Easter bombing: Who is responsible?
As it always happens, politicians have started giving excuses and passing the buck.
It is time for the public to think of a way to expose politicians for ‘indifference’, ‘negligence’ and ‘inefficiency’, specially senior officers under them. Due to their lapses, many people, including children, have lost their lives. We saw dozens of children stranded due to the loss of their elders. These children though “Poor” and/or Asarana would have been provided with basic needs for their education, health and other essentials by their parents or elders.
Although most of them have probably been taken to “children’s homes”, they will be “a forgotten lot” when the dust settles. It is necessary that those responsible be compelled by law to face penalties for their indifference and negligence.
I propose that a fund should be set up to help the orphaned children. I have no doubt that the State and private sectors will contribute to the fund.
We as Sri Lankans are “embarrassed” of the comment by the outgoing Defence Secretary when he said that he did not know that there were so many Sunday Masses, and the hotels should have had their own security.
Rienzie Wijetilleke,
Colombo 7
Unhygienic food outlets
I read with keen interest the interview by Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni to Rajitha Jagoda Arachchi of the Sunday Observer.
I commend the efforts of the Public Health Department in inspecting 162 eating houses.
With changing lifestyles and more people eating from hotels, restaurants and eating houses, it is vital for our health to have eateries inspected on a regular basis.
We go to hotels, restaurants and eating houses which are expensively furnished, well laid out, served by well dressed staff in the belief that the food served is prepared in the same restaurant or cafe. But we now find that the food served is sometimes prepared in kitchens at different places. Would the law permit a notice to be put up that the food served is prepared in the cafe, restaurant or in an outside kitchen. This would give the customer a fair deal.
I also refer to your problems – the delay in having the cases filed being called. This could be solved by speaking to the Registrar of the Court who would advise you accordingly.
R.H.A. Fernando
Follow the discipline of the Britishers
When comparing the pre-independence and post-independence governments, it appears that democracy hasn’t played its role well except under State Council. Most state councillors were educated men and women of illustrious families.
They never misappropriated public funds. They even sacrificed their wealth for the general good of the people. After independence, the UNP leaders, such as D.S. Senanayake, Dudley Senanayake, Sir John Kotalawala, J.R. Jayewardene, R. Premadasa and SLFP leaders, such as S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike and Chandrika Kumaratunga ruled the country. Democracy survived under these leaders. Then Mahinda Rajapaksa as President ruled two terms. He eliminated terrorism yet, allegations of corruption and misappropriation of public funds were levelled against his government.
Various governments played out public funds meant for development projects. Unlike the post-independence leaders of our governments, the Britishers maintained discipline to the best of their ability, without fear or favour. They performed their duties by the people, irrespective of caste, creed or colour differences.
For example, the forests in the country did not go under axe during the British rule. Under the Fauna and Flora Act, the forest resources in the country were preserved. If a petition was sent by someone against the felling of trees in a forest, the village-headman was always vigilant to bring the offenders to book or refer the matter to the Divisional Revenue Officer or the Government Agent.
The British rulers gave the pride of place to the development of agriculture. Paddy cultivation was of prime necessity and as such our ancient kings built reservoirs and networks of irrigation canals in the dry-zone.
The Britishers also took steps to protect forests to preserve water resources.
Today, the Sinharaja rain forest has been threatened by logging. Rain forests in the hilly areas and tropical forests in the dry-zone are ruthlessly destroyed which result in prolonged dry spells.
Dharma Kaviraj