| in
+94 ... on September 04, 2007 |
|
... losses
Today President Rajapaksa has lost a Tamil coalition
partner what has cut his majority in parliament down
to 113 our of 225 seats.
Now only the extreme hard-liners such as the Buddhist
monk party JHU and the JVP Marxist party are supporting
the Sri Lanka Freedom Party of the Rajapaksa brothers
who are also confronted with disastrous economic figures.
National debts at $ 12,6 billion and further daily
losses of around $ 10 million strangle the nation, where
the costs of living are exploding alongside the fall
of the Rupee.
Sri Lanka requires oil imports worth an annual $ 2,5
billion using also diesel to produce electricity.
|
| in
+94 ... on August 16, 2007 |
|
... vultures of war
Sri Lankan Minister Fernandopulle has called the United
Nations Undersecretary John Holmes a terrorist and has
accused him of being bribed by Tamil Tigers.
Currently Sri Lanka is ranked on No.2 on the list of
unsafest countries for aid workers because of the still
uninvestigated killing of 17 NGO workers in 2006.
At the same time questions have been raised about bribery
in conjunction with the purchse of several old MIG figther
planes whilst Human Rights organizations point at:
17 Aidworkers were killed in Muttur
10 Muslim workers were hacked to death in Ampara
28 detainees were slaughered in Bindunuweewa
17 TRO workers were abducted and disposed
2 UN Workers were abducted and rheir dead bodies were
domped in Avisavalle.
2 MPs killed and
350,000 Tamils driven out of their homes
|
| in
+94 ... on August 3, 2007 |
|
... Summer in Sri Lanka
Victory festivities in the East, ministers cutting
their salaries down by 50% and a very tensed and painful
situation will be remembered for summer 2007.
Much worse for all Sri Lankans compared to summer 2006,
not to mention summer 2005 when global sympathies for
Sri Lanka had triggered worldwide donations as high
as $3 billion.
The overall summary for the first 2 years of the Rajapaksa
administration does not look very promising for the
near future.
The economy is suffering badly and in particular tourism
is facing a severe decline however one has to say, that
tourists are way more safe in Sri Lanka than in any
big city of the world. ( perhaps Toronto
or Zurich might beat SL :-)
|
| in
+94 ... on July 28, 2007 |
|
... Inflation at 17%
per month
Around 15.000 protesters from all over the Sri Lanka
had assembled in Colombo demanding a new government
free from the influence of the Rajapaksa brothers who
have led the country into a costly warfare scenario.
After 4 years of peace and restructuring Sri Lanka
had been on the way up even overcoming the aftermath
of the Tsunami with aid worth $4 billion raised by mainly
western citizens and their leaders.
Back in 2002 UNP head Ranil Wickeremansinghe had been
able to establish a truce giving the country at least
a chance for recovery. Also the previous Chandrika Kumaratunga
administration had somehow managed to keep the Island
in a fairly peaceful state despite some minor casualties
and a limited exchange of aggression.
With the election in 2005 things had gone far worse
after the Tamil population had not been permitted to
vote so that Wickeremansinghe had to make way for the
way more aggressive Rajapaksa brothers and their JVP,
JHU Monk Party allies.
Meanwhile the national budget of Sri Lanka is a complete
mess with over $300 deficit per month, no more earnings
from tourism and more that 50% of the household build
on loans and donations.
Furthermore Sri Lanka is aiming for isolation from
the West, where several aid programs were terminated
and where vast resentments against the Sri Lankan government
have been defined.
Also the Rajapaksa administration has expressed it's
preference for Asian countries from where now more aid
will be expected.
Most likely the wealthier Asian countries such as India,
Thailand, Malaysia are also competing for more tourism
money so that they are more likely not to be too generous
with Sri Lanka.
|
| in
+94 ... on June 7, 2007 |
|
... Death in Sri Lanka
The Rajapaksa government seeks to improve security
by having deported 400 Tamils including women and children
from the capital Colombo into Northern war zones. The
UNP opposition and human rights organizations have criticized
this as a form of ethnic cleansing.
