Many issues have confronted the public over the past year like the Central Bank bond issue, the coal tender, highway contracts and the Colombo Port city project among many others. How the public perceives these projects was the focus of this week’s BT-RCB poll. Most of the additional comments came from street interviews conducted by the [...]

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The Sunday Times Sri Lanka

Public awareness on development issues

BT-RCB Poll
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Many issues have confronted the public over the past year like the Central Bank bond issue, the coal tender, highway contracts and the Colombo Port city project among many others. How the public perceives these projects was the focus of this week’s BT-RCB poll. Most of the additional comments came from street interviews conducted by the RCB in Galle and Colombo. Here is condensed version of the streets comments from the RCB poll. It is broken into two sections: Neutral comments and Criticism:

Neutral comments:

  • The media should play a role in discussing the processes of these issues in order to educate the public.
  • This Government is methodical and works to a set plan but their delivery mechanisms are too late.
  • We have to give some time to the new regime to deliver on the promises. You can’t scrap simply agreements signed with foreign countries and thus the Port City deal has to be honoured. China has also invested a lot in Sri Lanka.
  • Always the blame is given to the one who is doing some work. They don’t appreciate and value the work undertaken by the new Government and its benefits.
  • It depends on how you perceive things. If you see the positive side, there is some good happening and, likewise on the negative side you see everything bad.
  • Port City project is good. Unfortunately people see only the negative issues.
  • Port City Project is good and appears to be well administered.
  • Yahapalanaya is a good option but it is shaky. However every Government goes through these issues.
  • Port City project is good but it must be developed to see the benefits.
  • On matters like the CB Bond issue, the present regime has been quick to investigate any irregularities.
  • Colombo needs a new face lift; even the Borella supermarket should be re-done. But the biggest positive is that life goes on without fear.
  • Port City project will increase the land area of Colombo; that is a positive development.
  • The development of the Port is good for exports and imports. It will generate employment.
  • Port City project is good but it has environmental implications.
  • Port City project is good. But why is the work so slow? It can generate employment.
  • The Government should be more sensitive to corruption and waste and nip it in the bud.
  • Good if the Government intervenes on the coal issue without allowing things to get out of hand.
  • Much will be known on the bond issue once the investigations are over by this regime.
  • Any Government in office has a few corrupt persons.
  • Even the coal racket has its good and bad sides. Everything has two sides.
  • Although the President wants something positive done, government henchmen do as they please.
  • Whatever the political party that comes into power we have to earn our living. They will never listen to the people.
  • The President says something, the ministers say another thing and we, the people, are caught in between.
  • We need to buy more local produce and make the farmers wealthy and contented. Instead we import rice, onions and potatoes.
  • It was good that the Englishman built the railways. The coal racket has two sides. The Port City is a good positive project but there should be more transparency.
  • Politicians cross over from time to time and help to form Governments. That is inevitable.
  • In periodical shifts in administration (governments), only those inside benefit — not the general pub lic.
  • The Government must get cracking on projects that generate employment.
  • Public highways need to be widened and improved.

Criticism

  • Yahapalanaya commenced from where Mahinda had stopped. They spoke about transparency but where are the proper processes or anything methodical happening with regard to the Port City project? The project was suspended for a short while – one wonders whether it was to fool us – and then restarted.
  • Yahapalanaya has helped the favourities of the politicians to earn big commissions on projects without following proper tender procedures. It is clear and in the case of in the changes that happened in the Kandy highway deal.
  • The Central Bank continues as if nothing happened on the bond issue. This Government is corrupt. Branding the former President as a thief plays on the psychology of the people while malpractices happen on a large scale.
  • Even today coal transactions are happening. Minister Champika is trying to wash his hands in the process. He speaks like an Arahat now.
  • Ranil is not corrupt but appears to have made provision for others to do so. This is being justified under brand ‘Yahapalanaya’.
  • The Port City Project is going on with the same environmental issues, only the mission has changed to make it a financial hub. The Premier has forgotten what he has once told the voters.
  • Yahapalanaya is undercutting the people. Although promises were made about transparency and discipline there is no tender system or anything like that for public projects.
  • Corruption in coal imports are going on at the expense of the public. There is no quality checking of coal imported for Norochcholai. It happened then and things are no different today.
  • This Government is blaming Mahinda but doing what the previous regime had done under a new name as the same old rogues are still in the system.
  • The bond issue is buried. Lies and deceptions cover the coal issue. How can the Kandy Highway project be truthful? I feel very sad for this country.
  • The Kandy project has been suspended? We didn’t even know about it
  • The corrupt from the other side have crossed to this side and they protect the system.
  • The ruling party has to continue what had been agreed. It is doubtful if the projects will be completed. There isn’t a single project that would make giant strides in agriculture.
  • Corruption needs to be halted. Transparency need to be re-established. People are not informed of developments and that is a tragedy.
  • The previous opposition stated that the Port City is bad but has now declared it as ‘good’. No assessment as far as the public is aware has been made on environment implications. This project also has a bigger investment under the present regime. My view is that every regime is corrupt.
  • The bond affair was without any accountability and transparency. What are the present tender processes under the present regime? The process is questionable.
  • There was no corruption in the bond issue. It was an ad hoc arrangement to transfer funds. That is the opinion of the employees of the CB.
  • The development of Trincomalee under the present Government is unacceptable since it opens the doors to our resources being taken away by foreigners.
  • We should appoint honourable persons and not rogues to run public enterprises that manage national resources. The latter rob the country and its foreign exchange.
  • Corruption is reported in a large scale though there is little information in the public domain.
  • Coal or Port city: Don’t know whether it is good or bad for the country. On power, resort to solar energy as an alternative to the energy crisis.
  • The Government should resolve the current traffic issues like congestion in Borella before focussing on new highways.
  • This Government will complete Mahinda’s programme of work!
  • We have to protect our land from the foreigners, and now by the Indians.
  • Income tax is a burden on the average public.
  • The former Government constructed roads and highways. The present regime is involved in going behind the rogues. We are caught in between. Why should we get involved in other people’s affairs? It’s better to engage in some development work
  • These projects will make the rich, richer. What impact will these have on the poor? There is corruption in the Port City project.
  • No transparency in the dealings. There are huge environmental issues in the Port City.
  • The change in administration has not benefited the public. Work progresses speedily only if there is room for corruption.
  • Where is the truth in this country? The coal issue, the Kandy highway project …. when will the truth prevail?
  • Where is the rule of law? The law is not implemented to its fullest extent. Government politicians accuse the previous regime of being rogues but within 100 days of the current administration, the bond scam emerged followed by the coal tender. This Government is borrowing loans to repay the loans so far obtained and playing to the tune of the lending institutions. You can’t observe financial regulations and tender procedures in such a situation. They are doing exactly what Mahinda did and acting against the trust and will of the people.
  • Politicians have become liars. They have fooled the public which has been betrayed. There is no transparency in the actions of the present regime. What has happened to the much-spoken of RTI (Right to Information) Act? The Kandy highway tender was given to a second party with ulterior motives. There is no strong leadership in the affairs of the state. Mahinda was a strong leader. But he got things done by his henchman. We need speedy action to develop the country.

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