Letters to the Editor

31st October 1999

• Killed in coal flood
• It is ugly to see politicians grinning at every turn
• PAYE: why are you taxing us?
• Give more security
• It's not experience; it's senility
• 'Go to Kotte and live in splendid isolation'
• When it was unusually late…
• All roads…

Killed in coal flood

Many letters and articles have appeared about the merits and demerits of a coal power plant in Sri Lanka. The authorities should give careful consideration to the fact that our environment is comparatively clean and unpolluted compared to, say, New Delhi where many people are dying of respiratory diseases due to pollution from coal power plants, coal fires and other industries. Other countries are looking for ways to get out of the coal power/pollution trap.

The emissions from even the most modern 300 MW coal-fired plants are about a- million tons of carbon dioxide, 9,000 tons of nitrous oxide and 15,000 tons of sulphur dioxide a year. Without special desulpharisation units, the figure will be around 45,000 tons.

Should we risk our children's lives? The risks should be weighed against the benefits of this type of development. Alternative energy in the form of large scale solar thermal power plants, from 5 MW to 300 MW and wind power plants from 3 MW to 100 MW is now available.

Unfortunately, the CEB and the Ministry of Power and Energy seem to have effectively killed all efforts to develop solar thermal plants in Sri Lanka.

S. Samuel
Maharagama

It is ugly to see politicians grinning at every turn

Presidential elections are round the corner. Sri Lanka has had bad experiences in the run up to elections, even those as insignificant as Provincial Council polls.

Let us appeal to the candidates to allow the people to vote without being influenced by any party or politician. Let us not have rallies. They turn out to be unruly and end in disaster, with at least one person getting injured. We have sacrificed enough lives in the war. Let us not add to them.

Let there be no pollution by way of polythene banners, buntings and decorations. Right now we have enough problems with polythene clogging drains.

Let no walls be defaced. It is ugly to see politicians grinning at every turn - even on garbage heaps. Imagine the amount of paper wasted on such fruitless endeavours. Count the number of trees felled to produce so many reams of paper. Our country's economy cannot bear the brunt of another huge waste of resources. Let us be realistic this time. We, Sri Lankans, are educated and intelligent enough to decide on our own. Therefore, allow us to do it on our own for once - and the right person will be elected in a decent manner.

Jayanthi Kapuwatte
Rajagiriya

PAYE: why are you taxing us?

The Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) tax is levied from private sector employees who earn a monthly salary of Rs. 12,000 or more. But government servants who earn even a monthly salary of Rs. 40,000 are exempt from PAYE or income tax.

Why this step-motherly treatment to private sector employees who are made to sweat to earn their salaries by their strict employers?

It is no secret that the output of private sector employees is very much more than that of public servants or corporation employees. But private sector employees after a long and dedicated service, collect only a meagre half month's salary for each year of service at the end of their career. On the other hand public servants get a minimum 24 months' gross salary as a lump sum plus a handsome pension of 90% of their final month's gross salary.

Though many people have brought this disparity to the notice of the Finance Minister nothing has been done to rectify it.

The Minister should consider a new income tax system where salary earners are treated equally.

Taking into consideration the cost of living which is unbearable for those who have three or four school-going children, the minimum amount liable for PAYE tax should be pushed to Rs. 25,000 a month, irrespective of whether they are private sector employees or government or corporation employees.

M.S.M.Shafie
Kandy

Give more security

The article Purana villages by Gamini Punchihewa (The Sunday Times 3.10.99) sums up the pathetic situation the villagers face as far as security is concerned.

Serious note has to be taken about the bitter experiences these villagers have undergone due to terrorist attacks. A close examination of the topography of this area reveals the importance of Namal Oya which is the 'gateway' to the Purana villages of Mullegama, Rathmalgahaela, Galgamuwa, Ratugala, Manakade and Bulupitiya.

These are vulnerable because the terrorists can easily come through Magalavattaran Oya, Kurunduvinne and Bingoda. The carnage at Gonagalla should be an eye-opener. The authorities should establish a permanent military post at Namal Oya to prevent a similar attack.

Thilak Palliyaguruge
Kundasale.

It's not experience; it's senility

I am a final-year undergraduate and feel very strongly that academics in universities should, like the rest of the workers of Sri Lanka, retire at 55.

Academics are in no way above other professionals. To argue that their services cannot be replaced is absurd. Brain drain, outstanding achievements etc. do not apply to most of our academics, simply because most of them are, in my opinion, very mediocre teachers. When our lecturers go on teaching till they are 65, our chances of becoming academics are limited.

Every year outstanding students pass out with First Class Honours, but are deprived of jobs in the universities because our academics go on forever. Most of those over 60 are medically unfit to work. All academics should be subjected to a yearly medical test, once they pass 55.

Why is it that every employee has to undergo a medical test before an extension of service is granted,except academics? Are they special people who never grow old or become disabled.

Undergrad
Maharagama

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