Sri Lanka It's Happening

September 18, 2006

Sri Lanka's extremely corrupt, brutal, inefficient and poorly led police force now want CCTV cameras all over the city.

At most intersections, you see traffic cops and at most intersections people jump red lights right under their noses or make illegal U-turns. Lots of places have 'no no-turn' signs which cops blatantly disregard. For example at the baseline road railway crossing in Dematagoda, you will see such a sign. You will usually see cops from the Dematagoda and Borella police stations blissfully making uturns at this crossing.

The Borella police station is right in the heart of the Borella town. Less than 50m from the cop shed, is a subway for pedastrian that cost several millions, do people use it? hell no. Cops don't use it either. All around the entrance to the cop shed and the subway, you find dozens of unauthorised buildings and countless pavement hawkers. Do cops do anything about it? yes, give them protection.

So why do Sri Lankan cops want close circuit TV at traffic lights? You can bet that somebody will make millions from the project.

Posted by raditha at September 18, 2006 3:35 PM