2 Red Cross workers were murdered
whilst aid and human rights organizations report another
several hundred abducted and missing since the still
uninvestigated killing of 17 aid workers in 2006.
At the same time military fighting in the north has
become more intense with casualties every day.
Recently the LTTE has reported significant wins whilst
the overall living standard for regular Sri Lankans
is getting worse day by day with heaviest inflation
and no more foreign currency coming in.
Tourism seems to be completely dead and the monthly
trade deficit is reaching exorbitant levels with the
government spending most money on the acquisition of
weapons and ammunition.
A few days ago thousands of Tamils were told to move
out of Colombo and lorries from the north are no longer
allowed to enter Colombo.
|
| in
+94 ... on April 30, 2007 |
|
... dismal night for
Sri Lanka
Emirates and Cathay Pacific had suspended flights
to Sri Lanka for security reason after another air raid
by the Tamil Tigers.
The night of from April 28 to the 29nth had been a
dubious one for Sri Lanka. On Barbados the Cricket World
Cup final was lost to Australia in a very unfortunate
way with questionable weather and umpire decisions.
Of course, Australia had a very good team on the field,
but Sri Lanka had chances and also shown some very good
action with Tamils, Muslims and Singhalese in none team.
On the island itself all has gone for the worse and
whilst the cricket had been all over the Tamil Tiger
Air Force had dropped some explosives on fuel plants
in Colombo forcing the largest city into a blackout.
Once again the government security forces had been
taken by surprise during a Cricket match and for certain
the Tigers had proven to be fully alive after months
of air raids and all sorts of explosives over their
heads.
|
| in
+94 ... on April 25, 2007 |
|
... dismal time for
Sri Lanka
At least the great Sri Lankan Cricket team has been
bringing joy to the suffering Sri Lankan`s with a great
performance during the Super 8 tournament.
Apart from that, a fierce and expensive warfare in
the East and North is destroying the economy and tourism
in particular.
Meanwhile the Tamil Tigers have proven their ability
to launch minor airstrikes whilst a line of ugliest
assaults on civilian busses is further branding the
nation in terms of atrocities.
Any peace talks as well as truce seem to be very far
away whilst leaders on both sides seem to do their very
best to proceed with their warfare.
Fortunately there have been no tensions between the
Singhalese and Tamil civilians who both do not seem
to want the war at all. However, there have been no
demonstrations for peace in Sri Lanka and civilians
remain confident with their leaders.
Especially in the South many people are very pleased
with the Government policy of President Mahinda Rajapaksa
as they believe in victory and in the economical progress
of his concepts.
Fact is also, that poverty is drastically on the rise
caused by a monthly inflation rate of around 20% alongside
a complete standstill of the tourism industry which
is blamed on Western media and the Tamil Tigers.
Overall, the tourism season had been the worst since
many years as a result of a very restrictive visa policy
and extremely high airfares caused by massive airport
tax and landing fees. Flights to for example Frankfurt
with Sri Lankan Airlines are now priced at almost $1,000
( Airport Tax $230 ).
Nevertheless tourists and volunteers can feel more
safe and comfortable in the South and in places like
Kandy, Negombo than in many other countries for which
no Western Governments are spreading "don`t go
warnings".
Currently Sri Lanka is producing a monthly trade deficit
of more than $300 million and there is absolutely no
indication for this war to be coming to an end. Each
air raid by the Sri Lankan Government is fertilizing
despair among the Tamil population whilst the Tiger`s
terrorstrikes will help the Rajapaksa administration
to justify their activities.
Sadly enough, it looks that this war without winners
sees only the civilians on both sides as big time losers.
In addition many humanitarian organizations have been
reporting severe problems when trying to help affected
civilians and it is feared, that they might pull out
like back in 1998,
when the peacebrigades had to give up.
|
| in
+94 ... on December 5, 2006 |
|

... dismal Christmas
for Sri Lanka
Ten thousands of Tamil civilians
have become the poorest victims of war and even help
organizations are not able to look after them. Food,
doctors, medicine are rare in between the frontlines
of no winners because neither side is prepared to compromise
in the name of peace.
The annual speech of Tamil Tiger chief Velupillai Prabhakaran
had pointed at a dismal future for Sri Lanka where hopes
for peace seem to have vanished completely.
