Letters to the Editor

PAYE tax: Another broken promise

It is not too late even now, for the President and her government to give redress to long-suffering mercantile employees either by doing away with PAYE or giving relief in some other form - the most reasonable relief is to make PAYE applicable to wage structures in the private sector above the highest point in the public sector. This is because no one in the public sector is liable for this tax. Therefore, it is only reasonable that the hard-working private sector should not be victimized any longer through an unconscionable tax payment from low salary points. 

Meanwhile, certain categories in the public sector are even entitled to duty-free cars. Why cannot this concession be given to those on par in the private sector too? Only people out of their minds will vote for a President and government who have treated the private sector so callously. 

Various opportunistic political party leaders are offering their support to the President at the forthcoming election. But she should realize that the people are not fools and will not vote according to the dictates of these self-serving leaders. They will only vote if they feel that the PA has honoured its promises. We await the action of the present Government as well as what the major opposition parties have to offer us on burning issues such as PAYE tax before deciding which way to vote.

M.Kumarasinghe
Rajagiriya

Oh, for that cuppa!

It is a view that due to the lack of promotional campaigns in Sri Lanka, other drinks are replacing tea. In the olden days, a popular song was used to focus on the need to drink more tea for better health. There were also tea vans at gatherings.

But the lack of promotion now has resulted in Sri Lanka, which was the No.1 tea selling country, falling to third place. The younger generation is taking to the dangerous habit of consuming soft drinks, which have no health value.

In the 1940s there was a drink called tea-cider (fermented tea). Is it available now? It is ideal to compete with Stout, beer or even hard drinks. Research has conclusively established the health benefits of tea - the possibility of cutting the risk of heart attacks, hypertension and certain types of cancer as well as improving dental health due to its high fluoride content.

But the heavy advertising by soft drink companies has entrapped the younger generation turning them away from tea. It is the duty of parents and schools to wean them away from this dangerous habit. Schools should stop supplying soft drinks and introduce tea to their canteens. Even at sports meets, cricket matches and carnivals tea should be made available.

The hotels and restaurants are full of soft drinks. They are provided with free bottle-coolers and deep-freezers by their companies. Why doesn't the Tea Board do something like that by supplying quality teas to these hotels free or at subsidised rates? The Tea Board could also sponsor the forthcoming under-19 World Cup next year. It would be an ideal promotion locally as well as internationally. Now we only see multinational soft drink companies sponsoring the events. Even while having a meal, it has become the practice to sip a soft drink. What a foolish idea to wash down the digestive secretions with fizzy drinks.

It is time the Tea Board and the Ministry of Plantations took immediate steps to promote tea, both locally and abroad. Maybe an official should be appointed to carry out a vigorous campaign with the slogan "Drink more tea".

V.K.B. Ramanayaka
Colombo 3

Why these false statements over Barnes Place?

The "City of Colombo Development Plan" prepared by the UDA was gazetted in November 1985 and again in March 1999. These are integral parts of the laws of Sri Lanka and have to be observed by all law-abiding persons and institutions. The 1985 regulations prescribed that Barnes Place, Horton Place, Rosmead Place, Ward Place and their neighbourhoods were a "primary residential zone". Any commercial institution such as a health institution, which was in existence, could continue to function if it could provide space within its premises for the vehicles of all its clientele.

The Central Hospital (now called Asha Central Hospital) was started in 1945 and maintained as a small nursing home in keeping with the residential nature of the area and any expansion had to be in conformity with existing laws. The five-storey building constructed by Asha Central Hospital in the late 1980s is in contravention of several clauses of the UDA regulations. Asha has also not received the essential certificates of conformity required for an institution catering to several thousand persons, and their patients may be exposes to serious risks.

The "City of Colombo Development Plan" gazetted in March 1999 is even more stringent than the 1985 plan. The Barnes Place / Horton Place area and their neighbourhoods have been zoned as a "special primary residential Zone". Activities of business enterprises such as a "health institution" are permitted only in the area zoned as "mixed development zone". These areas specified in the UDA documents are Borella, Narahenpita and both sides of Galle Road from Kollupitiya to Wellawatte.

The severe traffic congestion on Horton Place started in the late 1980s and became worse after the construction of the Asha building. The installation of traffic lights at the Wijerama Mawatha junction has helped introduce some discipline and reduce the number of accidents, which occurred almost daily earlier. Dr. Neville Fernando, who came into this area only in April 1998, exposes his lack of knowledge when he states that the traffic lights cause the congestion!

The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) and the UDA have clearly informed Dr. Fernando as Chairman/Managing Director of Asha that: *All vehicles of his clientele including three-wheelers should be accommodated within the Asha premises;

*The gate to Barnes Place cannot be used by his clientele to enter or exit from the hospital;

*The obstructions placed by Asha on the private access road from Horton Place to Asha must be removed.

The UDA and CMC letters to Asha with copies to us are as follows. - UDA 05/02/36198 of 22.12.98 and CMC -ME/PBJ/M/14/99 of 10.05.99. The two CMC letters were issued after discussions of the Colombo City Planning committee on which the UDA and the Traffic Police are represented.

Under the 1985 and 1999 City of Colombo Development Plan regulations Asha must provide over 250 parking stalls for the cars of their clientele. The requirement is much more if their clientele use vans, and double cabs as at present. Asha cannot accommodate even 125 vehicles in their existing space, and despite this, are seeking approval to use about 30 perches of this parking space for further construction!

The "City of Colombo Development Plan" and the consequent legislation have been prepared by experts with high qualifications and experience in city planning and traffic control, in the context of the governmental concept that Colombo must be a "Garden City" attractive to foreign investors as well as Sri Lankans.

The capital cities of all progressive countries are planned on the basis of special zones in terms of such concepts. It is rather pathetic that a general medical practitioner turned businessman, who has made an imprudent investment, should try to override the legislation enacted on the advice of experts, to serve his personal business interests.

Joint Committee of Residents of Barnes Place and Horton Place

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