prevent the this country being destroyed by short term political goals
PRESS STATEMENT
We read in the Daily News of 21st January the
address of the Prime Minister, Hon. Ranil Wickramasinghe, to the media at Davos
in Switzerland, guaranteeing the resumption of work of the Colombo Port City
and extending an invitation to the investors from China and others world
over.
address of the Prime Minister, Hon. Ranil Wickramasinghe, to the media at Davos
in Switzerland, guaranteeing the resumption of work of the Colombo Port City
and extending an invitation to the investors from China and others world
over.
The Colombo Port City that would be permitted to resume work
was the same project that the Prime Minister feared as one that would destroy
the environment of the coastal belt from Negombo to Beruwala and assured that
he would ban it once in power. Although the Port City project was temporarily
halted on the 4th of March 2015 due to pressure from people, Prime
Minister’s statement at Davos comes as a surprise.
was the same project that the Prime Minister feared as one that would destroy
the environment of the coastal belt from Negombo to Beruwala and assured that
he would ban it once in power. Although the Port City project was temporarily
halted on the 4th of March 2015 due to pressure from people, Prime
Minister’s statement at Davos comes as a surprise.
In addition to the statement of the Prime Minister, there
were also similar assurances given at various occasions by ministers such as
Mr. Iran Wickramasinghe, Mr. Sujeewa Senasinghe and Mr. Malik Wickramasinghe in
favor of and with regard to the resumption of the Port City project. It is to be noted, a statement was made to
the same effect to “China Daily” by the Sri Lankan ambassador to China Mr.
Karunasena Kodituwakku with regard to the resumption of the project.
were also similar assurances given at various occasions by ministers such as
Mr. Iran Wickramasinghe, Mr. Sujeewa Senasinghe and Mr. Malik Wickramasinghe in
favor of and with regard to the resumption of the Port City project. It is to be noted, a statement was made to
the same effect to “China Daily” by the Sri Lankan ambassador to China Mr.
Karunasena Kodituwakku with regard to the resumption of the project.
What really dismayed us is how a “yahapalana government’
could make such statements while there are two case being heard in the Sri
Lankan courts; one based on fundamental rights and the other a writ
application.
could make such statements while there are two case being heard in the Sri
Lankan courts; one based on fundamental rights and the other a writ
application.
We wonder whether these statements are meant to influence the
judicial process.
judicial process.
Besides, we wish to know from the authorities that while a
process of seeking people’s opinion on the EIA report is on such irresponsible
statements of the politicians is in keeping with the policies of good
governance.
process of seeking people’s opinion on the EIA report is on such irresponsible
statements of the politicians is in keeping with the policies of good
governance.
What does this phenomenon indicate? Aren’t Maithreepala
Sirisena and Ranil Wickramasinghe telling us to forget the promises made during
the election campaign about the values of good governance and democracy and
that they would follow the authoritarian politics of the last regime?
Sirisena and Ranil Wickramasinghe telling us to forget the promises made during
the election campaign about the values of good governance and democracy and
that they would follow the authoritarian politics of the last regime?
We the members of the Christian Solidarity Movement cannot
abandon the campaign against the CPC because we are aware that the project is
deemed to destroy the fishing grounds, ecosystem, and biodiversity of the
precious coastal lines and thereby destroy the livelihoods of the fishermen and
their living environment.
abandon the campaign against the CPC because we are aware that the project is
deemed to destroy the fishing grounds, ecosystem, and biodiversity of the
precious coastal lines and thereby destroy the livelihoods of the fishermen and
their living environment.
As Christians we believe that protecting the environment “our
common home” is a matter of our Faith. As such, our Faith points to us our
responsibility of defending the people’s rights, especially the livelihoods of
those who live along the coastal belt and thousands of others who find day to
living on fishing industry to feed their homes and also of those innocent
common home” is a matter of our Faith. As such, our Faith points to us our
responsibility of defending the people’s rights, especially the livelihoods of
those who live along the coastal belt and thousands of others who find day to
living on fishing industry to feed their homes and also of those innocent
people living in the interior of the country where rock
mining is on for dangerous proportion affecting very livelihood of people who
are now forced to remain silence.
mining is on for dangerous proportion affecting very livelihood of people who
are now forced to remain silence.
Therefore we the members of Christian Solidarity Movement
wish to register again our strongest protest against the resumption of this
needless, destructive project done in the pretext of economic development and
invite other victims of destructions faced by the clearance and land grabbing
around Willpattu and Sinharaja forests to rally together to battle against the
lack of interests in the regime to prevent the this country being destroyed by
short term political goals and economic development.
wish to register again our strongest protest against the resumption of this
needless, destructive project done in the pretext of economic development and
invite other victims of destructions faced by the clearance and land grabbing
around Willpattu and Sinharaja forests to rally together to battle against the
lack of interests in the regime to prevent the this country being destroyed by
short term political goals and economic development.
Christian Solidarity
Movement – CSM
Movement – CSM
01.02.2016
Christian Solidarity Movement
“Different Charismas but One Dream – “Yes” Kingdom of God is possible”
No. 281, Deans Road , Colombo 10 – Sri Lanka.
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