Stop noise pollution

On Monday, a loud speaker carried on from 10 am (Sunday) till after 1.30 am.(Monday), A sporting event was being held on the grounds near Bird Park, on Thalawatugoda Road, where  we live.

Of course, we endured it but made calls to the following hotlines after 6 pm (Sunday) when such loudspeakers are expected to cease their noise.

1, We called 119 which usually responds. There was no answer the WHOLE evening.

2. We called 0112888999 which is the Environmental Authority for Noise Complaints. There was no answer

REPEATED CALLS produced no result.

3. On Monday, we called the Mirihana police to complain about  the noisy sporting event that they had not bothered to check.  When we made the complaint the officer told us to personally come to the Station and make an entry. When we asked why 119 did not answer us the previous day, the officer laughed and said carelessly, “They must have all been asleep.”

It was not possible for us to go to the Police Station physically. My husband and I are in our eighties. Petrol is hard to get. Surely a phone call should suffice?

I realise this is a time for us to try to cope when we can BUT the Government SHOULD ENSURE that in places where they can help its citizenry they should make every effort to do so and ensure COURTESY from Govt. hotlines as well as courtesy from Electricity Boards so that we feel SOMEBODY cares. Courtesy costs nothing and it will do a lot to help the Government’s image if we get efficient service when and where we need it…and where it costs nothing.

Tempers are so frayed that arguments between tired, hot and hungry people turn into murder – as happened  when two three-wheeler drivers got into an argument,  PLEASE help the public when possible.

Goolbai Gunasekara