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| Sunday, 20 February 2005 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Call to end political bickering From Lionel Yodhasinghe in Galle The business community in Galle requests the Government to intervene in ending the political bickering among area politicians and push them to work in unity to start rebuilding Galle city. Lack of firm leadership coupled with other bureaucracy has stood as stumbling blocks in rebuilding the tsunami hit Galle city thereby depriving the local entrepreneurs of their business opportunities, businessmen told the Sunday Observer. "Our markets are being gradually exploited by businessmen in surrounding towns as city consumers are compelled to shop there because Galle is not rising from the debris", wholesale businessmen whose stores were washed away said. According to them Galle city has been completely neglected today as no political leadership is backing the commencement of reconstruction. Clearing of debris has not been undertaken except by a few NGOs. We understand that even voluntary organisations were also discouraged by these invisible forces, they complained. Debris of Old Matara road from where most of the stockists operated is still to be cleared. Wholesalers have no option but to store goods and stay helpless. Many retailers are short of goods as a result and disappointed consumers go for alternative shopping in suburbs, city retailers said. If this continues, Galle will lose its trading potential thereby threatening unemployment to thousands, they said. They said although the Finance Ministry announced its release of funds to State banks to be granted loans to restart the affected enterprises, the banks are demanding the usual collateral with constraints to the applicants. This is impractical for a person who lost all his life savings. The issue of controversial 100 meter strip is another barrier even for those who can afford to restart their businesses. If the Government is firm on it, either the proposal should be gazetted or withdrawn. Now the land owners within the 100 meter strip stay on the fence wondering to rebuild or evacuate. Banks too do not accept such land deeds as surety, they said. They complained that political bickering among the area politicians and provincial government's silence have buried the future of the city in tsunami debris leaving outsiders to exploit the opportunities of the Galle residents. Some residents who own lands within the 10-metre strip said that many residents within the 100-metre radius are ready to evacuate if they are compensated justifiably. This is a human factor and such sensitive issues should be properly handled in a fair manner. The Government can pay compensation to the land owners of strip one to enable them to buy land or shelter according to their preferences. This was exercised on evacuation land for Colombo-Matara Express way project and it is successful, they said. They also hailed the Government plans to build new cities to relocate those by the sea. "We agree to shift the administrative machine and human residencies to new cities from present location leaving the present city to be developed as a commercial, tourist and recreational destination," they said. They applauded the President's keen interest in solving major issues in Galle and appointing several committees to look into the grievances of people following her surprise visits to the city after the tsunami. |
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