Letters

 Our transport service is appalling

The transport service in Sri Lanka, to say the least, is appalling.

Private owners operating lease financed buses or those picked up from auctions and junk- yards and partially restored, are hell bent on squeezing out as much money as possible from helpless commuters who have no option but to board these cattle conveyances.

Most buses are operated with defective brakes, lights and worn- out tyres with a bare minimum or nothing invested on maintenance, jeopardising the lives of passengers and other road users.

Possibly as a precaution against the appalling mechanical state of the buses, inexperienced and indisciplined, raw drivers virtually drive on their horns, cutting in and out of traffic in indecent haste, forcing pedestrians and motorists out of their path.

Bus drivers are a law unto themselves, knowing well that the traffic police are absolutely meek, lethargic and powerless and do not even attempt to halt a speeding, recklessly driven bus. Bus drivers obviously consider traffic policemen to be boobies. The DIG, Traffic should spend a few mornings from about 6.30 am observing the manner in which buses are driven on High Level Road, Havelock Road and Galle Road.

Buses race and overtake each other at break-neck speed on the wrong side of the road in attempting to increase each one's share of the passengers.

On most days there are no traffic policemen before 7 am. Buses roar along, blaring their horns and blasting others off the road with impunity and total disregard for the police. No minister or politician has had the spunk to ban the use of horns in Colombo or reduce the speed limit for buses, considering the grossly inadequate width of our roads and the mechanical condition of the buses. The chaos created  on our roads by reckless bus drivers is as bad as the present crime wave in Sri Lanka . I am afraid DIG Traffic and his men have failed miserably in their task in adopting a bovine attitude towards errant bus drivers and I am certain that most road users other than the bus drivers and traffic policemen share this view.

A. Siriwardena
Colombo 5

Reducing motor accidents and road deaths 

Now and again, daily papers, occasionally the radio and television, reports news of tragic road accidents resulting in loss of life with horrific photo images. Regrettably, no reaction from the public or authorities or for that matter from the politicians in the government or in the opposition follows.

The number of road deaths, serious injury, disability, often permanent, from road accidents are on the increase in Sri Lanka. Yet no one appears to be responsible for the prevention of deaths and daily carnage on our roads, whereas the Highways Department, Traffic Police, law  courts, Justice Department and road/traffic engineers should be made responsible.

Sri Lanka, of late is unique with a high percentage increase in the volume of motor traffic in the urban areas, in the absence of an effective and organised public transport system.

Road safety is a public health issue as it involves lives. Serious injury, permanent disability, disfigurement, amputations and health interventions place a huge financial burden on the resource starved state health care system. Equaly, loss of life, partial or incomplete recovery with disability, either motor or sensory, place an enormous burden on the low income families due to loss of earnings and they are often driven to debt in seeking specialist treatment.

Already, there is death by violence, disease and illness. The last thing one wants is to get run over by a motor cycle. Figures confirm, the public transport buses take the lead in accidents resulting in injury and death. Most victims are pedestrians and cyclists (often irresponsible), who appear to display a death wish once they get on to the road.

Driver behaviour, whether influenced by alcohol, drugs or whatever, and the standards of driving are also major contributory factors. So is the callous behaviour of motorcyclists and cyclists and pedestrians for whom safety is not considered a priority and entirely relying on chance and the vigilance of the driver.

For road safety, there are inexpensive measures, like enhancing conspicuity, fixing a light source, use of headlights and wearing bright reflective or fluorescent colours or materials for easy visibility . These will no doubt reduce the deaths by accidents on the roads.

It is common knowledge that low conspicuity of the pedestrians and cyclists, especially in the twilight, dark and in the rain increases the risk of road accidents.

There is a solution to prevent these tragedies. Existing traffic laws should be enforced fully on the cyclists and motorcyclists as it applies to other vehicle drivers. Police should enforce the law not only during the day, but also after dark to save lives.

All cyclists, motorcyclists should be encouraged to wear reflective / fluorescent vests or a band across the upper body or wrist or ankle straps to be visible by drivers during twilight and darkness.

Dr. Daya S. Wanigaratne
Milton Keynes
UK

Grand raffle draw - a hoax

A leading 'Super Centre' advertised a grand raffle draw for shoppers between November 20 2004 to January 5 2005 offering a Maruti car and a host of household items for customers who spent Rs 750 each time they shopped.

The draw was advertised to be held on January 14 at 6.30 pm at Arpico Super Centre, Hyde Park Corner.

