In recent days there has been serious concern about the rise of deception in Sri Lanka, relating to the use of funds received from all over the world for the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction of tsunami victims.
Deception is not a new game in Sri Lanka, particularly when dealing with foreigners. It is part of Sri Lankan folkfore, illustrated by many stories and expressions, one of which is ‘the way the Portuguese went to Kotte’. The story containing this expression, known to every child, tells how the Portuguese, who were occupying part of the coastal area, wanted to meet the local king. The Portuguese envoys were blindfolded and taken around for many days before reaching the place where they finally met the ruler. What they were not aware of was the place of that meeting was in fact only a short distance from where they had originally set off. Though this may illustrate a security measure, it also illustrates the knowledge gained by a people, particularly the Sri Lankan elite, who lived under colonial rule for over 500 years. Deceiving foreigners was then a means of survival as well as of acquiring wealth. The history of nearly all traditionally wealthy Sri Lankan families will illustrate the extent to which the deception of foreigners became a fine art among these people. Whatever the legitimacy of such a social practice in the colonial context, it becomes morally abhorrent when resources gained from foreign sources for the benefit of the local people are diverted for other purposes, as has regularly happened since the independence of Sri Lanka.
Today, in the context of the worst natural disaster to have happened in recent memory that has brought much sympathy and support from all over the world, the old habits seem to have risen again. A lamentation is heard from those whose lives were devastated by the tsunami: their lot has not changed despite the tremendous international assistance.
Some choice words and phrases are at present being used regarding the situation in Sri Lanka, such as ‘orphans’, ‘devastated families’ and ‘the poor fisher-folk’. The world was moved in an unprecedented manner seeing the devastation caused by the tsunami, with 40, 000 people dying in Sri Lanka alone. Numerous children lost either both parents, one parent, brothers, sisters and relatives. Children also lost their schools due to the destruction of the buildings themselves, as well as desks, chairs and other things necessary for their education. When the schools reopened, only 25 per cent of the children returned to their education in the affected areas. The plight of the fisher-folk was also cause for great shock by people in and outside of Sri Lanka. They had lost their homes, their life-long belongings, their working tools such as their boats and nets, and many of their loved ones.
Assistance came in an unprecedented manner and the money to solve the problems caused by the tsunami is now available. The goodwill of the local people to assist in every possible manner is also available. However, the lamentation of the affected people is that nothing is reaching them, except perhaps a few food parcels. Many are living in camps and there is nothing there to encourage them to believe that one day, hopefully soon, they will be able to return to their normal lives. There are even indications that attempts are being made to make these camps permanent, perhaps merely shifting the locations. The tales of misery are now expressed from every part of the affected areas.
Money has reached the government as well as the major UN agencies. These agencies are in consultation with the government regarding the spending of the money. Despite the right phrases being uttered, such as ‘getting the children back to school as soon as possible’, and ‘getting the fisher-folk back to their normal lives’, what is being heard from the affected people belies all claims of assistance.
The UN Secretary General made a wise statement when he said there was a need to appoint a special representative to look into the manner in which money given for tsunami relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction is spent. The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) would like to suggest that a deputy of such a representative be appointed immediately to Sri Lanka. Such a representative should look into the monies allocated to the government as well as to the UN agencies, to ensure that the purpose for which the money is given is met. However, we wish to warn the international community that this will not be an easy task in Sri Lanka. Enormous political tension will be created by any attempt to ensure that the money given for tsunami related purposes is not diverted to anything else. In fact, the government has already armed itself to deal with such a situation by declaring an emergency and giving itself more powers. What is thus being addressed is not the aftermath of the tsunami, but a possible resistance to corruption and abuse of power.
We therefore call upon the people of Sri Lanka who have come out with such compassion and generosity to help their own people, to the international community whose unprecedented response beget the possibility of a quick recovery, those persons with honesty and integrity in the government, and the UN agencies present in Sri Lanka to be bold enough to face this moment with courage. Without this strong intervention, deception and corruption is almost inevitable.
