Re-launching their #ThinkAgain Ethical Tourism Campaign today, the Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice have claimed that tourism to Sri Lanka is being used as cover for the military’s takeover of civilian life in Sri Lanka. The launch coincides with the conclusion of TBCAsia, an international Travel bloggers conference, which is taking place in Colombo.
The Sri Lanka Campaign’s#ThinkAgain initiative encourages tourists to Sri Lanka to think carefully about the ethical choices involved in their holiday to Sri Lanka – particularly in terms of the risk they face that the money they spend will help line the pockets of alleged war criminals and help contribute to a worsening of the human rights situation It was today re-launched with new information and advice on how to travel to Sri Lanka and a list of 63 hotels, resorts, and attractions to avoid.
Fred Carver, Campaign Director for the Sri Lanka Campaign, said; “Sri Lanka has an appalling human rights record and the recently concluded civil war culminated in some of the worst atrocities of the 21st century. For this reason we do not think anyone should make the decision to visit Sri Lanka lightly.
“We are not opposed to people visiting Sri Lanka. Indeed, we think much good can come of such visits and that much harm could result if Sri Lanka is further isolated. Our site will help you understand both the negative and positive impacts of your trip and how, with thought and planning, you can better manage them.
“A large number of hotels and resorts are owned by the Sri Lankan Army. This is part of the Government of Sri Lanka’s attempt to ingrain the military into every aspect of Sri Lankan life, as well as an opportunistic attempt by the armed forces and the regime to profit from their positions of power. In this way the tourism industry in Sri Lanka is being used as a cover for the militarisation of Sri Lanka by stealth. It is important that tourists not contribute to this process.
“Virtually every package tour operator uses businesses from our list of concern; the Government run Sri Lankan Airlines provide the majority of flights, and use Sri Lanka’s inbound agencies which also handle Governmental hotels. Our campaign teaches tourists about the supply chain involved in their holiday, and encourages them to challenge their operators to avoid businesses with links to the regime.”
Dodo / November 19, 2014
Excellent campaign. It is indeed true that Sri Lanka has a tourism-military business complex as much as a Buddhist military business complex.
Buddhist over the world should also be told to boycott Sri Lanka, which is really a fascist state with a Buddhist facade that covers a criminal and corrupt Mahinda Jarapassa military dictatorship!
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mechanic / November 19, 2014
Visitors, please visit Colombo, (40% Muslim 35% Tamil and 25 Sinhala) capital city of Sri Lanka or any part of the country and see whether there is any discrimination.
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Taraki / November 19, 2014
Visitors please see the Charities Aid Foundation report for 2014 that shows Sri Lanka 9th in the world for Giving and 3rd for Volunteering Time. The sort of statistics the LTTE do not want to hear. https://www.cafonline.org/PDF/CAF_WGI2014_Report_1555AWEBFinal.pdf
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srilal / November 19, 2014
here is some news to ponder ,
A Chinese naval base for Sri Lanka?
http://newsfirst.lk/english/2014/11/chinese-naval-base-sri-lanka/63494
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Lapatiya / November 19, 2014
mechanic,
Places like Tangalle and Night Clubs where Dr. Mervin Silva’s son, future education minister, Malaka Silva around are also suitable places. Friends, henchman and Rajapaksha Local politicians will treat them without any discrimination.
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mechanic / November 20, 2014
People like Malaka Silva had been there under every President in Sri Lanka. Visitors could see that Sri Lanka is not all Malaka Silvas.
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kp / November 20, 2014
So you want people to ignore everything in Sri Lanka’s past that proves the contrary, and focus on what you want them to focus on: one single city?
You haven’t grasped the finer points of how to have an adult, logical conversation, have you?
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Native Vedda / November 20, 2014
mechanic
Visitors please note, 87,248 persons according to Sri Lanka Census of Population and Housing, 2011 do not have facilities.
Number of people not using a toilet
Colombo 574
Gampaha 775
Kalutara 745
Kandy 1591
Matale 666
Nuiwara Eliya 6,500
Galle £1008
Matara 402
Hambantota 600
Kurunagala 4,331
Anuradhapura 5,042
Polanaruwa 2,082
Badulla 2,079
Moneragala 2,212
Ratnapura 1,532
Kegalle 1,173
Jaffna 7,235
Mannar 2,397
Vavunia 4,018
Mullaitivu 4,967
Killinochi 6,300
Batticaloa 16,868
Ampara 4,233
Trincomalee 3,491
Puttalam 6,426
.
mechanic
Matale has a modern airport but no toilets for 666
Hambantota has a modern harbour but no toilets for 600
Army has been constructing roads, hotels, army camps, ………. yet 87,248 people do not have access to toilets.
