Sri Lanka It's Happening

May 3, 2004

Last ten years has seen a rapid depletion of Sri Lanka's forest cover. The last two years have definitely been the worst. (20% account for 80%).

Most of this destruction has been due to illicit loggin and encroachment. The police often turn a blind eye because the culprits are usually protected by politicians (the police are probably thankfull that the don't have to leave their comfortable arm chairs).

There is worse to come with two coal power plants and a hydro electricity project on the cards, all this might make you wonder how do they get away with it? the answer is simple Sri Lankans just don't give a damn. This photo below is the proof.

The photo was taken in Borella, one of the 15 towns that make up the Colombo city. The site is equi-distant from the Sri Lanka Prison Head Quaters and the Borella Police Station, less than one kilo meter away. It's just 300 meters from the Medical Research Institute and the Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital.

If you want me to go on: There is a school with in 400 meters and the Post Graduate Institute of Management is just a stone's throw away. Hundreds of senior air force officers pass this site every day because it's on the main access route to the officers' quaters.

As a foot note: you can't expect the Borella police to do anything about this mess; the police station is located right in front of one of Sri Lanka's busiest intersections. Hundreds of traffic offenses including jaywalking and 'jumping the red light' occur each hour under their watchfull (?) eyes.

NOTE: I am a much better photographer than this photo would suggest, this one was shot with a mobile phone camera with out rolling down the windows.

Posted by raditha at May 3, 2004 8:03 AM