Sri Lanka’s hidden pearl
Labels: casp, fisheries, pottuvil, tamil, video
source:
http://rebuildampara.blogspot.com/2007/03/pottuvil-fisheries-lac-meeting.html
As from today Arugambay has lost its connection to the reliable Thai Government Early Warning system.
The locally monitored, innovative and highly efficient Early Warning System has finally run out of money.
The only sponsor, the SVH has been unable to attract any financial help and had to pull the plug on the population.
With good reason, people in the remote Bay learned to rely on homegrown systems and do not trust outside help or Colombo Government warnings.
For example, should a sea quake happen 50 miles offshore, the warning period is a mere 5 Minutes. AbaY’s systems would have detected that, and given quick, local response by activating high sirens, potentially saving hundreds of lives.
The attached SMS system also is no longer in operation; subscribers have been notified.
Should you wish to find out more, and the history of our system, there is ample coverage on this site: simply use the search facility and most articles should come up.
Arugam.info regrets that with all the collected Millions a few hundred $$ could not be found to protect residents and visitors from forthcoming events.
And: Make no mistake: They will happen!
So much for supporting a ‘true sustainable’ and worthwhile Community ‘Project’.
For the sake of all the ‘helpful’ NGO – “ENJOYS” we hope that nothing drastic happens soon!
Apart from security concerns the main problem facing the Bay is the distance from the only International Airport, Colombo. And the high cost of getting across the island.
To hire a taxi, van or minibus to take you over 320km of bumpy roads today cost you even more than a flight ticket to Bangkok ($110).
So far, there is no comfortable, reliable bus service connecting the Bay.
Arugam.info thinks that a good, say 60 seater air conditioned, second hand Tourist Bus could be purchased for about the same price as one of the houses (nobody really wants anymore) is being put up in the back woods of the Bay, i.e. 1.4Mill. rupees (14,000$).
By removing half the seats, fitting the bus out well, including a good sound and vision system and with a team of 4 drivers on rotation shifts this service could travel EVERY day:
06:00 Airport- 08:00 Colombo/Galle Face- 18:00 Arugam Bay
20:00 Arugam Bay- 06:00 Airport- 08:00 Colombo/Galle Face
With the new motorway a stop at Hikkaduwa is also possible, making this a very interesting and highly lucrative bus route, even locals would love to use.
Furthermore, Arugam.info would totally paint the Tourist bus all round with nature motives of the Bay and Yala East for three reasons:
1.) To promote Arugam Bay and make the resort known in the capital
2.) To demonstrate that regular, daily travel presents no problem
3.) To show checkpoints that this is a TOURIST Bus by such it will make control easier
Indeed, the operator and conductor would be security trained personel who would carry out vigilant pre-checks throughout and not allow any suspicious passenger on board.
After a few runs, experience has shown that an almost free passage will follow through all the check points.
The proposed fare should be around 10$/trip incl. refreshments making this a highly profitable mini business.
This service would be a benefit to the entire community and promote tourism.
The government route permits are no problem, as no such service exists so far.
|
By Roland Buerk
BBC News, Colombo |
 |
Sri Lanka’s navy says it has sunk two cargo vessels at sea.
A spokesman said both the ships, which were off the country’s south-east coast, were believed to be carrying weapons for the Tamil Tigers.
The incidents come as battles on land intensify between government forces and the rebels fighting for a separate state in the north-east.
Despite a ceasefire still being in place on paper, the island is sliding back towards a full-scale civil war.
‘Warnings ignored’
The first vessel was spotted during the night by navy patrol craft.
The 70-metre-long (229ft) ship was challenged and warning shots were fired across her bows. But the crew fired back and a battle followed.
There were large explosions on board the ship before the vessel sank.
After the skirmish, the navy patrol came across a similar ship nearby that also ignored orders to stop for an inspection.
After warnings, it was destroyed too.
Navy spokesman Lt Cdr Rohan Joseph said he believed both vessels were carrying weapons for the Tamil Tigers.
