The government is trying to attain its development goals the way a late riser attempts to catch an early train. The latter races against time with no heed for anything or anyone else on the way. The former is making a similar effort to develop tourism and attract investment.
A country has to keep pace with the changing world and make use of the opportunities that present themselves. The service sector has to be developed to boost the economy and this goal is unattainable without tourism being developed to earn the much-needed forex. And the promotion of tourism requires facilities to cater to the needs of foreigners who spend their hard-earned money to come all the way here to enjoy life. But, the sky is not the limit. Hotels must not be built on the catchments of rivers and reservoirs; places of worship must be free from desecration and, in short, the environmental and cultural destruction and degradation must be prevented.
UNP MP P. Harison told Parliament on Tuesday that a nightclub had been established in the sacred city of Anuradhapura close to the much-venerated Sri Mahabodhi and Ruwanweli Seya. The government has sought to absolve itself of the responsibility for the desecration of the places of worship. A minister was prompt to respond that such businesses were registered with not the government but the North Central Provincial Council (NCPC). But, in the final analysis, it is the government’s baby in that it controls the NCPC.
Did anyone think a nightclub was also a place of worship?
A nightclub in the vicinity of any religious place—a temple, a kovil, a church or a mosque—not only desecrates that holy shrine but also is an ocular trauma. The UNP parliamentarian’s allegation needs to be probed and action taken without further delay. Unless Buddhist monks take it up and demand immediate action the day may not be far off when night car races will be held around Atamastana (eight main places of worship).
Promoters of tourism have stressed the need for more nightclubs, shopping malls, spas, restaurants etc. in all parts of the country to develop the service sector. But, cares should be taken to ensure that they do not sit in the wrong places.
The police descend on poor men and women plying their trade on city pavements while the Urban Development Authority and local government bodies pull down unauthorised structures mercilessly. But, the owner of the nightclub in the Anuradhapura sacred city does not seem to have any such problem!
The government treasures the Nelum Pokuna Theatre, a beautiful piece of modern architecture, and has even imposed restrictions on its use to preserve its dignity—and rightly so. Not even a lottery booth is allowed to be set up near that place. But, it apparently has no qualms about bevies of foreign beauty pageant contestants on holiday here being allowed to perch on the ruins of ancient architectural wonders like the Palace of Parakramabahu the Great and Sigiriya in the name of tourism promotion!
Meanwhile, the Treasury has reportedly ordered that all rocks and mountains be surveyed to find out whether they are of any archeological value so that granite could be exploited for rapid development work. Does the Department of Archaeology have enough resources to conduct a comprehensive survey without leaving places of archaeological value exposed to the danger of being blasted in the name of development?
The recent discovery of a haul of ancient Roman coins in Bandagiriya points to the fact that the whole country is a massive unexplored archaeological treasure trove and the Department of Archaeology in spite of all its good work has not been able to trace most places of historical significance. There may be thousands of other such hidden sites in valleys and on mountains containing invaluable artifacts which cannot be traced through a hurriedly conducted survey.
The country’s development drive, no doubt, needs to be encouraged, but it should not be at the expense of national heritage and the environment. Let that be the bottom line.
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