Politics and the community center
After an 11 year run, a new Sri Lankan President will be elected November 17 of this year. The effect on NGO’s (Non Governmental Organizations) and the enormous aid promised to the island from the outside world, 3.4 billion, hangs in the balance on which of the two candidates is chosen. If it’s Mahinda, then groups such as Mercy Corp, US AID, OXFAM, RedCross, and well over 100 others could be on the President’s chopping block. Mahinda’s campaign to further seize control of the country for the government means foreign companies and even aid agencies will most likely be pushed out.
For RCI, the recommendation given by Jim Jarvie of Mercy Corp was to find a group that is already entrenched here doing something well and add your expertise to make it even better. In a political climate this volatile, it is better to concentrate on the ‘process’ than on leaving a ‘footprint’. For example, a group may have more success teaching contractors about sounder building methods than trying to wrestle with half a dozen government organizations on initiating the development of a new housing project from the ground up.
The one way in which RCI may be able to sidestep the issue is through a donation of temple land by a Buddhist priest. As of this week, papers have been signed on behalf of the priest that give RCI permission to build on temple land, but it may be several more months before RCI can wait out the presidential election and obtain the full blessing of the government to proceed with the development of the community center.
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