‘Army confident’
The incidents at sea come Sri Lanka’s military is moving to take remaining pockets of the eastern province still held by the Tigers.
More than 40,000 people have fled their homes in the district of Batticaloa.
The Tigers have said the armed forces have made several attempts to storm their defensive lines in the north of Sri Lanka but have been beaten back.
The ceasefire that has been in place since 2002 is being ignored by both sides.
A senior defence official has said the fighting could last for another two to three years and he said the government was confident it could defeat the Tigers on the battlefield.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6463817.stm
Arugam Bay has just two main problems:
Misinformation and the distance from the airport.
We will deal with transport in the next idea post.
Arugam.info therefore proposes to establish an airport Information Counter, staffed by knowledgeable, English speaking East Coast residents. This would assist the poorest region, greatly help visitors and also become a credit to the Nation.
As long as up-to-date reliable and unbiased information is given to arriving tourists.
It is a fact that most west coast guides have never been past Buttala or indeed anywhere near the East in their life time.
They obviously keep on recommending just own contacts and friends to arriving foreigners.
It is known that many would be visitors looking for proper, balanced Information decided against visiting Arugam Bay after talking to West Coast ‘Guides’.
Because malicious people keep on painting impressions such as below:
This may sadly be justified in Iraq. But has not a hint of justification in peaceful, calm and military totally unimportant Arugam Bay, including its approach roads.
Arugam Bay suffers from just two mayor problems.
One: The distance from Colombo; we’ll deal with that in our next “Idea” post.
The other is the lack of good information available to arriving tourists at the airport.
Arugam.info proposes the establishment of an airport Information Counter.
Maybe representing the entire East Coast, the local staff should be able to include proper and up to date security information.
It is known that many prospective visitors are misinformed at the point of arrival, for a variety of reasons. Most West Coast guides have never been in the East or indeed past Buttalla in their life time, and obviously prefer to recommend their own friends and contacts to any tourist showing an interest in traveling to the other side.
A simple counter could bring huge benefits to the poorest region, present an overdue service to visitors and be a credit to the Country as a whole.
We like it like this above.
Not like below!
Which is the totally wrong impression many would be Arugam Bay visitors seem to gain so far of our peaceful, military totally unimportant little Bay:
Sri Lanka Navy ships operating in the Eastern waters destroyed an LTTE arms carrying vessel around 9 this morning. Naval sources said that the vessel sank with huge explosion onboard, at a location approximately 190 NM east of Arugam bay in the eastern sea of the Island. The sources said that the vessel is about 70m in length and displayed no ensign.
More details will follow.
source:
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070318_03
AbaY on fire!
In recent memory, there is only just one single day when this kind of sad event, similar to above, would not have concerned us too much.
And this may have been the 26th December, 2004……
At all other times it could wipe out the entire Bay! Given bad wind directions.
Why?
Because the next fire truck is parked up about 2-3 hours away, in Monaragala or Ampara.
How about donating an old, redundant fire truck to the Bay – to be stationed half way between Panama and PottuVille, i.e in Arugambay?
Both towns either side of us also have no fire service.
Unthinkable in the West or any civilized Society!
Who has a few $$$ left over to supply an old truck to save lives?
Obviously this idea is also beyond the means of any caring NGO.
They are here to change lives. Not save them.
It had been a tediously slow drive back from the hills to Colombo as there were sporadic stretches of road in horrendous condition due to the ongoing road expansion. No amount of ranting at the mental midgets in charge of our highways had made any difference to their incompetence and the idiocy continues unabated, causing untold hardships to the residents along the route and to the unfortunates that have to experience traversing it – us among them.
