‘GOVERNMENT TSUNAMI’ : Arugam Bay - 06/06/05 by Mel Gunasena
 
Arugam Bay, an idyllic fishing village and popular surfing destination on the East coast of Sri Lanka was hit hard by the Boxing day Tsunami. Like so many other places its people have been struggling ever since, both to come to terms with their losses and to rebuild their lives.
Slowly but surely, business is picking up again, homes, boats and small guest houses are being rebuilt and there is hope for the future.
 
However all this is set to change.
 
The Sri Lankan Government, through the chairman of the Tourist Board, Mr Nanayakkara and with the consultation of the Rebuild Sri Lanka Trust, has announced plans to remove the people from their land and redevelop the area as an exclusive tourist resort.
Using the pretext of a 200 Metre buffer zone and the language of eco-tourism, The Arugam Bay Resource Development Plan aims to relocate the local people away from the coast and build luxury tourist accommodation, new roads through the jungle, and even a sea plane landing strip.
 
There has been zero community consultation, and local people are united in their disagreement with the plans. Some have said they will die rather than be moved from their soil. They believe that the government, instead of helping them recover, only wants to make a profit by stealing their land.
The Tourist Board has made it clear that people will be removed forcibly and any unauthorised buildings demolished.
Most of the post Tsunami reconstruction in the area falls into this category as the government had until now all but ignored the village and locals who are desperately trying to make a living.
People are continuing to rebuild whilst facing the threat of bulldozers coming to evict them - a “GOVERNMENT TSUNAMI”.
 
Today a peaceful protest was held in Arugam Bay to demonstrate the level of community opposition to the plan. A legal case against the plans is being prepared and locals are asking for international pressure to be brought to bear on the Sri Lankangovernment.
 
For more information contact:
Rahim 0094 (0) 773037059 - a local guest house owner and President of the Arugam Bay Tourist Association.
Pottuvil Civil Committee - www.arucivi.5u.com
 
Or contact us here at Yaluwa for updates and the latest Media Files.