Voice of America to displace Sri Lankan villagers
By Norm Dixon
Iranawila and Pambala are two poverty-stricken fishing villages on north-western coast of Sri Lanka. The people living here have relied on the sea for survival since before recorded history. The 300 families of Iranawila now face eviction so that the US government can build Voice of America radio broadcast station there.
Because of the huge size of the VOA project, and its supposed need for security, the people of Pambala fear that they will be prevented from fishing in the adjacent Pambala Lagoon.
The Sri Lankan government has granted over 520 hectares for the VOA project and for the construction of what will be one of Sri Lanka's largest tourist complexes.
Both projects are being vigorously opposed by local villagers. The local Catholic Church is supporting the people. Frank Marcus Fernando, bishop for North Western Province, said that villagers faced the prospect of being forcibly evicted from their traditional lands, and would lose all rights to the seafront, thus preventing them from continuing to ply their traditional trade.
Opposition to the new tourist project is also fuelled by the knowledge of the effects that tourism has had on the south of the island. Child prostitution is rampant, dangerous drugs are easily available, and sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS, have reached epidemic proportions.
Because of the huge size of the land grant for the VOA station, there are deep suspicions about the true purpose of the project. Many Sri Lankans also fear that propaganda broadcasts from the station will infringe their country's sovereignty and strain diplomatic relations with its neighbours, who will see it as a dangerous increase in US intervention in the region.
There are also fears that high-powered electromagnetic radiation from the station will damage ocean resources in the region.
Local villagers are calling on people outside Sri Lanka to support them in their struggle for their land. Protest notes can be sent to the following addresses:
The Rt. Hon. Mr. R. Premadasa, President, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Presidential Secretariat, Colombo 1, Sri Lanka.
Mr. Marion V. Creekmore, United States Ambassador, US Embassy, 210 Galle Rd, Colombo 3, Sri Lanka.
Mr. Howard Debenham, High Commissioner of Australia, Australian High Commission, 3 Cambridge Place, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka.