "Hela Jathika Abimane". A true Sinhalese shouldn't be like that for the Portuguese were the first colonisers.

Irwin de Silva
Dehiwela

A gay secretariat... what next?

TNL Radio and TV on October 6, announced the establishment of a 'gay' secretariat in Colombo, presumably to encourage homosexuality and lesbianism.

It is intriguing how, in our country where homosexuality is legally punishable as an 'unnatural act', such an organisation can be set up. Very soon we may have 'kassippu' and 'kudu' secretariats.

What is the government, including the long arm of the law, doing about it? Don't let the law be treated like an ass.

If the Creator wanted gays he would have created only boys and boys or girls and girls first! This would have been a problem for the propagation of the human race. We know the story of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Nissanka M. Ediriwira
Battaramulla

Palmyrah Development Board idle

This is with regard to an interview with the Palmyrah Development Board Chairman M. Packyanathan published in the newspapers recently.

As I have functioned as the President of the Palm Products Co-operative Society in the past, I feel it is my duty to focus on the other side. No large scale development programmes have been carried out for the promotion of palmyrah. In fact the Board is struggling to maintain and continue the existing development programmes at the same level. Attempts have not been made to prepare a development strategy or comprehensive plan for this sector. Only ad-hoc plans are implemented to provide temporary relief.

The production of palmyrah arrack is not a new achievement of the Board, within the past four and a half years. Palmyrah arrack was introduced to the Colombo market 15 years ago. Stocks of rectified spirit worth Rs. 25 million are at the Thickam distillery and have been there for the past several years. This is now blended and brought to Colombo. On a request of MP Douglas Devananda who took a keen interest to reactivate the distillery, President Chandrika Kumaratunga granted an excise duty waiver.

Earlier in 1972 and 1978, Dr. Colvin R. de Silva and Dr. N.M. Perera in a bid to uplift the economy of depressed communities in the north and east, set up the Palmyrah Development Board and the Palm Products Co-operative Societies. The institutions closely co-ordinated the work in this sector, assisting the 30,000 tapper families and the 350,000 directly or indirectly involved in palmyrah-based production. But now the Board has not moved fast enough to undertake the development task needed to fulfil the aspirations of these poor people.

According to the information available with the Board, only 2% of the trees are tapped for development, out of 11 million palmyrah trees in the north and the east. The reason attributed is that palmyrah trees are felled for security purposes to build bunkers. But so far only 1.5 million have been felled.

Several Katpakam outlets, handicraft centres, production centres and training centres were closed in the past, but no action has been taken to re-open them. The grassroot level development activities were severely affected by this.

The tappers are facing problems in the sale of excess toddy. Jaggery production has also been abandoned. Why isn't the Board taking any action in this regard?

Qualified officers and skilled persons are idling in Colombo. The administrative machinery is at a standstill. These are the reasons for a setback in the palmyrah industry.

K. Chandrasegaram
Point Pedro

Return to Plus Contents