People have a right to know

IT is a fallacy to believe that a Government learns from its mistakes. In its latest plan to develop the capital Colombo, the Government has put together an ambitious plan sans the input of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) and other stakeholders, creating the perfect stage for much conflict.

According to Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, this is being done under the premise that what is deemed “good” for the country is an absolute truth that only the Government is privy to and therefore anyone who opposes it does so for narrow political or personal agendas. This opinion, which was expressed at the Cabinet media briefing on Thursday, stands despite repeated failures by the Government to implement policies because they were ill-thought out and selfishly implemented.

There are many examples that have been acted out during the last 11 months, including the disastrous private pension plan that caused the needless death of a youth and the plastic crates fiasco that pushed up vegetable prices as well as caused shortages. In both these instances, the Government was roundly lambasted, even by its own members, for not consulting the relevant stakeholders, but unperturbed by these incidents it lumbers on – creating the same disaster over and over again.

This is not to say that developing Colombo is a bad project, but facts must be faced. The CMC was appointed by the people of Colombo to be their representatives and not consulting the CMC is tantamount to not consulting the very people who have a deep connection with the city.

Thousands of people, from labourers to shopkeepers and professionals, live in this city and in doing so have an inalienable right to have a say in how their home will be changed. As a country that will be reflected in the capital city, the population as a whole deserves to be told, in detail, what and how this development will be carried out. People, usually of low income, who will lose their home in this development, have to know what it is for and what is being done to protect their interests. In short, the people have a right to know.

The overall Colombo project includes renovation work of the Old Marketing Department Building at Colombo Fort, development of the Race Course Grounds and Bloomfield Grounds, refurbishment of the Central Super Market, Pettah (former fish market), relocation of the Manning Market to Peliyagoda and redevelopment of the existing Manning Market premises for the expansion of the bus stand and to accommodate informal sector within a Commercial Complex area.

These are all areas of high historical and commercial value and it is imperative that the Defence and Urban Development Ministries, which are spearheading this effort, be transparent about their plans.

Moreover, the construction work of these projects will be entrusted to the Engineering Services Divisions of the Sri Lanka Army, Navy and Air Force so that the cost of construction could be kept to a minimum. Not only is this in direct contravention of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Report (LLRC) that recommended military personnel be removed from civil duties, it also leaves huge loopholes on good governance.

When the Narahenpita Economic Centre was refurbished, over 20 stallholders who had done business for years were ousted due to political influence and people were terrified to talk as the shop allocations were done by the Police. Is not using the military merely expanding this danger hundredfold? How can it be a reduction in costs when the military personnel will be paid salaries by the State? How can involvement of the Defence Ministry assure that the poor man’s voice will be heard? These are grave questions that the Government must answer, for development is not an end that justifies any means.