Hard-liners on both sides seem to strive for an even
more drastic exchange of atrocities whilst no initiatives
for peace can be reported at this time.
Days later a suicide blast in Colombo had been targeted
at the secretary of defense, President Mahinda Rajapaksa's
brother, Gothabaya Rajapaksa, who has survived unharmed.
European governments are warning of visits to Sri Lanka
although popular areas such as Kandy and Unawatuna still
provide a calm and relaxing atmosphere. Nevertheless
local communities are extremely nervous since the attack
on the Galle Navy base and even the sound of a firework
at a private party had caused feelings of panic.
Especially tourist regions like Unawatuna, Hikkaduwa
and Negombo look almost deserted so that expectations
for a busy Christmas season have gone low.
Planes from Europe are empty despite finest offers
and services by Sri Lankan Airlines which connects to
Paris, London and Frankfurt at an incredible return
rate of around $250. Of course it feels more than sad
to see that even such invincible offers fail to convince
holidaymakers of goin`Sri Lanka at this time though
tourists can truly feel much more at ease than in Egypt
or other Middle East countries where radical Muslims
forward direct threats and action.
The only risk that tourists have to fear in Sri Lanka
could be a sudden outbreak of mass killings between
Sinhala and Tamil civilians that might be triggered
by any of the forthcoming assaults and attacks.
Already the Attack on Galle had led to ugly scenes
so that lynchmob activities at some wider scale might
be the next stage in this war without winners in which
an obviously weak Sri Lankan army and navy seems to
have no chance at all to enforce stability.
On the other end the Tamil Tigers might be better trained
and organized, but still way to small to gain control
over the Sinhala majority.
Like in every war the population has to carry all burdens
and it seems to be an incredible tragedy, that there
is no real peace movement in Sri Lanka which could express
the true desires of the Sri Lankan people.
In fact Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim people have proven
their ability to live together in harmony and that the
ongoing war is nothing but a result of their leaders
who have failed to come to future orientated agreements.
Making predictions it becomes obvious, that more violence
and casualties will eventually force the UN to send
peace corps to Sri Lanka in order to prevent worsening
scenarios that unfortunately seem to be inevitable at
this time.
|
| in
+94 ... on October 18, 2006 |
|
... War in Sri Lanka
- Galle under attack
The fear of a return to a civil war at full scale with
even genocide activities has been increasing dramatically
over the past few hours with bad news coming in from
nearly all over the island.
Now the navy base in Galle has been attacked by the
LTTE what had triggered for a first time some Singhalese
lynchmob to have a go at Tamil citizens.
Fortunately Singhalese authorities had been willed
to prevent further damages despite rising aggression
between the two ethnical groups.
Here`s the story from Galle with pictures
and analysis.
|
| in
+94 ... on August 14, 2006 |
|
In Sri Lanka more than 250.000
civilians are affected by heavy clashes between the
Tamil Tigers and the army, which had killed 61 children
and injured over 150 in an air strike on an orphanage
as confirmed by the UN children's fund (Unicef) and
the Swedish-led peace monitors.
Thousands of civilians are trying to escape severe
military clashes in the Northeast of Sri
Lanka. Now the population fears a return to civil
war after more than $3 billion tsunami aid has reached
the island where not only Tamil areas show sad images.
Pictures
& Story
|
| in
+94 ... on August 14, 2006 |
|
... war in Sri Lanka
The fear of a return to a war at full scale has been
increasing dramatically over the past few hours with
bad news coming in from nearly all over the island.
Colombo saw a second blast in recent days near the
residence of President Mahinda Rajapaksa which had killed
7. In addition 17 were injured by the by a fragmentation
mine that had been carried inside a three wheeler taxi.
At the same time 30.000 people are trapped in the East
whilst 60.000 are reported to be on the run in the North.
Besides severe artillery battles and bombing in the
north 61 Tamil schoolgirls aged 15-18 were killed by
an airstrike in which also more than 155 were injured.
The government had stated, that the target had been
a training camp for rebels, what had been rejected by
aid workers, who had said, that there were no indications
for violent activities inside the attacked orphanage
building.