We know comparatively speaking we have more per capita toilets than the Indians.
Do the tourists know about these facts?
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silva / November 23, 2014
NV,
“Army has been constructing roads, hotels, army camps, ………. yet 87,248 people do not have access to toilets. “
But the Rajapaksha Meeharaka calls for Presidential Election on World Toilet Day!
And the maggots like Mechanic, Taraki vomit statistics inside their cesspits about languishing demographics in the capital under the Meeharak palanaya of Rajapakshas.
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Spring Koha / November 19, 2014
The Campaign fails to warn our guests of threats and violence that emanate from the offspring of ministers. One official with connections to our Prez is now spending time in jail with accomplices for their part in the murder of one holidaymaker and the rape of the holidaymakers partner, and justice was achieved only after intervention by the dead man’s British MP and Prime Minister Cameron.
At this moment the son of minister vermin, along with his body guards and other friends, are in remand accused of violence against a British couple.
These are just the high profile cases. Other day-to-day transgressions go unreported or hushed up. Impunity rules these days, the foreign tourist who brings in the money is grudgingly indulged…and gently fleeced.
Welcome to Paradise and have a nice day!
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mechanic / November 19, 2014
Visitors to Sri Lanka need not worry about their life any longer for our armed forces has decommissioned all the Tamil human-bombs and made them to be human beings.
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Chandra / November 19, 2014
Tell that to the family of Khuram Shaikh
James Casserly must have assaulted himself.
GLP is scrapping the barrel to find a gullible high stool pigeon to take on the UK High Commissioners post.
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burt / November 20, 2014
Be careful the Mechanic is the Greece Yakka now on a different assignment to attach the opposition through the media.
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burt / November 20, 2014
Just curious does any one have stats of how many tourist were injured or killed by the rebels during 30 yrs of war?
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mechanic / November 20, 2014
burt, Which tourist dare come to Sri Lanka before 2009 to be blown up by Tamil human-bombs.
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Taraki / November 20, 2014
There was only one, Penelope Tremayne, the LTTE kidnapped her. They never made that mistake again.
‘This is a story of the great moral courage of an Englishwoman in her sixties who was kidnapped by Tamil terrorists in Sri Lanka and held for five weeks.’ – Amazon
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Iron-Bars-Cage-Penelope-Tremayne/dp/0434791164/ref=sr_1_2/276-6782535-1337563?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1416485072&sr=1-2
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Nishantha De Silva / November 19, 2014
muslims and tamils should not enjoy human rights simply because they are [Edited out]
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / November 19, 2014
Yawn! Is it the full moon? The dogs are barking again :D
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Native Vedda / November 19, 2014
Wee Tamizh senior journalist D: Siva Sankaran Sarma Menon
Ape Sinhala/Buddhists are busy breaking into houses. Now you can clean your rifle, flog your dog, whip your willy, and go to sleep.
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Anpu / November 19, 2014
Excellent work by Fred Carver and team at Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice.
Thank you.
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Vibhushana / November 19, 2014
Well, the Rajapaskes are incredibly smart and resourceful. Ceylon experience is unlike some remarkable mistakes made in some other theatres post-war.
In Iraq for example the military was simply let go after USA occupation. Subsequently, Iraq became idle devils playground on average 20 explosions a day killing thousands.
In Ceylon the military de-mobilisation is systematic and structured. The soldiers are either helping re-construction in the north or they are running a hotel or ferry. In the future these mini enterprises may be floated in the share market.
This chap Fred Carver is a simpleton like his fellow Tamils. The plonker is simply wasting Internet bandwidth with these Internet porn type material.
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AVB / November 19, 2014
Military …. protectors of the weak… In a weak Stupid-SB country, military is doing everything, road cleaning, businesses, diplomatic services, all civilian services, Unis, bla bla… it has to be.. because Sinhalese Buddhist are very weak humans.. no brains or spine to do even general civilian businesses or services.. Wake up SBs, take up your positions…
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Vibhushana / November 19, 2014
Well Ahem..,
Ceylon is top 10 “most generous” nation on earth. That is because we are Buddhist nation.
Ceylon also leads in almost all social and economic indicators in the SAARC region along with the other Buddhist country, Bhutan.
Ceylon has the fastest growing stock market in Asia next to China.
So your claim does not reflect the present realities does it really? if you were born among Buddhists I recon you are quite lucky as opposed to other similar countries.
