Stand for justice

Friday, 30 December 2011 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

THE results of repeatedly ignoring law and order by allowing politicians to commit wrongful acts in an environment of impunity has finally come home to roost. Unfortunately, it is the tourism industry that will suffer the most from this.

After surviving three decades of conflict, where the industry was all but wiped out, it deservedly became one of the first sectors to rebound into profits after the end of the war. The Government was quick to get into the act and promises of 950,000 tourists, 100,000 new job opportunities, over 100 hotels and billions in revenue have already been targeted by them for 2012.

But in all honesty, it was the industry and the natural and mostly unknown beauty of the country that triggered a massive influx of tourists. Sri Lanka’s reputation for hospitality, visa on arrival, its newness as a destination and curiosity of the traveller are among the main reasons for this increase. The end of the war and overall political stability have helped the industry, but disregard for law and order, good governance and transparency have proved that they can undermine Sri Lanka’s economic development.

While tourism officials have been scrambling to assure that all is well, the scenes in Tangalle prove different. Where there were once foreigners sunning themselves are empty beach chairs and hotel proprietors have seen their full bookings vanish overnight. Unless the Government ensures that the toughest punishment is meted out to the wrongdoers including the Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman who is allegedly in the middle of this vortex of events, tourists will lose faith in the safety of this destination.

One can argue that locals lost faith a long time ago after witnessing repeated escapes from justice. In an environment where eyewitness accounts of murder cannot be made to stick to politicians, the possibility that the Tangalle incident will be different is hard to expect. Perhaps for this reason a group of persons identifying themselves as law-abiding citizens of Tangalle have complained to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) in writing that there are attempts by some elements with vested interests to undermine the investigations into the killing of a British national at a hotel in Tangalle recently.

The letter has been copied to the Attorney General, the secretaries of political parties, the MPs of Hambantota District and the British High Commissioner. The organisation says that the Chairman of Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha, who is the main suspect in this case, is under the patronage of a powerful politician.

The organisation says in the letter that attempts are being made to tamper with evidence in regard to this case, a damning denouncement of the investigators, the judicial process and rulers of Sri Lanka. Opposition politicians have also charged that the suspects have engaged in thuggish behaviour on earlier occasions and knowing the calibre of politicians in this day and age, most people will not have a hard time believing this.

A swift and comprehensive investigation followed by strong punishments to the guilty, irrespective of their political affiliations, is essential if Sri Lanka’s bright future is to remain so.