This was never held and there was no response to repeated inquiries made by shoppers at the entrance to the showrooms.

Following desperate telephone calls made by gullible shoppers, they were asked to contact the manager, This was a dead end too.

I challenge the management of this 'Super Centre' to refute this action which borders on fraud.

J. De Silva
Colombo 4

 Tsunami fundings

Paramount need for accounting and reporting system

While the immediate 36 to 48 hours of national action and rescue of life and limb following the tsunami catastrophe were admirable, the next phase, if one might call it, in what we are now - of comforting, treating and accommodating the countless displaced by use of the enormous tsunami assistance that had flown in - have been, barring a few exceptions, halting, wanting and fallen short not only of targets but of the financial resources available to achieve those targets.

Machinery was initially, over centralised while machinery at ground level has not been properly organised. Perhaps even more seriously, there has been no true knowledge among the people, who after all, matter the most, of the volumes and nature, of the international aid. The purposes of the aid itself have seen confusion, even duplication, and non-use.

The strongest and most effective contributions at this stage to all concerned would be:

(a)        A complete format (quite distinct from the computer wizardries in rooms at the centre) for everybody's information;

(b)        A monthly broadsheet, displayed in all newspapers, of the state of the funding, their sources, natures, disbursements and overall co-ordination - in a grand table addressed to the people of the country; and as implementing guide to the government, right down to the lowest government installations - for the next phase.

There is no doubt that this step will be one of the greatest contributing factors to the paramount need that we have, to speed up implementation, to avoid duplication and to restore life and normalcy to the victims.

The 'mega' projects of infrastructure and others, while essential, are not to be overdone at this stage; and in any case, the crying needs of the people for life and living are what they are demanding immediately.

Prof. C. Suriyakumaran,
Colombo 3.

Why are tsunami affected Muslims discriminated?

On December 26 last, Weligama town , Vajiragnana Mawatha, Station Road, Meda Mawatha, Sea Road, Pelena, Samaraweera Place, New and Old Matara roads, Hettiweediya, and some areas at Kottegoda and Galbokka were badly affected by the tsunami.

These places are situated on low lands bordering the Polwathu Modara river and its branches and connected to the sea by way of canals. Also, these places are located within the range of 400-500 metres to the sea; all of which have been the main reason for the destruction .

The extent of the destruction evaluated by the Galbokka Buhari Mosque relief centre is immense. On examination it is seen that here too the same discrimination as was shown during the recent flood relief activities can be seen in the relief work for the tsunami affected .

Though all those affected by the tsunami lodged their complaints with the police and the G.S. a full and proper investigation was not carried out. Therefore yellow relief cards have not been distributed properly.

The divisional secretariat has wrongly limited relief work only up to the railway lines. During this catastrophe it was only the individuals and religious community centres that helped the victims by way of giving first aid, food, lodging etc. Without visiting the affected areas, how could the divisional secretariat define the affected areas?

Shiploads of relief items come and daily needs are freely distributed to other areas as we have come to know. However, up to now what the government has provided us are 4 kgs of rice, 1 kg of sugar and 2 kgs of dhal.

Foundation stones are laid for housing schemes in other areas, though 16-20 houses of Muslims are completely destroyed and some partly damaged houses are not recommended for renovation by the engineers. Why has the government not paid their attention to this area?

Due to the 100-300 metre regulation by the government, our people are afraid to renovate their houses and resettle there. Every effort is being made to grab and seize the lands belonging to the Muslims. Steps have already been taken to reconstruct  boundary walls. Those responsible for law and order are turning a blind eye to all this .

The ruins and garbage in our areas are still to be cleared. Though the government showed urgency in clearing Hambantota, why has the government not shown urgency in this area?

No action has yet been taken to prevent the spread of communicable diseases in this area.

The relief cards issued for the affected employees have not been given to our people, though issued in other areas.

The allowance of Rs. 375.00 due to the affected have not been given to us yet.

The stepmotherly treatment by those responsible pushes us further into darkness.

The affected people who lived in rented houses have provided a relief fund (yellow card) in this tsunami affected area. But here in the Weligama area such people have been neglected. It is very pathetic that even their names have been deleted from the list of affected people by the G.S.

Here we appeal to you to pay attention to our difficult plight and grant us some relief as soon as possible.