And in Colombo right-wing Buddhist monks had a clash
with anti-war protesters.
|
| in
+94 ... on June 20, 2006 |
|
... war in Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella
has announced a revision of the ceasefire agreement
after an assault on a civilian bus which has killed
61 civilians. In addition the Sri Lankan army has launched
air strikes on Tamil territories.
Tamil Tigers have attacked a government vessel with
20 boats as well as a fast-attack patrol craft was sunk.
The Sri Lankan army is retaliating with air strikes,
shells and rockets near Trincomalee.
Later government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella introduced
the air raids as activities to "ensure the safety
of our personnel".

Insiders suspect that this incident could be the initial
start of a new full scale as well as and peace monitors
said, that they now feel like war monitors.
Still the vast majority of Sri Lankans is fully against
another war and there are no tensions at all existing
between the two ethnic groups what points again at political
leaders in both camps not being able to cooperate and
to enforce peace.
Now even in so far fully peaceful regions like Southern
Galle the population is fearing incidents targeted at
navy camps and other military facilities.
Remarkable is currently the rise of Keheliya Rambukwella,
who had been a central figure during the election campaign
within the team of UNP opposition leader Ranil
Wickremesinghe.
After the election Keheliya had crossed over to President
Mahinda Rajapaksa`s camp for a minister role. During
the election he had described the main difference between
the parties in a web62.com interview as "peace
and unity".
|
| in
+94 ... on May 1, 2006 |
|
... civil war in Sri
Lanka
Bloodshed is further on the rise in Trincomalee where
a mine blast has killed at least 5 including 4 Tamil
civilians and a navy official. In addition 5 navy sailors
were wounded during a shoot-out with Tigers troops.
Insiders report, that many Tigers prefer to go for
an instant and drastic war instead of maintaining the
status quo with it`s permanent exchange of assaults
without any progress at all.
At this time the Tigers seem to be well prepared for
a full-scale war as well as the Sri Lankan government
troops claim to be ready.
However the vast majority of the Sri Lankan people
do not want any war at all and fortunately Tamil and
Singhalese citizens seem to get on well with each other
in nearly all parts of the island.
|
| in
+94 ... on April 26, 2006 |
|
... civil war in Sri
Lanka
Air strikes on Trincomalee areas have killed many civilians
whilst at least 90% of the Sri Lankan people do not
want this selfish war among power driven gun slingers
at both sides. 40.000 Tamils have escaped from the region
into the jungle and ethnical massacres are feared to
expand soon.
Since the Tigers had violently prohibited the Tamil
population to vote for the acknowledged UNP peacemaker
Ranil Wickremesinghe at the last election it as become
obvious, that they want war as much as Mahinda Rajapaksa
and his JVP allies, who had built their fame some time
ago when conducting killings at genocide levels. Mow
they are suspected to stand behind the organized killings
of Tamil civilians whilst at the same time some Tamil
extremists named "High Security Zone Residents
Liberation Force" (HSZRLF) took over responsibility
for the Colombo blast as well as they might stand behind
assault on the Singhalese population.
Now Rajapaksa and the Tigers can expect to strengthen
their dubious positions through a return to war and
it feels sad, that the Sri Lankan people remain calm
instead of launching massive peace & unity demonstrations
in Colombo, Trincomalee and Jaffna.
"What to do" is still one of the most popular
sentences in Sri Lanka and as long as the Sri Lankan
people do not emancipate from obedience and their current
leaders the decline of this beautiful country will continue.
Where are the peace rebels who will tell their leaders
at both sides to step back to make way for a future
driven peaceful society.
|
| In
+94 ... on April 25, 2006 |
|
... war in Sri Lanka

With the attack of a female suicide bomber on the Sri
Lankan army headquarters in Colombo the official return
to civil war has now been triggered successfully by
militant hard-liners at both sides after months of provocations
and minor assaults.
Today the head of the Sri Lankan army, Lt Gen Sarath
Fonseka has gotten severely injured whilst several of
his guards were killed in a blast, that has been rated
as the worst since 2004.
