[sustran] FW: [NGOForum] Re: Killing at Colombo - Katunayake Expressway Wo rksite

[Paul Barter]

-----Original Message-----
From: Hemantha at ef.is.lk [mailto:Hemantha at ef.is.lk]
Sent: Thursday, 22 November 2001 2:07
To: forumonadb at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [NGOForum] Re: Killing at Colombo - Katunayake Expressway Worksite

Wednesday, 21 November 2001

PRESS RELEASE

ENVIRONMENTAL FOUNDATION LTD.,
3, Campbell Terrace Colombo 10, Sri Lanka.

Killing at Colombo - Katunayake  Expressway Worksite
Who is responsible for these deaths?

Three persons were killed and two others seriously injured among ten
people hospitalised on 20th November 2001 in Uswetakeyyawa during a
public protest against the off-shore sand dredging for the
construction of Colombo-Katunayake Expressway (CKE) project. Finally
the public protest was suppressed by opening gunfire.

In this project, the trace outline of the original design has
considerably been altered due to public protests in 1994. The original
design of CKE cut across the Muthurajawela mash, which is the largest
wetland close to Colombo. The road is 32 kilometres long and partly
crosses the Negombo lagoon, which had led to the above protest. The
foundation of the road needs 4.7 million cubic metres of sea sand.

The project was approved by the Central Environmental Authority in
2000 and the dredging company Boskalis which is a Netherlands based
company is using ORET funds from the Netherlands Government.

It was identified that over 200 the people would be affected on a
normal fishing day and they should be compensated. The NARA reports
have strongly suggested that they should be compensated properly.

A monitoring Committee chaired by the Central Environmental Authority
has been appointed in respect of environmental and social mitigation
and monitoring on a proposal prepared by the Road Development
Authority, in which relevant stakeholders are represented. However,
these state sector organisations seem to be silent over the recent
developments.

It is indeed a shame that the affected fishermen were not duly
compensated due to the negative impact on their livelihood and the
result of their protest was that they were killed. This is indeed a
most basic violation of  human rights.

The Central Environmental Authority which approved the project and who
chaired the monitoring committee which is mandatory under the National
Environmental Act is responsible in respect of its inability to
monitor the payment of compensation and to settle disputes over the
compensation issue.

This project involves the following among other environmental hazards
The run off water carrying pollutants from the CKE directly into the
lagoon has not been dealt with adequately. This has been accepted by
the commission appointed by the Royal Netherlands Government. 

The accelerated sedimentation resulting in frequent events of high
flood and prolonged drought and pollution 

This is also not the first time such killings have taken place in
places of public uprising and protest, the last time being during the
public protest against the coal fired thermal power plant at
Norochcholai. There are other cases in the history of environmental
management, where monitoring has failed considerably. Eg. the Voice of
America at Iranawila where international co-operation was involved.
These are just two examples of the failure of the environmental
monitoring and assessment process in Sri Lanka.

We strongly protest at the blatant abuse of power by the State Law
Enforcement Agencies and the violation of  human rights, during a
protest aimed at safeguarding their own livelihood and property. We
also urge the Government of Netherlands to request an investigation in
to this matter and to take necessary steps and remedial action.

Ravi Algama,
Chairman
Hemantha Withanage,
Environmental Foundataion/FOE Sri Lanka

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