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By K. Arvind

It’s a labyrinthine nonsense, filling which is an absolute waste of time and worry. It is a criminal waste of public funds if it was circulated throughout the country. Sri Lanka may well have set another record in their Police thrusting the world’s longest questionnaire on her much-assailed citizenry.

The manner in which the police have ruined motorists and small businesses by their ill-considered new Parking Scheme – now in force supposedly aimed at ensuring security – must have reached the ears of the President. The last occasion which the same SSP in-charge of Traffic introduced his ‘great scheme’, put on trial sometime last year or so, is still being laughed at. Traffic and business in the whole city virtually came to a standstill that day although the police tried to fool the pubic the following day by issuing a statement that the trial was a ‘success’. This is further proof how much of truth could be expected from our police.

As for the present traffic mismanagement, the police are living in a world of their own if they believe they have solved the ‘terrorist threat’ by virtually banning parking all over the city; better still, in their convoluted logic will be to ban private vehicles altogether in city roads and then shout ‘Look no accidents, no terrorist threats – thanks to our brilliant thinking.’

If someone were to think the 17-page document appears to be designed more to raise a laugh than serious business, they cannot be blamed. Look at the following in the English version.

No. 3/Page 1: “If the house is part of a flat”…Obviously the creative genius of this document had in mind the question if the flat is part of an apartment block or condominium. Somebody should tell him that a house and a flat are two different things.

No. 4/Page 1: “Name of House” What is the name of your House, Mr. Editor? About 75 – 150 years ago some of the larger bungalows in the more residential areas had names for houses — but this is almost extinct.

There are still a few homes that bear such names as ‘Sravasti’ in Colombo 7. Is our friend in the Police trying to resurrect something that is dead?

No. 5/Page 1: “Name of Post Office?

No. 9/Page 2: “Ownership of Residence”? The man probably means the owner of the property.

No. 10/Page 2: “If rented”? I almost thought he meant if the premises were “dented”.

No 17/Page 12: Under “Title” together with Most Reverend, Venerable, Rev. Swamy, Moulavi are Baby Boy/Baby Girl.

What pray is the connection of these infants in this exalted, ecclesiastical company?

Mr. IGP, please spare us the agony of wasting our time in those lines to see the Grama Niladari hamuduruwo, most of whom are corrupt men living on the misfortune of poor people going to them to get attestations. Ask some of these people who visit the GS for attestation for NICs, passports, birth certificates, school admission papers, etc. Please ask them how many visits they had to make and how long they had to wait — massaging the man’s ego — to get these simple things done. Some of them even will tell you how much they had to ‘cough out ‘ under the table. People thoroughly detest going to these men. It is those at the higher level of governance, totally cut off from the ordinary people, who may be ignorant of the people’s actual feelings about these Grama Niladharis. One hardly knows where the GS of his area has his office because most of them shift places so often. The Kollupitiya man has moved at least thrice in the past three years. I am told they are asked to leave by the owners for non-payment of rent and other problems created by their own selves. That is the measure of most of these men.

No. 17/Page 12 is the question, say: “If any portion of your room is given out on rent?” We know that successive governments have messed up the housing situation making it impossible for the middle class and lower middle class to live in reasonably sized houses. But I didn’t realise we have sunk to the extent of renting out portions of ‘rooms.’

As responsible citizens, we are ready to cooperate with the government in the maintenance of the security of society. We concede these steps are taken in our interest – though the process of implementation might be subject to interpretation. However, in the past three years alone we have filled in a number of forms in the Kollupitiya Police area giving details about self, family, etc. to the police, to the Presidential Security Division and to the Grama Niladhari. Incidentally, it is well known the GSs were co-conspirators in the sinister plot to de-franchise nearly half a million voters in the last presidential election.

I see no reason why such a long form should be inflicted on us asking confidential data as to if one is divorced/separated, what the form of marriage was, what one’s religion is, etc. all of which are totally unnecessary for reasons of maintenance of public security.

All the police need to know is, in addition to basic information of regular residents mentioned in the last household list form are: (1) if others frequent the place regularly i.e. either domestic aides, drivers and other personal staff;

(2) if outsiders (relatives, friends) are resident even on a temporary basis and

(3) if foreigners are resident temporarily or otherwise. I might add no foreigner would like to disclose his ethnicity, religion (No. 16/Pages 9 & 11) which are privileged areas in their personal lives.

Therefore, I would suggest to the IGP to kindly withdraw this badly prepared document and replace it, if necessary at all, with a more simple one. Once the householder has filled in the details, the police may seek the endorsement of the GS. Where not satisfactory, the GS could call over at the residence concerned and satisfy himself about his doubts. Please do not impose further unnecessary hardships on working people already suffering serious transport and other difficulties. Our women in the house, too, are far too busy with their work to satisfy the whims and fancies of officials structuring forms well above their IQ level. I expect other citizens also to lodge their protest through the medium of the press to withdraw this superfluous imposition. Happily the media lend their support to air public grievances against misguided state action.