In addition 27 were injured and it seems, that Sarath
Fonseka had been the prime target in order to demonstrate
the strength and abilities of the Tamil Tiger forces
who had pulled out of peace talks a few days ago after
around 100 people have been killed at both sides over
the past 3 weeks.
At the same time many Tamil civilians all over the
island fear for their lives as they have become frequent
subject of harassment by police authorities who justify
these procedures with the permanent threat of terrorist
activities.
The return to civil war might also be giving the U.S.
chances for a new military base in the deep sea harbor
of Trincomalee though India and China would have strong
resentments against more U.S. military in the region.
But now President Mahinda Rajapaksa might feel tempted
to call for American assistance in the forthcoming battle
with the Tamil Tigers who seem to be much better organized
and prepared than the Sri Lankan army who has now proven,
that they can not even protect their commander.
Meanwhile air strikes on Tamil Tiger camps and attacks
on government outposts in Northern Trincomalee are reported
and civilians are trying to escape from the area however
this ain`t easy with only one heavily guarded main road
leading out of the unstable region.
With a one-sided approach US Undersecretary of State
Nicholas Burns has branded the Tamil Tigers as terrorists
whilst peace monitors see both sides responsible.
Up to now the Rajapaksa administration has failed to
create an atmosphere of future orientated common sense
in Sri Lanka whilst at the same time organized gangs
have conducted violent assaults on civilians in the
North and East of Sri Lanka provoking retaliation and
attacks by the Tamil Tigers.
At this time it doesn`t seem to matter which side has
done more damage since professional gunslingers at both
sides have been working towards the current escalation
in order to strengthen their position.
In fact one has be aware of the fact, that a few months
ago the Tigers had violently enforced a boycott of the
federal election in which peacemaker and opposition
leader Ranil Wickremesinghe would
have won with ease if the Tamil population would have
been allowed to vote.
In the end the difference had been as tiny as 180.000
votes what has secured with Mahinda Rajapaksa a perfect
enemy for the Tamil Tigers would are naturally depending
on fund raising outside of Sri Lanka.
Now military clashes and blasts all over the island
might be lined up next what will throw the already slow
development of the island even much further back.
Tourism as a main income source even at a small level
of 500.000 per annum might come to a complete stop.
At the same time the rising oil prices and a fairly
dubious fiscal and economic policy might create further
risks so that the future of Sri Lanka seems to look
extremely fragile in theses days.
|
| in
+94 ... on April 12, 2006 |
|
... SL peace and local
elections
The Sri Lankan New Year festivities have followed the
local elections which had seen big wins for President
Rajapaksa all over the island.
This had been considered as a reward for the peace
talks in Switzerland despite hardly any progress has
been achieved.
Besides that the overall violence had been again increasing
in recent days primarily in northern and eastern Sri
Lanka. Over 30 people were killed and bombings and rioting
have occurred in Trincomalee.
In addition the Tamil Tiger rebels have now formally
declared, that they will not attend further peace talks
in Geneva because of navy ships shadowing their local
movements.
|
| in
+94 ... on February 28, 2006 |
|
... local life
Alongside the peace negotiations the amount of assaults
has become significantly lower though not any promising
results had been achieved. Recently kidnappings of Tamil
aid workers had become popular in particular the area
of Batticaloa which is controlled by the LTTE.
Meanwhile the influence of the radical nationalist
JVP Party has been reduced as well as the previously
hostile immigration and visa policy has been modified
towards a more constructive direction with giving foreigners
the option to stay for one year at a modest price of
35.000 Rupees.
At the same time local violence and
criminals are disturbing the tourism industry
in various Southern areas where heavily armed gangsters
try to capitalize on corrupt police officers who protect
their racketeering.
Bombs and machine guns have become popular among frequently
drunk gun slingers who are threatening restaurants and
guest house owners in order to force them to sell outs
at minimal prices.
In particular female western tourists feel intimidated
when being approached by by groups of paralyzed Sri
Lankan Mafiosi on beaches and in Nightclubs where even
regular local residents and business men are afraid
of gangster groups.
Exploding is also the amount of young girls and women
who get raped and abused by their fathers
and brothers.
