People's Petition against "Regaining Sri Lanka"

 

--  Movement for National Land and Agricultural Reform, Sri Lanka

http://www.geocities.com/monlarslk/publications/documentsandstatements/statements/peoplespetition19082003.htm

 

 

In June 2003, The Government of Sri Lanka and the World Bank agreed on a massive loan of Rs. 450 Billion. This program, named “Regaining Sri Lanka” .is said to be for the reduction of poverty in Sri Lanka.

 

An examination of this program reveals that rather than reducing poverty, it would create disharmony among the people, make them destitute and lead to the expropriation of all natural resources by the powerful of this world.  Legislation for implementing these proposals is being prepared as a matter of urgency.

 

  1. A bill enabling the release to the market of smallholdings held by 1.2 Million families has already being prepared. It would weaken the production of paddy and other local crops, facilitate the transfer of land to large multinationals for the cultivation of export crops and force the rural people into the cities as impoverished rejects.

 

  1. The elimination of secure jobs in the state sector and the introduction of contract labour are being planned. The decline of the real value of salaries and wages, the abolition of retirement benefits and the contraction of the state sector has already started. Workers are being thrown out of employment by the closure of factories.

 

  1. Women are being subjected to unscrupulous exploitation by legislating for night-work and forced over time work.

 

  1. It is proposed to throw out small fisherman, and transfer ownership of maritime resources to large multi nationals.

 

  1. All water resources of the country are to be handed over to foreign companies. People will be forced to pay for the water in their own wells and for irrigation water for agriculture.

 

  1. It is planned to sell off all natural resources including wild life, and to hand over the rain forests to the United States.

 

  1. All essential services including education, health services, state banks, insurance, postal services, electricity supply and the railways are being handed over at bargain prices to local and foreign companies.

 

  1. The multinational companies, which are being handed over all these on a platter, are to be further subsided by the provision of expressways, ports, airports etc. The people who are being displaced by these projects from their traditional lands will have to bear the additional burden of repaying the loans taken for the provision of these facilities for their own exploitation.

 

Hence, we demand of the Government of Sri Lanka that this disastrous programme be immediately abandoned.

 

 

 

People's Petition Campaign against the (WB-IMF's) "Regaining Sri Lanka"

Strategy:

 

Dear friends,

 

The Government of Sri Lanka is getting ready to execute their programme of

liberalization, privatization, and deregulation according to the dictates of the Financial Institutions and the donor countries.

 

It also intends to rush through legislation to safeguard the interests of the local and foreign corporations without any serious consultation with people who are the main stakeholders. As the livelihood of the various sections of the people - the workers, farmers, fishermen, and their whole communities are threatened.

 

The Alliance for the Protection of National Resources and Human Rights has initiated an island wide campaign against the "Regaining Sri Lanka" programme of the Government, with signing of petitions, mass meetings and other cultural activities.

 

This campaign will be launched with a meeting at Dharmagaveshi Hall, Borella, Sri Lanka on the 27th August 2003 at 3.00 p.m.

 

We cordially invite you to endorse the following petition and to provide your honored cooperation against this human rights violations.

 

Thanking you,

with best wishes,

 

Shamila Rathnasooriya

 

For further information please contact,

 

Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda,

Janawabodhaya Kendraya,

No 64, Chilaw Rd, Negambo,

Sri Lanka.

Tel/Fax: (+94) 031 33466

E-mail: janawaboda@zeylan.net

 

Sarath Fernando,

Movement for National Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR),

926/2A, Kotte Rd, Ethulkotte,

Sri Lanka.

Tel/Fax: (+94) 074 407663

E-mail: monlar@sltnet.lk

 

Lenus Jayatilake,

United Federation of Labor (UFL),

No 17, Barrak Lane, Colombo - 02,

Sri Lanka.

Tel/Fax: (+94) 01 2324053

E-mail: ciwu@sltnet.lk

 

Suranjan Kodithuwakku,

Sri Lanka Green Movement (GREEN),

No 09, 1st Lane, Wantha rd, Gangodawila, Nugegoda,

Sri Lanka.

Tel/Fax: (+94) 074 305274

E-mail: green@pan.lk, green@freebird.panlanka.net