Sri Lanka It's Happening

January 25, 2005

It was reported in the newspapers that 30 million dollars worth of new hotel projects are on hold because of the government's 300 meters rule. A large number of reconstruction projects of the hotels effected by the tsunami are also on hold.

Now the minister of tourism, the president's brother (the one who (according to the president) speaks rubbish), has said he will champion the cause of the effected hotels and allow them to carry out their rebuilding work in spite of the ban on new buildings near the coast.

The other day I wrote about how this ban has devided the coastal community into 5 different groups. This statement points to a sixth devision - the hoteliers with lots of money who can rebuild in spite of the ban.

This government came to power claiming itself to be a people's party, in fact one of the major co-alition partners is a marxist and former terrorist organization. So how come they are ignoring the needs of the poor fisherfolk but not the needs of the hotel owners?

Posted by raditha at January 25, 2005 5:03 AM