This has led to way over 10.000 reported cases per
annum and an almost bursting rehabilitation camp in
Digana. Extremely sad is also the vast amount of suicides
whilst experts fear unreported abuse in a range of over
1 million cases.
|
| in
+94 ... on January 18, 2006 |
|
... war in Sri Lanka
In Batticaloa International peace monitors were attacked
by a grenade which had damaged several vehicles whilst
violent anarchy rules in Trincomalee where foreigners
and Scandinavian Peace mediators have left for security
reasons.
So far Sinhalese troops have remained calm despite
multiple attacks whilst instead mostly drunk JVP Nationalist
forces and Tamil Tigers are now deeply committed to
a permanent exchange of atrocities.
In fact the coalition partner of President Mahinda
Rajapaksa, the extremely aggressive right wing nationalist
JVP front seems to be conducting the dirt work for the
current government which includes executions, rape and
any other form of crimes against the Tamil population.
Meanwhile also Western reporters have become subject
to violent attacks by the JVP mob and the Sinhalese
army does no longer guarantee their security.
At this time the official outbreak of the new civil
war can happen every minute and the leaders of both
parties only seem to wait for a particular incident
that could "justify" some drastic strikes.
Bombs on Tiger camps, Jaffna and Trincomalee areas
are likely to be a part of the Sinhalese strategy whilst
the Tigers are expected to blow up once again the airport
and perhaps the train station with the World Trade Center
in addition.
Another unpleasant news for Southern Asia is the intensified
interest of American military in converting the Trincomalee
harbor into a U.S. Base with now anti terror experts
from the FBI doing some first research.
Rumors say, that Mahinda Rajapaksa has already made
arrangements with the U.S. Government whose troops might
get called for "help" against the Tamil Tigers
in exchange for the Northern port.
Certainly India and China would feel extremely uneasy
about an American base right on the main route for oil
supplies so that the overall developments in the region
will include a variety of additional conflicts and tensions
at a much larger scale.
Almost everyone in Sri Lanka is now expecting war which
will bring more tragedies and misery to the Sri Lankan
people than the Tsunami and the previous war.
In particular the economy will get hit severely by
the war and the anti foreigner policy of Rajapaksa and
the JVP which would like to kick out all westerners.
|
| in
+94 ... on January 9, 2006 |
|
... SL future
Tamil Tigers and government units continue with violent
efforts and killings to force each other back into civil
war.
One Sri Lankan army soldier and two suspected Tamil
Tigers have been the latest casualties whilst now also
foreign investors and tourists have become subject to
Rajapaksa`s new policy, which is trying to cut down
the presence of westerners drastically with modified
laws and regulations.
Even members of the Red Cross feel utterly discouraged
with bundles of additional paper work and regulations.
Even well established aid organizations with sums as
high as $100 ready to spent on projects had been discouraged
from investing their donations.
Now the maximum stay for western investors and tourists
is limited to as little as 3 months per year and large
amounts of foreign visitors have already been deported.
Some had not even been permitted to collect their belongings
after having been arrested whilst applying for their
visa extension at the Immigration office in Colombo.
Still Sri Lanka is fully depending on foreign aid and
some instant reduction in donations will be the inevitable
consequence whilst many foreign investors are now aiming
to sell out as fast as possible fast.
In addition regulations on liqueur sales have become
much more severe with a ban after midnight and on now
more religious holidays just to make Sri Lanka less
attractive for tourists.
With the provoked return to civil war, the combat against
tourists and investors next to other various activities
the Rajapaksa administration is obviously trying to
drive Sri Lanka into total shambles fast.
|
| in
+94 ... on January 2, 2006 |
|
... war
The first week of the new year brought 10.000 demonstrating
in Trincomalee where five Tamil students were shot by
unknown killers.
Most people blame the killings on Sinhalese government
units and in response 13 Navy soldiers were blown up
in the Port of Trincomalee by Tamil Tiger units.

Civilian and military preparations are meanwhile taking
place in Tamil regions and nowhere on the Island any
kind of peace efforts seem to be taking place whilst
in addition most people seem to expect war starting
soon.
more
|