A peacock had to sacrifice its life in order to send a message to the people regarding the government’s “foolish” investment policies, UNP Parliamentarian Ajith P. Perera said today.
We in the opposition have continuously spoken about the government’s lack of vision regarding the development strategy of the country, he said.
When the Hambantota Harbour was built at a large cost we warned that it will be unsuccessful due to the large underwater boulder and that the project should not be given priority, the MP said.
Perera said that three years have passed since its inception and still no ships are docking at the port.
He stated that when the Mattala Airport was being built the UNP warned that, although the country requires a second international airport, its location has to be reconsidered as Mattala is a region populated by wildlife and surrounded by reserves.
An opportunity has risen to reconsider the insensibility of this project when a peacock fell victim to the engine of a plane, the Kalutara District MP said.
It was reported yesterday that a Dubai-bound flight had been canceled and its passengers transferred to another aircraft after a peacock had collided with the engine of the plane.
“I think this is the first instance in the history of the world where a peacock had entered a plane,” Perera joked.
On one hand we feel sorry for the peacock, but on the other hand it is clear to everyone that this situation was caused because the airport was constructed at the center of a forest area populated by wildlife, he stressed.
The parliamentarian pointed out that the location of the airport is causing dangerous accidents and that it is “practically useless”.
He stated that this incident is causing the people to question whether the Mattala airport, built with loans obtained at high interest rates from China, was erected at the right location.
There is a question regarding the usefulness of the large scale development projects carried out by the government and whether they are rewarding to the people, he said.
This peacock sacrificed his life to send the people a message regarding the implementation of “foolish” development policies by the government, he said.
