Narrow escape from another white elephant!
Some ministers are `gifted` with such big egos that prevent them from seeing what’s real and true. I speak here of Minister Bandula Gunawardena, who according to a news item in the Daily Mirror, says he still hopes that the controversial cricket stadium `the largest in Sri Lanka` could be built in his electorate at Homagama.
He has the cheek to say that if he does not receive the approval to obtain a loan facility to build the stadium; he would appeal to his supporters and well-wishers for the necessary funds. Isn`t Sri Lanka well-known for the largest this, that or the other such as the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Sooriyawewa; the Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port in Hambantota, the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in Hambantota and the Magam Ruhunupura International Convention Centre also in Hambantota. How has any of these `white elephants` helped to develop Sri Lanka or earn revenue for the country? Other than for a few that too at long intervals there is no cricket played at Sooriyawewa; except for some diverted from the BIA no other planes land at Mattala; ships, a few if at all, dock at the harbour and of course it is even rarer to hear of any international conferences at the conference hall.
These projects are either directly or indirectly named after the then president now Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, apparently to inflate his ego, which again blocks his view of the fact that all things will pass away including his bloated ego.the funds invested in these monstrosities bring little or no return other than to leave the country cash-strapped and deeply entrenched in a severe debt trap.
Meanwhile, Bandula Gunawardena being a loyal minion of his leader Mahinda Rajapaksa must have wanted to follow in his master`s footsteps. Initially, he claimed that the ICC and the SLC were funding the stadium project and was cleanly bowled when the ICC went on record saying it never agreed to anything of the sort. Soon after, the ball hit him smack on his face when cricketing greats like Mahela Jayawardena, Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya and others spoke up against the cricket grounds and the stadium resulting in Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa suspending the project, maybe fearing it would dwarf the ‘largest’ ones built in Hambantota. Ego or no ego, Mr. Gunawardena will do well to use the - US$40 million he intends collecting for the Homagama International Cricket Stadium Project -to ease the burdens heaped on the people by this government by raising the prices of essential food items.
RUSSELL CC NUGEGODA