Dr Kohana @ ABC lateline

More or less I have the same view on the issue. Dr. Kohana @ ABC - Lateline

Sri Lanka - a birds eye view over paradise island

Nice video about SL. :-)
10 minute birds eye view over paradise island

Tears and smiles..

This is a day that Sri Lanka re-writes her history in a new chapter. The myths that were surrounded with the separatism and terrorism are gone with the wind. Who said they are invincible...?
During my whole life what I saw was WAR.
Bombs were frequent and people used to ask "how many are dead?" Just a routine question. If there is a politician involved then there is something special in the news. Otherwise its just another blast.
Irrespective of day or night ambulances were rushing along the Galle Road from Ratmalana military base. That was a sign of renewed fighting. People flocked in front of TVs again to hear the score. Deaths of humans who used to breath like you and me are just numbers. Sometimes villagers have to cremate a sealed off body of a fallen soldier. My friends/relatives had to cut their leaves short as they were called for the duty. Families had to keep their uncertain eyes open until they come back during the next vacation that no one can predict.
We had to think twice before we schedule our work in Colombo. People were suspicious if you carry a bag or suite case. No chance of keeping it on a rack or under a seat. Buses were randomly stopped at check points. We had to walk through lines with our identity cards ready and wait for the inspection. Men, Women, Elderly and Children alike.
Large amount of money spent on WAR. Military vehicles scrolled along half made dusty roads while the children studying in open class rooms, waving their hands to soldiers.
Without any prior notice roads were closed in the city for VIPs passing by. You have to wait for hours in a bus packed with exhausted commuters. Sweating, cursing, hungry and angry.
This was the life of our generation. If you feel uncomfortable hearing my story, being a Sinhalese, lived in a Suburb of Colombo, you should never hear what a Tamil friend in my age have to say.
Those who preach us to negotiate with the world's most ruthless terrorist organization, never gone through the trauma we gone through for three decades. Those who are trying to satisfy Tamil diaspora just because of few votes, may they lose every election before they rot in hell. Those who put ridiculous conditions, just to give us a "loan", please keep it to yourself. After all we have to pay it back one day.
My heart goes for those families who are now displaced and are living in camps. Remind me the Tsunami in 2004. May they find their way back soon and start rebuilding their life. The worst is over. Its time to move on. No more bullets but ballets. May the politicians at least keep their personal agendas for 5 more years for themselves and work for the betterment of average Sri Lankans. Especially for the sake of those live in North and East.
Finally I would like to pay my gratitude to our armed forces who fought bravely to give a country that is free of terrorism. You are the best people who knows how awful the war is. Not the NGO "gembos" who preach us about the repercussions of war to get their pockets filled with easy $$$s. And HE the president, defense secy and all those who gave their fullest support to reach the target under the pressure from ignorant West. I salute you Sirs. A job well done. But be safe.
I wish the next generations would never ever go through such an experience. May the tears dry and bring a spreading smile along with peace and prosperity for my people.

Sinhala lyrics

Before you get yourself embarrassed during the next party or the picnic ;-)
Find your favourite Sri Lankan songs in Lanka Song Book

Sri Lanka trail guides.

If you are a nature lower and would like to hike in Sri Lanka, have a look at the following web site.
http://www.lakdasun.com
It contains pictures, useful tips and much required trail guides with GPS way points. You may download the trail map and view it on google earth. Thanks Lakdasun team for these useful info. Keep up the good work.

My (neighbor's) question

Here is my analysis on the current situation between Sri Lanka and India. I'm neither a political analyser nor typically interested about politics(well below the average). So my comments may or may not be valid. Yet I thought it is better to share them as a citizen at this critical moment in Sri Lankan history. Moreover my views are biased. They are biased as I am totally against LTTE terrorism and their ideology.

Current situation in brief

1. SL military is gaining advantage of the land controlled by LTTE. As a result of that many people (Mostly Tamil) are displaced
   
2. Tamilnadu politicians (DMK) are urging Indian Government to intervene the Sri Lankan war. If not they have threatened to withdraw their support to the central, stirring a political storm in India as the general election is just around the corner.
   
