By Dr. Mrs. Mareena Thaha Reffai

When one tries to drive into the SLBC or Rupavahini cooperation one has to drive to Maitland crescent and instead ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ crossing over inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  about 20 feet to the SLBC premises, one has to go all the way to the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ end of the Maitland crescent and come back all the way through the Independent square, thanks to some ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ nit witƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s decision. The traffic is not heavy either. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Why, o why, such decisions are ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ taken without thinking of the inconvenience caused to the motorists?

What these decision makers do not realize is that the loss of man hours, the petrol and most of all the irritation it causesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  – all are real loss to the nation, not to the motorists alone. On what basis they make this decision is known only to them. There is no trial, no assessment to see whether it really reduces the traffic ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and no discussion on whatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  purpose it is made for.

And we Srilankans are so typical, we will talk about it and complain about it for a few days or weeks and then meekly accept the decision by any dimwit and fall in line. For we know when the suggestions to make a controlled study, the reply by theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  top people is ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- We could , but we KNOWƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  it will not make a differenceƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. How? Magic? Sasthra? ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ God only knows.

Is there any wonder our country is going downhill day by day?