Sri Lanka It's Happening

January 23, 2005

If you are thinking of sending aid to Sri Lanka hold on to your money for the moment. The government of sri lanka has no interest in the well being of it's people much less the well being of the people directly effected by the tsunami. The governments of donor countries have just started to realised this too.

Nearly a month after the disaster stuck the government is still in the planning stage. However not even a draft of the plan has been released yet. This is not a government that can even plan a village fair. Rumours abound that the government wants to use the relief funds on ambitious projects such as the coal power plant and a new railroad.

Those who wish to rebuild their houses are not being allowed to do so (because the politians probably want the beach front properties for themselves). They are not being provided with alternative lands either. How can you expect the government to provide them with land when they are not even being given food.

Food, clothing end other essentials are being provided by non profit organizations and the government has taken great exception to that. The GOSL wants all the aid to be channelled through it's organization. The trouble is they are not organized at all (except when it comes to grabbing land or looting).

The end result of this is that the redevelopment efforts have not moved forward even one inch since the disaster struck. All that has been done so far is the clearing of 500 acres of forest.

Posted by raditha at January 23, 2005 2:15 PM