3. LTTE is a banned terrorist organization in India and the first country to ban the group (even before Sri Lanka). LTTE killed Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 and many IPKF during the period of 1987-1990
   
4. SL government is backed by many parties consisting of different communities to finish the LTTE outfit once and for all. Main reasons are
   
   
   
   1. LTTE is responsible of killing and chasing of many Sinhalese and Muslims from North and Eastern parts of the island to create their mono ethnic homeland.
      
   2. LTTE have killed many moderate Tamil politicians who do not accept their ideology.
      
   3. LTTE have killed many Sinhalese leaders and potential leaders including former president Ranasinghe Preamadasa
      
   4. LTTE is responsible of destroying many assets of the country. (Katunayake Airport attack, Central Bank)
      
   5. More
      
   
   
5. Indian government cannot ask from Sri Lanka government to stop the war against LTTE, yet they still need to get the full advantage of the waves of Tamil nationalism in Tamil Nadu, in order to win the GE (At the same time Delhi needs to tame the Tamil nationalism, in order to keep the integrity). On the other hand Pakistan and China is willing to provide unconditional support for the war against terror. These affections are not for the best interest of India in long term. Basically Delhi is in a thick soup.
   

What SL should do?

1. Sri Lanka should not treat India as an enemy. The enemy should always be the LTTE.
   
2. Sri Lanka should allow India to help the suffering Tamil community. We should not forget that at this moment there are people living under trees. If Tamilnadu politicians are genuine about their appeal, they should help the displaced Tamils not a terrorist organisation. SL government could facilitate this.
   
3. Government should convince effectively the Tamil community about their safety (now and post war). Sinhala/Tamil/Muslim political leaders should understand the situation and should fish in troubled water for their short term political interests.
   
4. Government should have a mechanism to convince ex-LTTE cadres and Mahaveer families (Those who support the cause and got benefited from LTTE) about their safety too.
   
5. Government should provide facilities to those who are displaced due to war. After all we need to make sure that a “child today” is not a “terrorist tomorrow”.
   
6. SL government should keep good relationship with international community, not allowing LTTE propaganda to spread lies. Government representatives and diplomats abroad should be more vigilant and active.
   
7. Finally SL political parties should unite in this crucial hour. They should throw their personal agendas away. The country should always before the party.
   

The hypocrisy that cannot be neglected

1. When LTTE is committing direct attacks on civilians Tamilnadu was in a deep sleep.
   
2. Whenever LTTE is militarily powerful and mount attacks on an elected government, Tamilnadu was just blind
   
3. Whenever LTTE killed moderate Tamil leaders and torture Tamil civilians, Tamilnadu was deaf.
   
4. When tables are turned and Sri Lanka government takes the thing control into its hands (as it aught to do) and LTTE is struggling to survive, Tamilnadu becomes very unconfortable. Despite the wow of LTTE not to allow SLDF to step in tiger control areas, now the Tamil Tigers are pushed towards a defensive war.
   
5. Tamilnadu knows very well that India is fighting tooth and nail to keep the Kashmir.
   

The solution

Still it is too early to say what would be the solution. Seems each party is just continuing what they do. If Sri Lankan government could play their cards carefully and let the Indian governments to handle their internal affairs, then the LTTE would be history. At the same time the government should lay their plans on how to address key issues in every community and pay an especial attention in developing the war torn areas.
It is quite interesting to see how Indian government eat food without burning their fingers. Though an Indian military intervention is far from reality we have to live with South Asian politicians who cannot see beyond the ballot box. Though winning an election is my neighbour's problem...

Sri Lankan Recipes

I know that most of my colleagues are abroad and might find it difficult to taste a hot spicy Sri Lankan dish. Fortunately I bought a cook book before I depart from Sri Lanka and right now it’s the best gift I’ve given to my wife (yeah… it works). But for those who did not, this is a page you must bookmark. I’m gonna try some of these definitely on my weekends.

Sir Arthur C. Clarke has passed away

Popular sci-fi writer Sir Arthur C. Clarke has passed away. He is the author for many of my childhood fav books. Sir Arthur C. Clarke lived in Sri Lanka from 1956 was the chancellor in University of Moratuwa from 1979 to 2002. In my home town, Katubedda he established the institute Arthur C. Clarke Center for Modern Technologies. He selected this hill for his research and thus known has "technical kanda" (technical hill) among locals. This visionary author was the inventor for the concept of communication satellites.
Aged 90, he died due to a cardio-respiratory attack.