Fishermen resist Sri Lanka's plan to put them inland: "'The type of housing that will be designed -- apartments or small cabanas -- will definitely be more modern than what they're used to, and that's what our team of architects and engineers are putting together.' The government is driven to modernize in part as a way to use the approximately $1.5 billion in reconstruction funds Sri Lanka has been promised by international donors. Local corporations, which have been involved in distributing relief to survivors, are also pushing for this option, said Niranjan de Soysa, a private- sector project manager who is assisting De Mel. 'Why beat around the bush: The profit motive is behind the corporate sector's involvement,' de Soysa said. 'That's their modus operandi. ... They know there'll be plenty of opportunity for them to make money here, especially in construction.' "
Monday, January 31, 2005