Chanaka Bandarage

The government has decided to rebuild the Talaimannar pier. Prima facie, this is good news.  

But, is this project a must at this stage? No.

The government is faced with a huge balance of payment crisis.  Since becoming elected, its revenue base has not increased by one iota. On the other hand, its expenditure has sky rocketed.

To fulfill its election promises, the government will have to increase the public servant wages, disband VAT from food and medicine, increase the monthly tax-free threshold for individuals from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakhs.  It made numerous other promises such as giving fertilizer and other farm subsidies, increase Aswesuma and reducing the diesel price.

Basically, the list of promises that the NPP gave is endless.

In such a scenario, the government should not have considered the building of a new pier in Talaimannar at this stage.

It is absolutely important that the government understands its priorities.

To build a new pier, it will cost the government in excess of Rs 2 Billion.

The previous government was going to build the pier at the cost of Rs 1.8 Billion. They were going to spend solely taxpayer’s money .  Fortunately, that project did not take off.

By introducing various taxes (as advised by IMF) the previous government managed to successfully increase its revenue base. But, it acted like a ‘drunken sailor’. There were absolutely no limits in their merry jaunts. That government needlessly wasted some of the surplus that it had built.

Now we have a prudent government. The new President is excellent.

Although announced, after this article, let’s hope that they will disband the project.

It is a gigantic project – it is like building of our ‘Bridge on the River Kwai’.

                     (The Talaimannar Pier – Picture by Chanaka Bandarage, March 2024)

The new pier will not bring in new immediate revenue.  In any case, it will take several years to complete.

We already have the fantastic harbor in Kankasanthurai (KKS), which is not too far from Talaimannar. The India (Rameshwaran)– Sri Lanka ferry service can operate from there. Last year and early this year, test passenger ferries ran between India and Sri Lanka.

We must not forget – it is the NPP leaders who attacked the Rajapakses for building Mattala Airport (a real White Elephant) when we have Katunayake.

Now that our 2024/25 tourist season is just beginning, the Rameshwaran – KKS ferry service must be re-commenced immediately.  Perhaps our President should talk to Mr Modi about this.

Tourists from India (not just Indians, Europeans also) will flock to our little island in very large numbers, using the ferries.

The writer outlined in a previous article (Lankaweb) that the Navy and the Immigration/Customs must be vigilant to catch bogus travelers from South India like LTTE sympathizers, Kallthonis, drug peddlers and smugglers.

India spent bulk of the money to build the KKS harbor. We can ask them to build the Talaimannar pier as well. They may agree, if we convince them well.

Otherwise, we can go into a 51/49 joint venture. A reputed foreign company is ideal, like P & A (Carnival) or Stena Line. They bring in real $. The government will provide the land, and the private investor will spend for the project.

Anyone who visits this British built magnificent jetty will agree that the pier is in total disarray now – it is corroded beyond repair.  It is a shame that it had not been well looked after. During the war, the pier was in the control of both Navy and the LTTE intermittently. In the late 80s and early 90s, the IPKF was in charge of it.  It seems none had looked after it well. Currently it is totally dilapidated. What is to be built is a total new pier.

Given that we have the KKS harbor, let’s hope that the authorities will be wise not to spend our precious money on this project at this stage. The government’s resources are very scarce, they should be used wisely in a prudent manner.  Again, if India or a private investor  is willing to foot the entire bill, it is ok to go ahead with the project.

The writer is an International Lawyer