Sri Lanka It's Happening

January 8, 2005

Now is the time for extra vigilance in Sri Lanka. I am by no means asking that you keep your eyes on the ocean or the siesmograph. That would be a futile excercise as our met dept staff or the geological staff cannot interpret the results. We should be alert for government passing legislaton or taking other actions that will ill effect the country or it's people.

Sri Lankan governments and businesses have a past track record of making unpalatable changes while the public's attention was diverted. When Sri Lanka won the cricket world cup prices of many goods and services were raised without anyone noticing. Bus fares have already been revised. The price of rice is on the way up. These issues will pale in comparision with some of the devious plans of our politicians.

It would be no suprise if the government rushes through with the upper kothmale hydro power project or build that sulphor spitting coal power plant while journalists are fully occupied with the tsunami disaster.

Road construction projects which had been hitherto abandoned, suspended because of public opposition would quietly resume. With so many displaced persons to be provided with housing, politicians would find a perfect opportunity to alienate state lands for the cronies.

The main opposition UNP, which has been slumbering since the april elections seems to have gone into a shock induced coma since the tsunami struck. The government may consider this the perfect opportunity to change the constitution unconstitutionally.

Posted by raditha at January 8, 2005 5:59 AM