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kp / November 20, 2014
Sri Lankans are very generous. Why, just a few months ago, people were shot for asking for drinking water.
[Edited out]
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sach / November 23, 2014
brother he has a point.
we sinhalese are lazy, even i accept that. Our laziness has nearly lost a country to us.
Lets we sinhalese stand up and fight for us not like the unintelligent nanda mathews and gota’s way…but in an intelligent way.
when he says small businesses it is true..Our fellows dislike towards taking risk and start businesses but take up jobs and relative peace and calm that comes with it has enabled these racists to grab the available economic opportunity. That is simply because we did not use it.
Lets use it….
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kp / November 20, 2014
Yes, the military is engaging in activities the civilian population in those areas depend on for their livelihood. Brilliant demobilisation plan (or should i say demoralization?)
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / November 20, 2014
Those ‘livelihoods of civilians’ you talk about seemed to consist mostly of coming up with more and more murderous ways of destroying the country. Before 2009 at least. With the military in charge those areas are finally making a positive contribution to the country’s development :D
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kp / November 21, 2014
Ah… the old all Tamils are terrorists argument.
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tourist / November 19, 2014
“The old Kantale Resthouse is today reincarnated as the Malima Lake Front Rest, Kantale” says its webite. This is managed by Sri Lanka air-force. See here:
http://lakefrontrest.lk/
And there is a whole chain of hotels run by the air force. See here:
http://www.malima.lk/
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Taraki / November 19, 2014
They are not just ‘managed’ they are very well managed. Compare them to the old resthouses….holes in pink walls filled with grey cement, idle staff, bad food, dirt and squalor. You wouldn’t board your dog there.
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Native Vedda / November 20, 2014
Taraki
Here is a good news for you:
Sri Lanka ruling party MP joins main opposition UNP
Thu, Nov 20, 2014, 09:31 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Nov 20, Colombo: United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Gampaha District parliamentarian Wasantha Senanayake today joined the main opposition United National Party (UNP) at the party headquarters, Sirikotha.
Holding a press conference at Sirikotha MP Senanayake said he joined the UNP because of democracy and other issues in the government. He confirmed that some other ruling party MPs were waiting to cross over to the UNP in future.
Public Management Reforms Minister Navin Dissanayake, son of former UNP presidential candidate Gamini Dissanayake is rumored to cross over to the UNP.
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_14B/Nov20_1416499311CH.php
How much Hindians are paying for each cross over back to UNP?
Would you now guarantee their safety?
Has UNP promised these shameless crooks any important ministry?
Its going to be a season for rats jumping ships. PLease change your name and visit this forum under another name probably “rats jumping ships” would be more suitable.
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Taraki / November 21, 2014
Veddah, SL rats are different to all other known rats. They jump ship and back again many times. Some of them wake up in the morning and are unsure which ship they belong to, they have to check their diaries…and bank balances. Meanwhile somewhere in the capitol Grr the cat, patiently waits his turn.
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / November 20, 2014
Thanks, will be sure to visit these and recommend them to everyone I know :D
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mechanic / November 20, 2014
What’ wrong Sri Lanka forces managing resthouses or guesthouses or whatever if they do it for the satisfaction of the customers? We love it, if you don’t like it just avoid it without showing your hatred.
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justice / November 19, 2014
In Pakistan, military is officially engaged in business on a large scale.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Inc.
http://www.aljazeera.com/focus/pakistanpowerandpolitics/2007/10/2008525184515984128.html
Pakistan has a Military Government.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/438805/Pakistan/276161/Military-government
Sri lanka is becoming like Pakistan.
The military will play a decisive role in the pending election.
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sach / November 23, 2014
United States is another country where military engage in business ventures
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Eusense / November 19, 2014
This kind of campaigns create nothing but animosity between the Sinhalese and the Tamils. Money behind these campaigns are from Tamil diaspora or paid NGOs. Tamils living in Sri Lanka has no interest or financial ability to initiate these friction creating activities.
The ultimate result will be more tighter restrictions on diaspora Tamils visiting their families in Sri Lanka and tighter regulations on NGOs.
They will only drag and delay harmony between Tamils and Sinhalese. I wish the diaspora change their old strategies, forget the past and move forward for the best of Tamils living in Sri Lanka.
More importantly none of these campaigns against tourist trade has worked; http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-05/sri-lanka-s-august-tourist-arrivals-by-country-table-.html
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Rajash / November 20, 2014
War tourism!
