Questions to higher ups: Who are the Royal play-makers?
The plight of flat owners to be re-located in a fashionable, efficient, single high rise condominium scheme at the Bambalapitiya old flat premises earmarked for redevelopment by the UDA has met with serious protests by a majority of the flat owners. Certainly it is a serious human rights issue. There are four categories of flat owners. The Sunday Times should be commended for highlighting their imminent deprivations.
There are, (1) The old pensioners, (2) Widows and orphans, (3) Present generation inherited occupants (employed children), and (4) Those who bought the flats from the old occupants, a handful.
The human deprivation issue affects old flat owner categories (1) and (2) being the majority. The monthly operations, utilities and maintenance charge in a proposed condominium today averages Rs. 12,000. Once this is paid, the (1) and (2) category occupants will have nothing left to defray their daily living, medical, travelling and social expenses. The UDA will have to propose a financial option for this in the Re-Housing Plan. It is relevant that category (3) owners be mindful of this future deprivation that will confront them in retirement.
Lastly, it is relevant that the Minister of Housing deal with the imminent socio-political danger of unbridled prices and cost escalation affecting housing via lands and building construction sectors in so far as the future pensioners and EPF retirees – population. D. A. Meemeduma Nawala
Your revelations two weeks ago in the ST of 11/9 under the title “A Royal hash” is startling! As a concerned old boy living abroad, I beg to ask:i) Why the Old Boys Union of Royal is doing nothing to repair the damage done by the various play-makers mentioned? ii) Why the PM, a distinguished old boy himself, does not instruct the Minister of Education (not an old boy) to conduct a full inquiry into the devious activities of the SDS and the Principal? iii) Why the 28 old-boy Parliamentarians do not form a committee to liaise with the Old Boys Union and the Principal to ensure smooth running of Royal and maintain the high standards and traditions it is known for? iv) Why can’t the Ministry of Education take action when Royal stood for unity amongst all races and promoted ethnic harmony, always. v) Why can’t a Principal of strong will, character and rectitude, like the ones we had yesteryear, be appointed to lead Royal from the front with- out caving in to the many play-makers who seem to call the shots at Royal today? Royal has a proud history and her death could be the death of our education.
Many thanks to the ST for the exposure. Seychelles
Payment of dividends to the members of the Tea Small Land Holdings Fund has come to a halt since 2008.
The fund was set up in 2002, under the guidance and patronage of ex-parliamentarian Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, solely for the upliftment of the small tea land owner.
We appeal to the relevant authorities to take prompt action to pay the members of the fund, their dues with reasonable interest. Pothupitiya
APPRECIATIONS