Sri Lanka It's Happening

April 3, 2007

Went to Great Western for the long weekend. How things have changed since the last visit at Christmas. The Thalawakelle town and most of it's sorroundings seems to be covered in dust. That's largely because of the work on the Upper Kothmale Hydro Power Project. Yet the thousands of people who still stop take photos at the St Clair waterfall seem oblivious to the fact that it will disappear soon thanks to this project.

The land around the waterfall is blackened by fire. That however has nothing to do with the power project. That's the work of the people of that area. During the dry season they set fire to dry patches. What for? for fun?

That says a lot about the people of the country doesn't it? All along the road to Nuwara Eliya you see numerous such black spots caused by forest fires that were started for fun. One of them occured on the hills from which the Devon falls cascades down. It had spread almost upto the police station near the top of that hill. You can bet your last cup of tea that the police would do nothing to apprehend the criminals.

Posted by raditha at April 3, 2007 10:23 AM