The ‘done’ stretch starts around Beluhil Oya – nice and wide and with a super surface – perfect for reasonably fast-ish driving. Hardly any traffic either, so the going was pretty smooth and we were making up for lost time. Around Ratnapura, however, the traffic intensifies and since it takes only one moron to screw things up, we found ourselves behind a trail of assorted vehicles. An ancient lorry was chugging along at the pace of a speedy snail, followed by a combination of container flat-beds, a small tractor-trailer, private busses, cars and SUVs. The snaking road left few opportunities to overtake, with the oncoming traffic posing problems whenever there was a straight stretch ahead. And so the gradual process of getting ahead of the vehicle in front of us began – until finally, we got clear. And as if in celebration of the liberation, Runa stepped on it and we flew forward – free of the impediments of the crawlers. We were close to Avissawela, which meant only an hour to reach home, when the dreaded spectre with the speed-gun loomed in front and signaled us to stop.
‘Fuck!’, was the automatic expression that escaped my lips, whilst I quickly groped for the letter that is from a government ministry that informs whoever reads it that that this vehicle is engaged in rehabilitation work in the east. It was originally meant to ease our passage when encountering the numerous security check-points east of Monaragala on the way to Komari. This document has got us out of many a jam and has even persuaded traffic cops in many parts of the country to let us off with a warning, so it was like an automatic reaction to whip it out. I heard Runa say something to the cop, who was displaying the piddly 76 kms on the screen of his speed-gun, as he handed him the letter. Didn’t seem to work this time though, as Runa returned to get the license, registration and whatever else and followed the cop who was rendezvousing with his sergeant partner who was hiding behind some bushes – sneaky!
Anyway, we got written up and Runa was handed a scrap of paper – his temporary driver’s license, until he redeemed his own after paying the fine. All well and good! However, the major bummer was that the incompetent shit-heads didn’t have the proper form on which to write up the offense, so they told Runa to go to the Police Station, get the proper form filled up, then go to the Post Office, pay the fine, get a receipt and then he could get his license back!
Frustration personified, we went through the process. Cop shop – form filled – Post Office – fine paid (Rs. 1,100!!) – back to the spot where the cops were to get the license back –NO COPS!! Okay, be cool, I tell myself. No point in getting hassled over something entirely beyond control. So I was ‘cool’, but mouthed a few expletives for a few kilometers, wondering why I ever bother leaving the tranquility of Flower Book.
I was told later, that the best way to ease the pain is to slip a Rs. 500 note with the license, saying that if it is a spot fine please take it and they won’t need to bother with the hassle of writing it up. Never have tried that yet, but next time – who knows?
source:
http://javajones.wordpress.com/2007/03/14/147/
Fresh drinking water at Arugam Bay still presents a major problem, to this very day.
None of the educated (?) NGO’s ever managed to come up with a true, ’sustainable’ idea which actually worked. In more than two years. With millions wasted.
Arugam.info sees no real problem, after all forward thinking Thais have long embraced popular reverse osmosis water dispensers. Even in the USA they may have heard of it.
Indeed, on every street corner in the Kingdom of Siam you will see residents refilling their PVC bottles and containers with fresh, clean, and fully trusted water.
A good contribution to the environment. But what made it really popular across the Indian Ocean is the fact that there are huge savings to the consumer.
Further more, this homegrown AbaY mini project is actually dead simple.
Once set up it is a brilliant, self-sustaining little business venture, open 24hrs/day all year round.
The machines are available off the shelf, from many suppliers, at reasonable cost.
http://www.waternet.co.th/downloads/Promotion%20Page%205.jpg
A 5Rs./ coin would dispense one or one and a half liter of cooled, pressurized drinking water, potentially making huge profits.
If AbHa or Arugam.info would have a fraction of all the cash wasted on totally useless and also dangerous (potentially poison could be added to street containers in front of local enemies. Not far fetched in a war zone) water supply projects what would we do?
Nothing could be more easy!
We would simply pick up the phone, order, say 5 or six coin operated dispenser machines and place them throughout the Bay.
In just a month or so residents, businesses and visitors would all enjoy clean water, and no more plastic bottles would be littering the beautiful Bay.
For all the super clever self-sustaining ENJOY’s THIS cool idea is of course far too simple and effective?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_osmosisÂ
Arugam.info needs YOUR contribution & input!
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This YOUR home page – make it even more interesting!
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Email address is above!
