Tsunami victims protested lack of relief for three months

Demonstrating in front of the Colombo Fort railway station on Wednesday, they demanded the government stop privatisation plans and safeguard the rights of workers.

The New Left Front (NLF) said it is the duty of the government to make sure that victims in the north and east are also given fare share of tsunami relief.

NLF leader Vickramabahu Karunarathne said that workers were in favour of a joint mechanism with the LTTE.

Buffer zone  Stealing the beach from fisher folk and handing it over to tourists is a monstrous crime Sarath Fernando

Movement for National Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR) accused the government of spending tsunami relief aid to create new towns and improve the infrastructure instead of helping victims.

Monlar joint secretary Sarath Fernando said that the authorities are now trying to impose the 100m buffer zone only against fishing community.

"Why only for fisher folk? Isn't that rule valid for the tourist industry?"

He said that the government has allowed tourist hotels within 100m zone to refurbish and start the business again.

The government is accused of using tsunami aid to create new towns

"Stealing the beach from fisher folk and handing it over to tourists is a monstrous crime."

The protesters also called on the government to stop attempting to sell the phosphate deposit in Eppawala.

Public Enterprise Reform Commission (PERC) has advertised for the restructuring of several state institutions.

Phosphate deposit

The trade unions claim that "restructuring" is the term authorities use instead of privatisation.

Prof. H Sriyananda of Alliance for the Protection of National Resources and Human Rights (ANRHR) warned of severe environmental danger if the Eppawala privatisation goes through.

Leader of the Democratic Left Front (DLF) Vasudeva Nanayakkara warned that tsunami victims are facing a bleak future due to government's "immoral" open economy policies.