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Why close the airport NOW?
Whose bright idea was it to partially close the Bandaranaike Airport for repairs during the peak period of the tourism season in the country? While the Government and the tourist industry are combining efforts to achieve an ambitious tourist arrival target of some 2.5 million visitors this year, somebody gets the brilliant idea to do repair work during the exact peak period for tourism – not a day sooner or later!
What is the logic in this? Why cannot repair work commence from the day that it is supposed to end, as announced? Until such time, can’t the airport’s functions be suitably organized so that the tourists’ and visitors’ movements are not curtailed or hampered? After all, they bring in the much needed revenue, and to put a spoke in the wheel on the operations during a peak period in this way, is affecting the Government’s earnings in a big way.
One can understand the urgency of repairs if an unexpected calamity occurs at the Airport, in which case we should face it without much consideration to the revenue side.
But, these repairs, apparently, had been planned some time ago and the best time for repairs apparently is the most profitable period, to the bright boys who came to this conclusion.
Sam Jayatilleke
Malabe
Outrageous levy of Rs 10,000 when settling bank loans
It is reported reliably from clients of commercial banks and state banks that those who desire to settle their outstanding loans before the stipulated period, a minimum levy of Rs 10,000 is charged, in spite of a spur given for settling loans speedily. This levy is to increase in relation to the outstanding amount of the existing loans.
The other unrealistic ventures of the authorities began recently with the 15% increase in the Value Added Tax component. Then came the endeavour to amplify road fines to unprecedented heights in the scuttle of passing the budget.
The attempt to regulate three-wheelers was next. That move also did not fetch any tangible results; it only succeeded in antagonizing a dominant category that facilitated to usher in the government. Shoddy management of paddy stocks made the small mill owners to fume in anger, not to mention the hardships caused to the consumer by swelling rice prices, as a consequence. The latest misadventure is to alienate sweep-ticket vendors.
If not for the fact that the perpetrators of these stupidities are trusted associates of the regime, one might speculate whether they are hatching a plot to tumble the Government. In the circumstances, the illogical might deem that the dashed coconuts of the Joint Opposition members were not busted in vain.
What is noteworthy is that those irritated in vain by these petty operations form a prominent part of the government.
They are people with a wide circle of contacts and have the power to influence a large segment of the population that comes in contact with them, day in and day out.
Evidently, these acts would have a decisive bang on the consequence of the oncoming local government elections. That force may be stronger than all the other failures of governance, collectively. The unvoiced confrontation of them may be more effectual than all the determined campaigns of the Joint Opposition and Trade Unions, simultaneously.
Sunil Thenabadu
Brisbane, Australia