YAHAPALANAYA and Country’s Prosperity

1 September 2015 04:05 am - 1 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

General elections have been concluded successfully proving that the population of Sri Lanka can be a disciplined society under correct guidance and leadership. The Maithri-Ranil combination proved it to the citizens and to the world. An Independent Elections Commission and Police are essential in Democracy. To take the country forward and to make the vision of the Prime Minister a reality within the next 60 months, the following have to be given serious consideration as per the Economic and Social Statistics 2015 published by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

Education:
In 2014, there were 10,123 registered schools in the country. Only 967 or 9.6% of schools have a Science stream up to A/Level. If we are to become a knowledge hub, immediate action has to be taken to convert at least 4,000 schools to have Science streams up to GCE O/Level and 3,000 up to A/Level with Science/ Computer Labs. In order to achieve these targets there may be a grievous shortage of Teachers of English and Science. To make teaching an attractive profession, those Teaching English and Science subjects at O/L and A/L to be paid an additional allowance of 50% of the current salary to encourage quality young science graduates to take teaching as a profession. There is a shortage of English teachers. When the Premier was the Education Minister, there was a programme with the Government of UK to “Teach Teachers to Teach English”. It is noticed that students of most National Schools are way behind in spoken English in comparisons to those of private schools. Even science graduates/doctors have a limited knowledge of spoken English restricting them from obtaining Post Graduate qualifications.

Encourage the establishment of Private Schools that teach the same Subjects and Syllabus as National Schools and students from such schools to sit for the same National Examination GCE O/L and A/L giving equal opportunity to private schools to compete with National Schools. A few Missionary Schools are doing so at present. This method would lift the burden off the State in establishing new schools instead of mushroom low-quality International Schools springing up in most cities and towns. The same could be done for Degree programs in Engineering/Medicine. students being educated in private universities to sit for the same examinations conducted by the same authority to obtain their BSc/MBBS. This would avoid the controversy currently being faced by private medical faculties. In-plant training and clinical can be done in government registered companies and hospitals. This method would stop brain-drain as well as save foreign exchange by offering equal opportunity to haves and have nots. Cost of education by the State too can be reduced by having competition between private/state colleges/universities.

Labour Shortage
There is a severe shortage of labour. There are many vacancies for productive labour. Some state the shortage to be as high as 30,000. We have about a million skilled/semi skilled/unskilled workers outside the country. Most are employed for USD 250 – 300 a month. All new manufacturing industry set up under BoI should have a minimum wage of USD 250 a month. This would encourage the country retain productive male/female labour instead of being slave labour in the Middle East and encourage youth who are drivers of trishaws to be productive labour in contributing to growth of economy. Trishaws could be driven by those who are over 50 years of age.

Transport
In 2005, there were 209 broad/dual gauge locomotives engines. In 2014, it had dropped to 138. A loss of 71 locos. In 2005, there were 1178 passenger carriages in operation but in 2014, it dropped to 565. A loss of 613 Carriages. In 2005, there were 2149 goods wagons in operation. In 2014, it had dropped to 862. A loss of 1,287 wagons. A complete breakdown of the railway had occurred in the past 10 years. Railway is a convenient, cheaper mode of transport all over the world. It may be only in our country the Railway has been neglected and the government and legislators continue importing more and more buses to increase pollution and congestion on the road network.

Make immediate arrangements to import new rail sets, carriages/goods wagons. Encourage people to travel and handle cargo by rail, because it is convenient and cheaper. In developed countries there is a train every 5 minutes or less during peak hours from 6.00 a.m. – 8.30 a.m and from 4.30 p.m. – 7.00 p.m. or two trains operating between 3 stations. Current average speed of trains in this country is restricted to 30 km/hour. Even the Intercity train between Kandy and Colombo takes 3 hours to cover 120 km. Japan 300 km/hour; Europe 150 – 250 km/hour; China is planning for 300 km/hour while India is planning for 110 km/hour. Get assistance from developed countries, even India/China to re-lay rail tracks which would enable trains to travel at greater speeds, at least to run at an average speed of 50 km/hour. The quality of rail track is felt when commuting from Colombo to Jaffna. On the tracks from Colombo to Omanthai, which were laid by the SLR, the carriages shake and swerve due to poor laying of track. From Omanthai to Jaffna the ride is smooth as the tracks were laid with better technology by India. The cheaper method on improving train service is to increase the frequency of trains on the existing tracks by improving the track management system and introductions of better managed electronic colour light systems. If SLR has no capacity to do so, import technology. This would be cheaper than launching the mono rail etc., India is experimenting solar energy to operate trains. We also can introduce solar trains as our tracks are flat other than in the hill country. Going back to the old system introduced by the British, the bus and train schedules to co-ordinate with each other. Introduce a secure bicycle, motor cycle, car parking slots at railway stations. In the developed world ‘park and ride by train’ is a common feature.

Stock Market
A vibrant stock market is an essential element to a progressive country. We should encourage private companies to list in the stock market. More and more State-run corporations should be listed for them to be responsible for corporate finance reporting as it is public funds that support the State-run corporations. Suggest a minimum of 25% of stock holding on public companies be listed within 12 months from now. We must see at least 20 companies becoming public enterprises in 2016.

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 1

karigalan Tuesday, 01 September 2015 05:10 PM

sound good

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

YAHAPALANAYA and Country’s Prosperity

Comments - 1

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

‘Spike in blast fishing’ poses renewed threats to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Most Viewed in News

SL on alert on possible genocide allegations by Canada

Gota fires back at Cardinal, rebuts allegations

Two racing drivers arrested over Fox Hill tragedy

Sri Lankan among NASA’s new crew for next simulated Mars journey

Street food vendor arrested for verbally harassing foreigner

Racing event tragedy leaves seven dead including eight-year-old child

MIRROR CRICKET

Is Chamari Athapaththu Sri Lanka’s greatest cricketer ever?

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Sri Lanka and China discuss vehicle manufacturing investment

No footboard riding allowed, no liability for accidents: Railways Department

Six patients claim Rs.600 million from Keheliya and others for permanent loss of sight

SLPP, UNP initiates action for forming broad alliance

Pakistan lose key players for last two T20Is against New Zealand

Sri Lanka secures third spot in South Asian Kurash Championship 2024

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Army forms committee to probe Diyatalawa Fox Hill Supercross accident