| I’m back in Sri Lanka after two years away, and enjoying it very much. However, the country is suffering from a number of problems, and though the omicron surge is just getting started here, that is not the most worrisome difficulty. Among the most serious problems are these: For some years the country has been carrying out infrastructure projects that it couldn’t afford, and in the process has become seriously indebted to China. They are now practically at the point of default and foreign currency reserves are almost exhausted. One immediate consequence is that fuel is in short supply, and there are constant threats of power cuts. Another consequence is that the rupee continues to lose value, and imported goods, including food, are more expensive. Another problem is that home cooking gas, which comes in big metal canisters, has been formulated improperly, resulting in explosions. All of this has been exacerbated by the lack of income from tourism. Tourists are starting to come back, but the numbers are still only a third of what they were before the pandemic started. Nevertheless, this is still a beautiful and fascinating country, and even without going to a national park, you’re likely to come across some wildlife. I’m attaching a few pictures here, including one of myself, though I admit that calling a creature who spends most of their day sitting in coffee shops and studying languages ‘wildlife’ may be stretching things a bit. |
| Created on 30 January 2022, updated on 30 January 2022 by Samuel Ethan Fox |