By Sarath Obeysekera

Peter Hoffman’s Story

I Came to Sri Lanka all the way from Germany, fell in love with not only with a Sri Lanka Lass but also with this resplendent island with a clear blue ocean with ample space for leisure, relaxing and entertaining my friends .

So I bought a land facing the sea in Kalpitiya, built a house and a pier to reach the sea planning to build a Yacht by a boat building  accompany in Sri Lanka.

Encouraged my German fiends to do the same.

I manged to Built a beautiful Yacht by a Sri Lankan company run by a Norwegian planning to just sail from my house into the sea without knowing rough sea of bureaucracy to be faced in getting various approval from Sri Lankan Authorities.

Well,   it started with the Director Merchant Shipping who wants to register the yacht under Sri Lankan Flag and asked me to build under the supervision of Lloyds Register of shipping .I was surprised as the boat builder is quite experienced and promised to builds a safe, technically  sound boat  to carry about six passengers .It costed more but I adhered to the rule.

Importing two outboard engines from Germany was another task as Ministry of Defence has to give approval to import powerful engines .

Managed to jump the hurdle with help from some Sri Lankan friends who knew how to get things done and it took three months.

Ready to sail, but I am supposed to have VHF and radio equipment, which needs TRC (Telecommunication Regulatory Commission) approval. Again my good friend who knew people in TRC got it done  ( I am not sure how he could do it as I was told that it will take three months or more)

OK ,  now ready to sail on Christmas day from Kalpitiya to Galle via Beruwala and Mirissa with my German Friends.

Coast Guard asked me to get permission from MOD Ministry of Defence) thru the Navy .Sent my           Man-Friday to Colombo with all Lloyds approvals, and other details and  drawings etc. with a form  to MOD .

Navy consent went to MOD and they took a day to release the permission to sale with full of conditions.

Copy of the letter came to Kalpitiya Navy  Camp Chief Officer who was little glittery to allow to sail

Managed to sail again after involvement of the Director Operations in Navy and we sailed on Christmas day

After returning home  I wanted to sail again with some other friends .

Navy in Kalpitiya was against sailing requesting me to get same type of approval again from MOD.

It was the weekend and I dropped the idea as offices in Colombo are closed.Last week I sent a form seeking approval to sail. Letter went to Navy again and MOD and two days gone .My good friend called the Commander of the Navy and sought help who authorised sailing .

I took the letter to Kalipinya  Navy Commander who refused to allow me sail demanding that  copy of the letter should come to him direct from MOD .

He was demanding that I should get approval from Director Merchant shipping  as well and get the Yacht registered under a Sri Lankan Flag costing me over 3000 Dollars

I applied for the registration and Kalpitiya Navy Chief (name withheld) made ludicrous demand that I should get permission from Department of Wild Life to sail!!

I was dumfounded and irritated and asked him whether I am will be sailing to shoot leopards or deer?

He said that is the rule! He asked us whether we are taking any fishermen in the boat and do fishing.

I said that I may do game fishing on the way to Galle .He said that I have to get permission to do fishing !

My German friends who wanted to build summer houses in Sri Lanka and build Yachts in Sri Lanka decided not to get involved in this procedure.

I READ IN THE PAPERS THAT SRI LANKA WANTS TO DEVELOP BLUE ECONOMY AND EXPORT BOATS  FROM SRI LANKA .

IN ORDER TO EXPORT BOATS , SRI LANKA SHOULD DEVELOP THEIR OWN HOME INDUSTRY AND CREATE MARINAS SO THAT OUTSIDERS COME AND INVEST.

MY SINCERE ADVISE TO ALL DECISION MAKERS IN THIS COUNTRY THAT IT IS ESSENTIAL TO GET THIS UNBERABLE RED TAPE AND CREAT CONDITION FOR A SUSTAINABLE BLUE ECONOMY.

PS

I forgot to mention that Excise Boys raided me and confiscated all my booze which was Stored for Christmas claiming that I was going to sell them

Peter Hoffman