posted October 20, 2004 11:36 AM         
I may be going off on a tangent here since this forum is dedicated to 'Peace', but can one of you enlightened Colombo dwellers please give some insight into the new one-way system adopted on the Galle Road / Duplication Road stretches. Sitting here in my comfy office in France reading the Sri lankan papers, I can only think that it is a great idea - but have any of you actually been on the roads in Colombo and experienced it first hand?

In the 'Opinion' section of the papers, various people have written in with their views - some slamming the new system saying it causes chaos around the area, and others fully appreciative of the initiative taken by the police. Having said that, most writers critical of the new system seem to be either residing in the area or are suffering from lost business, so I don't believe their view reflects the improvement in the traffic flow. Of course, each time such a scheme is implemented, their will always be pros and cons, but what would be interesting is to find out what outweighs what!
I am off for my usual Christmas holiday back to Colombo in a couple of months, so I am just wondering what to expect...

posted October 20, 2004 11:52 AM         
Hi TCUP

I hope you can see me waving across the channel.

I am visiting colombo very very shortly, on my return I will give you a full report in this regard, in few months time.

posted October 20, 2004 12:08 PM         
Thanks Ayubowan!

I take it you are based in the UK

I'm looking forward to your report! I personally think it is a step in the right direction for our traffic police to look into re-adapting our road logic to find a solution to the dismal traffic situation we have in Colombo. Last December, for the first time in my life, I thought twice before taking the car purely because I did not want spend my precious holiday time twiddling my thumbs surrounded by screaching three-wheelers and belching busses. Traffic has increased considerably over the years in Colombo, and our road network is starting to be quite insufficient - lets hope that it works, and gives precedent to further initiatives like this!

posted October 20, 2004 12:11 PM         
TCUP
I am all for people expressing what ever topic they wishing to post. It certainly makes a mild reading, it could even be an educational to us all. Peace we have to earn it indeed we are no where near achieving it, in this forum any time soon.

Not many people are talking peace on this forum in effect they are busy slagging each other off creating blue smokes. Creating Ethnic devide does not achieve peace or harmony at all.

posted October 20, 2004 12:20 PM            
TCUP

Whatever good you do to the country, some people never agree with it even it will benefit the most. You have to go against all the powerful people to achieve low and order. We do not like any changes are we? As you said authorities, have to take lot of unfaver decisions to over come our problems (Few people)( who can buy and sell people, like meat in the meat market). If we do not do any favour to them, we will be ok but who will go on like that. Who could stand them or keep them obey?

posted October 20, 2004 12:58 PM         
Having 'lurked' on this forum for some time now, I have decided to refrain from taking about the peace process for two reasons:

(1) I don't believe I am qualified to say much on the topic due to the fact I have not been living in Sri Lanka for 9 years and thus base my views only on what limited information I read in the media. Some of you actually live, or have lived your day to day lives baring the grunt the LTTE / SL Government war

(2) Once in a while, a structured discussion thread forms on this forum, only to turn into the usual bashing up of each other - so I shall not waste too much of time posting my two cents worth.

But, I shall be more than pleased to discuss any day to day matters, life in general (would love to hear from those of you living in the North or East).

[This message has been edited by TCup (edited October 20, 2004).]

posted October 20, 2004 01:07 PM         
Wondermyfoot,

Perhaps you are right - When decisions are taken to benefit the majority, the remaining minority tend to complain instead of seeing the bigger picture - we do live in a selfish world!

With regards to the one-way traffic system, it seems to me that the main complainers are the ones residing near the area, and who hence suffer from increased traffic (?) and the shopkeepers who loose out - sorry, but in my opinion, this is no excuse to put a halt to an initiative implemented to benefit the remaining 99% of the population using the roads. Perhaps I have got it all wrong - perhaps the traffic has indeed got very much worse, but then again, doesn't everything new need a little time to settle down? Once people understand the new systems, the so called 'chaos' will disappear.

posted October 20, 2004 01:30 PM         
SLPatriot and TCUP

I am visiting Sri Lanka for about 2 1/2 months starting from November. I leave in about two weeks time.

Yes I do live in UK to my sins.

posted October 20, 2004 03:56 PM         
TCUP

yes I enjoyed my student days too but now locals perception of foriegners is changing fast due to Islamic crusades if you can call that. Ultra right wing factions are making lot of noises even Messieurs La PEN has given his lending hand to support the course by visiting UK covertly, until news papers got the wind of it.

posted October 21, 2004 02:23 AM         
Ayubowan,

I heard about Monsieur Le Pen paying you guys a visit - quite recently (on Panorama I believe) they showed him addressing a 'private' function, and some journalists, posing as hard core right wing supporters filmed his speach secretly. Sure, he did his speach in French, but there was no doubt as to what his message was.