Anyway, this conflict and lack of confidence among investors, deters the tourist industry, which run a huge part of the country. During this kind of political instability, (relentlessly pursued by nationalist President Mahinda R.) all industries suffer. From this brief journey, the early-December market crash made clear that restaurants, hotels, guest houses, shops, small businesses, possibly tea plantations face decline, thereby adding to the unbearable level of poverty in the country. How to stem this plunge below poverty line for many people? Buy local? Give what you can?, (remembering that most people earn $35 USD/month) but do not attach feelings of obligation/pity/pride/generosity/etc. Giving cash to homeless people in the States is something that has a lot of these tags attached. Giving is certainly a personal choice, but how and when you action this choice, has serious political connotations. In general, many colleagues and acquaintances give only to women, children or disabled people because there is a stigma that most men would waste donations on liquor. And if you talk to many impoverished Sri Lankans they do not want aid money, huge relief projects or Brettton Woods infrastructure, but would like to awaken the wealthy parts of the world to their existence. Just highlighting some of these stories will bring attention to a few people who work extremely hard, for very little money and without due respect.
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