INTERNATIONAL CALLS GROW FOR END TO TOURISM LAND GRABS IN SRI LANKA
Posted on July 26th, 2011
TourismConcern PRESS RELEASE
25th July 2011
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ International calls grow for end to tourism land grabs in Sri Lanka
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Sri Lankan government and large tourism developers must stop forcibly displacing communities, destroying livelihoods, threatening food security, and wreaking havoc on the environment in the name of tourism, say Sri Lankan and international campaigning groups[i]. The groups, including participants of a recent International Fact Finding Mission, are calling for an immediate halt to the Kalpitiya Integrated Tourism Resort Project on Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s western coastƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” the countryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s largest tourism development to date[ii].
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Herman Kumara of Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s National FishworkersƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) says: ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Whole communities face an imminent threat of displacement. The entire process is lacking transparency, accountability and responsiveness by the Sri Lankan government.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We need a National Commission to review the plans, to listen to the concerns of the people of Kalpitiya and ensure their needs are met.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ One thousand poor fishing families, as well as farmers, small tourism businesses and traders, claim they have not been properly consulted about the tourism project.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Many lack title deeds to their land, leaving them vulnerable to land grabs.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Hundreds of meters of beach have been fenced off by developers including within the high tide zone, where it is illegal to build.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The military is reportedly operating a check point in one area to curtail fishermenƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s access[iii].
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Sri Lanka is a beautiful country with so much to offer visitors, but its tourism should not be built upon the misery and human rights abuses of forced displacement and loss of livelihoods of the poorest,ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ says Tricia Barnett of UK campaigning group, Tourism Concern.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Despite the associated human rights violations, the project is being supported by the World Bank as part of a four year ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Sustainable Tourism Development ProjectƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ signed with Sri Lanka in November 2010. The Project documents state that just four of KalpitiyaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s 14 islands are used[iv].ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ However, according to Kumara, almost all the islands have been regularly used by fishing communities for generations.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Kalpitiya is being put out to tender by the Sri Lankan government in its bid to use tourism to boost the economy and create jobs – considered vital to building peace following the countryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s recent protracted civil conflict[v]. However, while some small hotels hope to continue to attract budget tourists, most residents doubt whether such tourism infrastructure will meet their most pressing needs:ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ education, drinking water and improved healthcare. Seventeen hotels are planned for Kalpitiya. Both Sri Lankan and international developers have bid millions of dollars for a stake. Infrastructure will include a helipad, an airport, cable cars, theme parks, a racecourse, and golf course.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ “The Kalpitiya development is typical of the Sri Lankan governmentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s approach to anyone who stands in its way: ordinary people and their livelihoods are swept aside by the military to make way for businessƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ opportunities for the governments’ cronies. There is no accountability or commitment to the people of Sri Lanka” said Fred Carver, Campaign Director for the Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice[vi].
(Ends)
Editors Notes:
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ [1]. Groups include: Tourism Concern, the Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice (UK); National Fishworkers Solidarity Movement, Puttlam District Fisheries Solidarity, Praja Abhilasha, Land Forum, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Food Sovereignty Network of Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka); and members of the International Fact Finding Mission: EQUATIONS, Institute for Motivating Self Employment (India); Sustainable DevelopmentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Foundation (Thailand); All Nepal Peasants Federation (Nepal). Their recommendations include:
- The project must be stopped with immediate effect and a review carried out.
- A National Commission must be set up to conduct the said review.
- The review must take into account peopleƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s aspirations and their notions ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ development
- The review should respect the social, economic, cultural and political rights ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the people and emphasize information flow, transparency and participation thereby ensuring accountability on the stateƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s part
- To address the issue of land alienation, legal land titles should be given
- ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ PeopleƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s livelihoods must not be disturbed on any account. Necessary measures to ensure this, such as unimpeded access to the coast and sea, must be taken
- Food sovereignty must be recognized as a fundamental right not to be compromised in the name of development.
The report of the International Fact Finding Mission can be downloaded at: http://www.tourismconcern.org.uk/uploads/file/campaigns/Sri%20Lanka%20IFFM%20final%20report-Feb11.pdf
i[1].ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2011/05/110509_kalpitiya.shtml
iv. See: http://www.sltda.gov.lk/sites/default/files/Final_SMF_13.07.2009.pdf or http://www.sltda.lk/sustainable_tourism_project
v. The government is aiming for 2.5 million international tourists by 2016 compared to just half a million at the end of 2010: http://www.colombopage.com/archive_11A/Jul11_1310393864CH.php
vi. http://www.srilankacampaign.org/
vii. Tourism Concern is an independent UK-based organisation promoting ethical and fairly traded tourism. www.toursimconcern.org.uk ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ For further information, please contact:
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Herman Kumara of Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s National FishworkersƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ Solidarity Movement at: hermankumara@gmail.com / Office: +-94 31 22 39 750ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ / Mobile: +94-77 318 45 32
Rachel Noble of Tourism Concern at: rachel@tourismconcern.org.uk / Office: +44 (0)7885 707 848 /
Mobile +44 (0) 207 133 3800
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Rachel Noble
Campaigns Manager
July 25th, 2011 at 4:21 pm
Another group of NGO clowns doing economic terrorism. The new lucrative NGO business after the war.
Herman Kumara has always been an anti-SL brat who has now joined these terrorists to disrupt the tourism industry. More than the people displaced, more people benefit from these projects. Government already has plans to resettle and compensate people who are displaced.
But these terrorists are trying to disrupt tourism in the north where poor people benefit most.