Managing criminality and tourism posers

In the current discourse on Sri Lanka's post-conflict reconstruction and rejuvenation, the issue of lingering criminality does not seem to be receiving the attention it deserves. Over the past three years the focus has been on the material development of the North-East in particular, but it should be quite obvious to the observer that residual violence from the conflict too needs to be addressed seriously.

It is not our position that this is not happening already. The state is fully conscious of the fact that there is notable criminality in our polity and is doing its utmost to manage the problem. For instance, the law and order machinery is kept ticking round-the-clock and law enforcers are being given maximum support to carry out their functions efficiently. Yesterday we highlighted a statement by Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa that every effort would be made by the state to prevent Sri Lanka from turning into a safe haven for international criminals, now that there is a resurgence of the local tourism industry.

All well meaning and law-abiding visitors are, of course, welcome to Sri Lanka but the possibility cannot be ruled out of some criminal elements attempting to smuggle themselves into this country in the guise of genuine tourists. It is to minimize this possibility that there is stepped-up collaboration between Sri Lanka and international law and order organizations, such as, Interpol, to crack down on trans-border crimes and criminals. It need hardly be said that such international collaboration on the law and order front could go a long way in curbing crime the world over.

There are some difficult dilemmas that come in the wake of efforts by a country in the developing world in particular to open its borders to stepped-up tourist traffic. Countries such as ours need to be internationalist in outlook and opt for a policy of interacting with those countries and peoples who mean well by us, but great care must also be taken to protect our national identity and cultural heritage in the face of inevitable alien influences. This could prove somewhat arduous when tourism is given priority in our development effort. For instance, guarding against inimical cultural mores and ways of life coming from outside our shores will prove difficult to manage when tourism open the gates to stepped-up people-to-people contact.

But the possible influx into the country of foreign criminal elements should be of equal if not greater concern. It is no secret that some foreign prostitutes are gaining entry to Sri Lanka in the guise of tourists. There are also the visa over-stayers who are proving a problem at present. It is quite possible that many of these persons are offenders and law breakers of some kind. There is also a seeming stepping-up of drug pushing in Sri Lanka which must be taken note of. The state needs to take cognizance that drug-related offences are seemingly on the rise in the wake of the stepping-up of tourist traffic.

Amid this plethora law and order issues, there is also a seeming rise in criminality in the country.

As alluded to before, this could be a residual hang over from the 30 year conflict and what ought to be troubling is that it is persisting despite the stepping-up of law enforcement and connected counter-measures.

While the law and order machinery must continue to function vibrantly, the issue of the psychological health of the more volatile sections of the public need to receive our attention. If criminal acts are on the rise, it could mean that the social conditions which conduce to crime, such as, glaring income inequalities and acquisitiveness, not to speak of unemployment, are on the increase. These constitute the negative side to our body politic that needs addressing.

However, more attention also, obviously, needs to be paid to the emotional stability of those sections which could be considered to be in a fiercely competitive frame of mind. Sections of the upwardly mobile social segments belong to this category. This calls for a more activist role in society by those, such as the clergy, who are charged with empowering people spiritually.