3 April by
Piyumi Fonseka
Sometimes a loan obtained to save a life can end up taking another life, in the debt-stricken villages of Sri Lanka. A 24-year-old mother killed her child and committed suicide two months ago due to her inability to repay a loan of Rs. 400, 000 to a micro-finance company. It is just one story out of millions of borrowers. Like more than 2.5 million other people in Sri Lanka, most of them were women; she had turned to micro credit in an effort to lift herself out of poverty.
Despite microfinance loans represent only 3% of the total loan portfolio of the sector, the impact it has made on low-income families is immense. According to Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR), more than 200 people had committed suicide, during the last three years or so for issues related to micro-finance loans.
Debt-driven suicides continue unabated in Sri Lanka
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Carelli lascia e lancia Centro – Popolari Italiani I Cinquestelle nel caos La mossa di Di Maio
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Cardinal joins battle to save Sri Lanka s diverse wetlands
Development projects aided by corrupt officials threaten Muthurajawela marshland despite its protected status
The Muthurajawela wetlands are home to 102 species of birds. (Photo: Facebook)
Environmentalist Nuwan Saparamadhu has been advocating protection of the Muthurajawela wetlands, an area of natural beauty that supports Sri Lanka s fishing industry.
Activists and villagers are trying to protect the wetlands from a multi-use development project planned in the area.
Saparamadhu said the fishing industry is the main source of livelihood for people in the area and the two main canals along Muthurajawela are an integral part of that natural beauty.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The main Opposition party, the breakaway UNP faction, Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) yesterday (30) said that all available information and evidence relating to Sri Lanka’s war against terrorism should be made available to the proposed special unit to be formed for the implementation of an accountability resolution adopted at the recently concluded Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
SJB lawmaker Dr. Harsha de Silva said so when The Island asked him whether his party backed the government’s call for the UK to make available wartime (January-May 2009) dispatches from its High Commission in Colombo to the proposed special unit.