The Sri Lankan army conducted war tourism and still have a war museum of LTTE hardware, sub marines, planes and drawings of network of tunnels etc. The Sinhala south are still flocking to the North are awed by the ingenuity
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Taraki / November 20, 2014
True, it just shows how great the military and Government were to defeat such an organization. Visitors are even more awed by the ingenious way the military got rid of the menace. The arrogant Tamil brain was defeated by mere modayas. Not so clever after all.
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Rajash / November 20, 2014
Who defeated LTTE? The might of the army and intelligence of China, Pakistan,India, USA UK
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Burning Issue / November 20, 2014
Taraki,
It was nothing whatsoever to do with your military ingenuity but because of the following factors precipitated the demise of the LTTE:
1. The CFA had weaken the LTTE’s resolve by Karuna defection
2. The world focus changed after the 9/11 with the Bush administration.
3. India found in MR a man to be used to eliminate VP
4. The West believed that by removing the LTTE, the Tamils will get a political solution.
5. Every endeavour has a shelf life and the LTTE’s was nearing
This is why the army was able to beat the LTTE. So it is time for you to move on from the elongated triumphalism that has fixed a set of blinkers on people like you!
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Taraki / November 20, 2014
BI & Rajash
‘Who defeated LTTE? The might of the army and ……’
‘It was nothing whatsoever to do with your military ingenuity…’
Can the two of you please decide which it was, SLA is very puzzled.
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Rajash / November 20, 2014
Taraki “SLA is very puzzled. “
say no more
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Native Vedda / November 20, 2014
Taraki
“Can the two of you please decide which it was, SLA is very puzzled.”
VP won the war for MR with great Hindian intervention. West played a supporting role.
MR is eternally grateful to VP for electing him as the president and then winning the war.
In between poor Sinhala village boys and LTTE cadres sacrificed their life for the glory of MR and VP.
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Burning Issue / November 20, 2014
Taraki,
If you had really read the two pieces, you would find both are not mutually exclusive! We did not contradict each other; I have given more information as it were. So, there is nothing for us to decide and the ball is back in your court :)
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / November 20, 2014
Monkeys still can’t accept the fact that their “boys” were given the hiding of their rather short lives by the Lankan forces :D
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Burning Issue / November 21, 2014
Sarma,
It is about time you grow up! All I had given are the factors that precipitated the demise of the LTTE. The LTTE is no more and I have no issues with that. However, what is the difference between the LTTE and the MR regime?
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sach / November 23, 2014
what is the difference between the LTTE and the MR regime?………..
LTTE waged a war, MR stopped a war
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Native Vedda / November 21, 2014
Wee Tamihz Senior Journalist D: Siva Sankaran Sarma
“Monkeys still can’t accept the fact that their “boys” were given the hiding of their rather short lives by the Lankan forces :D”
Brilliant
While the forces and politicians were hiding behind their women folks and VP’s fat bump “boys” gave a bloody nose to the invading foreigners, costing nearly 2000 lives.
Probably the thumb sucking yet to be groomed hack was in his cradle bursting out with many of the “thumbsuckers” later being published here.
Congratulations.
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sach / November 23, 2014
ha ha the usual excuse giving of LTTE defeat by ppl who claim they do not justify LTTE :)
1. The CFA did not weaken LTTE, rather strengthen it. The CFA gave opportunity for LTTE to come to areas and build bunkers in areas they did not had control previously. LTTE was getting ready for eelam war 4 and utilized cease fire (like everytime) to position their cadres in strategic locations in both land and sea. And to gather information on army camps in SLA controlled areas.
LTTE sent their intelligence agents to colombo to gather infor and build a network for future suicide missions in colombo after they opted out of the CFA.
The old and pointless karuna argument is invalid. With Karuna only a small fraction broke away and majority of eastern flank stayed with prabha. Some of them died in Anandapuram.
2. yeah world focus changed but still white world considered terrorists who attack whites as terrorists, otherwise they are rebels. That is why US administration tried to save prabha even at the last moment. UK and whole of europe which is influenced by norwegians were pro LTTE. This is after 9/11. Solheim supported LTTE in arms purchase as well.
3. What is the use to india by eliminating Prabha? why was MR a man to be used to eliminate LTTE? Arent you in another way saying the same thing Taraki is saying? It is true India supported MR but that was because they too realized removing LTTE from the picture is vital for peace in SL including for tamils.
4. The west never believed in removing LTTE. That is why west made every attempt to stop the war and rescue Prabhakaran.
5. No LTTE was not nearing end….rather LTTE was nearing its realization of objective which the sinhala modayas turned upside down.
