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Just a few months ago, Asanka Ekanayake was a happy man. He had a stable job, a happy family and was looking forward to the locally celebrated Sinhalese and Tamil New Year with his wife, whom he had married recently.
But March changed all that. Young Asanka, who was a senior planning engineer at the 1.4-billion dollar Port City project, funded by China Communications Construction Company Ltd. (CCCC), in the capital Colombo, lost his job after the indefinite suspension of the project by the new Sri Lankan government.
"I am not in a proper state of mind to speak to anyone. I am newly married but I am away from my wife. I had so many plans during the holidays. My wife and I planned to visit my wife's hometown of Badulla to meet her relatives but without a job how can I face anyone?" Asanka said.
The project was started in September last year. It has given direct or indirect employment to some 5,000 local employees. Aside from the jobs generated, the project also benefited many small- time local companies that supplied materials for the construction.
However due to the government's sudden decision to temporarily suspend the Port City project, the local employees in the island nation are now jobless, a very sad development, especially during the holiday season.
"No one thought of the laborers before the government suspended the project just before the local New Year. Our families are suffering because of what happened. Many of the laborers have little children and this year they will not be celebrating the New Year because their fathers are out of jobs, It is very sad," Asanka said.
Many Sri Lankans believed that the project, the first of its kind in the country, will benefit the country and strengthen the economy.
According to Asanka, the Port City project would have contributed to the overall economic growth of the country which has suffered a lot due to the 30-year civil war. He said it would also make Sri Lanka a tourist hub.
Pathum Ratnasekara, who used to work at the Lab Department of the Port City project, said he and his family face a bleak future after he lost his job.
"There is nothing left for me here now. Along with the port city project, the government has also suspended many other ongoing projects in the country. Where can we find work now and who will hire us on such short notice?" Pathum said.
He said that the Chinese and U.S. employees of the project have also lost their jobs.
Krishan Pathirana, who was a site engineer at the project, said that the suspension of the project would send a wrong signal to foreign investors who would like to invest in the island nation.
The displaced workers, however, are still hoping that the government would soon lift the suspension and that China and Sri Lanka, being "strong friends and dependable partners" could find a way to resume the construction of the project.
When work on the project will resume is still uncertain and only the Sri Lankan government will know. But what is certain at the moment is that thousands of Sri Lankan citizens who have lost their jobs would have a bleak holiday season this year.
