Why did Theroux find it insane that people were attending an American literature conference in Ceylon?

Ceylon was slipping into famine and yet thirty people managed to attend a seminar on American literature, a topic which had no impact on the country whatsoever. In his descriptions of the conference, Theroux made it clear that the main attraction was the food. The seminar participants were treated to amazing feasts throughout the day and did not seem interested in literature. The seminar was probably their only opportunity to obtain a decent meal in Ceylon.