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Prem / November 20, 2014
LTTE defeated with help from UK, USA. India, China, Isreal weapon supply, Japan Money supply. And some Sri Lanka thugs trained by the UK Royal war school.
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Abhaya / November 20, 2014
Ha ha what a joke .
Cheers
Abhaya
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Native Vedda / November 20, 2014
bla bla blaAbhaya
“Ha ha what a joke”
What is the joke.
Could you share it with us.
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Jim softy / November 20, 2014
If Donkeys can understand.
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ela kolla / November 20, 2014
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
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Jim softy / November 20, 2014
In Thailand and Egypt, Military engage in governing the country too.
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kp / November 20, 2014
And we all know how well that turned out.
Or do we? Must be hard to hear of world affairs from that well you live in.
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mechanic / November 20, 2014
Chandra, When that innocent Sri Lankan student Thavisha Peiris was stabbed and murdered in Sheffield, what have you intimated to his family? If Nonnis is a cultured man he should have avoided a party with a thug.
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Chandra / November 20, 2014
mechanic
re Thavisha Peiris famly received quick justice within a year. Two were sentenced to life.
It took 4 long years for Khuram Shaikh family to get justice.
Oh btw- Presidential Pardon is on the pipeline Sampath Vidanapathirana.
psst mechanic- heard about the 5 Indian Drug dealers. Good advert for Drug dealing tourists to Sri Lanka.
Nice one Presidente
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / November 20, 2014
I am sure the number of tourist arrivals includes the Diaspora Tamils who visit the north. From what I had seen their numbers were substantial. The new rules regarding travel to the north will curtails these visits substantially. They also bring in substantial amounts of foreign exchange What is the impact these stupid and knee-jerk rules affect the overall tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka?
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Eusense / November 20, 2014
RN,
Oh yes, the Tamil diaspora is why the SL tourist trade is booming. Apparently you had counted them to say “I had seen their numbers were substantial”!
Again you are right, we should allow free access to Jaffna to these diaspora in spite of their ant-SL and terror past.
Going by these diaspora who post here, SL is the worst country in the world. Even you proclaim, that Tamils have no rights, discriminated, beaten up, raped, intimidated etc. etc. If so how come “substantial number” of them visit this hell?
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Ananda-USA / November 21, 2014
As President of Sri Lanka, MR has to judge what is in the best benefit of all Sri Lankans. Is it in taking the lives of these drug dealers and upholding SL law, or retaining the support of Narendra Modi, who is confronting the Racist Leaders of Tamil Nadu and defending SL as NO OTHER Indian Leader has done before?
I think the choice is obvious, for releasing them to Modi’s custody is of MUCH GREATER BENEFIT to SL than not upholding the sentence of court or commuting the sentence. If the sentence had been carried out, it would have long therm repercussions on India-Sri Lanka relations. If it was commuted, there would be CONTINUOUS AGITATION for their release and the cost of maintaining them in prison till the end of their days.
I think MR did the right thing RELEASING THEM to Indian custody at Modi’s request. Now, SL has done a favour for Modi, and he is that much in debt to SL. Governance in the best interest of SL is not so SIMPLE
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G&T / November 21, 2014
I thought I’ll help Native Vedda to complete his “WORLD TOILET SURVEY”
Improved Sanitation facilities (% of population with access) 2012
Sri Lanka – 92%
BRICS Countries:
India – 36%
China – 65%
Russia – 71%
South Africa – 74%
Brazil – 81%
Your Neighbours:
Afghanistan – 29%
India – 35%
Pakistan – 48%
Bangladesh – 57%
Indonesia – 59%
Access to improved sanitation facilities refers to the percentage of the population using improved sanitation facilities. The improved sanitation facilities include flush/pour flush (to piped sewer system, septic tank, pit latrine), ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrine, pit latrine with slab, and composting toilet.
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply and Sanitation (http://www.wssinfo.org/).
Catalog Sources World Development Indicators
http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.STA.ACSN
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Native Vedda / November 21, 2014
G&T
Thanks for your information.
What is your intention behind providing these vital statistics? Is it your intention to provide them with much needed toilets?
How does their missing toilets make this island clean and hygienic?
Are we talking about comparative cleanliness at the same time being complacent about ours?
You do understand that I am concerned about this island than the rest of the countries that you mentioned above because this is my island.
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Eusense / November 22, 2014
Vedda,
I guess G&T’s intention is to answer your vacuous question,”Do the tourists know about these facts?”
Tourists don’t care which town has what number of toilets!
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sach / November 23, 2014
native vaddha is the equivalent to Aswer in parliament.
Just ignore him.
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