Muslim Residents (180)
Weligama

It is one year since we lost our precious and dearly beloved sister  Miriam on February 10, 2004. Being the eldest she was the very best in the family and was a shining example to the four of us and was exemplary in everything that she did. Hence God called her first to her eternal reward.

Miriam was such a fun loving person that she amused everyone around her with anecdotes and a puckish sense of humour. She was a paragon of virtue and set high standards for herself by living a highly principled life. She was very practical and never wavered in her devotion to duty to her family and the host of friends scattered all around the world.

The massive outpouring of grief at her passing away was the yardstick that measured her popularity with family and friends alike, yet humility was the foremost virtue in her life. It was indeed the greatest blessing and sense of pride to have Miriam as our sister, but unfortunately her passing away before reaching even the Biblical lifespan has overshadowed our lives with a great cloud of unbearable sorrow.

We will never ever forget all the happy and sad times we shared together, the memories of which will live in our hearts forever. It was a great source of comfort and joy whenever Miriam corresponded with us as her letters were spiced with humour and at the same time filling us in with current happenings in her life, with a distinct style of writing which was really a pleasure to read; in fact they were pure gems of letters to be treasured always.

She always made very practical and sensible decisions in her life and never let her emotions get in the way whatever difficulties she had to face. In short, she taught her heart, but never let her heart be her teacher. Even when she was diagnosed with a terminal illness, she accepted it in a calm and collected manner praising God and thanking him for having chosen her to endure suffering. She had great courage and spiritual strength to all of us until the end, accepting her illness as the final stage before her death.

She was a tower of strength to all of us, accepting her illness as the final test of her faith in God. When we were worried about her, she consoled us with the thought that none of us have come here to live forever on earth and when God calls we must leave.

Words are inadequate to describe all the sterling qualities that made up Miriam's character. She was indeed the greatest sister on earth, an invaluable treasure lost to us, but in God's keeping.

In concluding this tribute to Miriam, we are certain that she had earned her fitting reward and is at peace and rest in Heaven since God himself said "Come all ye that are burdened and I will give you rest." The only consolation and hope that we have is that someday, we will all meet in God's kingdom where there will be no more sorrow, no more weeping and no more pain.

Rest in peace, dearest darling Miriam, until we meet again.

Johnny Schucroft,
Sonia and Emmanuel, 
Ivor and Jennifer,
Pam and Aubrey

Chandra Ratnayaka 

My dear friend Chandra is no more and with each passing day the void seems deeper. Our friendship goes back over 40 years from the time we first met each other at our place of work. We were both just out of school, raw and innocent. In later years we derived great joy in recalling the several pranks we played together during this carefree period in our lives. She would love to tease me about our youthful escapades and I would retort saying, "with friends like this, one doesn't need enemies." We had no secrets from one another and gave each other the support during difficult times in our lives.

With the passage of time our friendship grew to one of 'kalyanamitra' and together we strengthened each other in our efforts to walk the Dhamma path.

Chandra had the qualities of righteousness without being prudish and combined with her impish sense of humour, she was indeed a 'special' person. A partner to Kolitha in the true sense of the word, a supportive and caring mother to her three children - Kavan, Sagala and Tanu - a patient, loving grandmother to Krishen and Kavisha, and a true friend to many of us who miss her dearly.

Kavan's wife, Kshanika spared no pains to make Chandra comfortable in her new home, which fact Chandra was unreserved in mentioning. He was meticulously neat and orderly, and latterly her belongings were reduced to bare necessities having given away practically everything she considered unnecessary.

The loss of Kolitha had a heavy toll on her. The decline was visibly evident. A couple of times she even mentioned to me that she will not be with us for long. I never encouraged her to dwell on this topic and dismissed the subject with some Dhamma words, although deep down I feared she could be right. Yet, I never expected it to be so soon. I was so very glad that despite a busy period for me, I spared the time to spend four peaceful days together in our two-roomed meditation 'kuti' we had jointly invested at Ven. Premasiri Thero's aspuwa just two weeks before she left us.

During our last conversation just the day before she departed, Chandra said she had 'let go' all her worries and concerns, and she was in a contented state of mind. It was almost like she was preparing herself for the end. She had no serious ailment and the end came without distress. Although it came too soon for those of us she left, I am glad she did not have to suffer through an illness.

For all her goodness and merit accrued during this brief 'stopover' in samsara, I know she has gone to a better place. Together with all the merit and Dhamma I share with her, may the divine light guide her to attain the ultimate peace of Nibbana.

Maureen