Watch this space; in preparation are the following posts right now:
1.) Tsunami Early Warning system in danger
2.) UTube video clips to be added to hotel descriptions
3.) Rip-offs and frauds – be warned!
4.) Land, Property & Investment report
5.) Rotary Club work in the East
6.) School in Panama & Student exchanges
7.) Sports sans Frontiers report
8.) SewaLanka investigation
Please contribute your own story!
Here is a google map of our beloved ArugamBay… more places will be added soon, have fun !!!
The Tsunami Animal People Alliance (TAPA) has, in the true sense of the word: emBarked on a dog sterilization program at Arugam Bay.
In total 300 – 400 dogs are being treated locally. Arugam.info is informed that about 10,000 have been spayed island wide already.
It is said to be the best and most humane method of controlling stray and infected animals.
The visiting, all Sri Lankan team consists of 4 qualified vets and 7 assistants, a van, and a mobile clinic.
Arugam.info is informed that a budget of 18$/dog has been secured by foreign donors, most of which (10$) will be used for quality drugs and medicines.
Take a look at the work in the attached photo album.
http://picasaweb.google.com/arugamsurf/TAPAAtAbaY
Their web site is:
www.Tsunami-Animal.org.
A FaQ is posted as Comment below.
…Could it work in Arugam Bay, the East or indeed Sri Lanka?
Maybe some NGO should start Happiness classes?
Path to true happiness ‘revealed’
Fictional Slough character David Brent in BBC’s The Office enjoys a good laugh
Experts believe they have found the essential ingredients to make a person’s life happier.
In an unusual three-month experiment, six specialists from a variety of disciplines worked to improve the happiness levels of a typical UK town.
The experts tried and tested 10 simple measures in the quest for happiness.
They found successful strategies included nurturing a plant, smiling at strangers and cutting television viewing by a half.
A four-part observational documentary series, Making Slough Happy, beginning on BBC Two on Tuesday, follows the team and their progress.
We will begin to change the psychological climate of Slough
Dr Richard Stevens, one of the happiness experts
The happiness team includes psychologist Dr Richard Stevens, psychotherapist Brett Kahr, work place specialists Jessica Pryce-Jones and Philippa Chapman, social entrepreneur Andrew Mawson OBE and Richard Reeves, whose expertise spans philosophy, public policy and economics.
During the series, they take 50 volunteers from Slough, with the aim of planting the “seeds of happiness” amongst this core group who will then spread their cheer to others in a ripple effect.
The 10 steps to happiness
Plant something and nurture it
Count your blessings – at least five – at the end of each day
Take time to talk – have an hour-long conversation with a loved one each week
Phone a friend whom you have not spoken to for a while and arrange to meet up
Give yourself a treat every day and take the time to really enjoy it
Have a good laugh at least once a day
Get physical – exercise for half an hour three times a week
Smile at and/or say hello to a stranger at least once each day
Cut your TV viewing by half
Spread some kindness – do a good turn for someone every day
Dr Stevens explained: “The volunteers will take their newfound skills and attitudes out into the community, and in this way we will begin to change the psychological climate of Slough.”
Based on best knowledge and research, the team came up with a 10-point plan for happiness.
The experts measured the happiness levels of the Slough volunteers before, during and after the end of the project to assess if their methods were effective.
Throughout their experiment, the expert team face the challenge of selling their science to a potentially sceptical public, unprepared for their unconventional approach – from dancing in a supermarket aisle, to a spot of graveyard therapy and tree hugging.
Making Slough Happy is broadcast on Tuesdays at 9pm on BBC Two, starting 15 November, 2005.
original article:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4436482.stm
Warning!
Your concerned Arugam.info webmistress informs:
Many, if not all private Internet providers in Sri Lanka may soon go out of business.
The main reason is that they can no longer compete with the speed and services and prices SLT (Sri Lanka Telecon) offers.
Only SLT has a low rate access number (1250) and gives low cost high speed packages.
The population in the East, however, has to pay more than 10times the amount of a typical Colombo subscriber.
The now, sadly closed Community Internet office at Arugam Bay, for example is charged 32,000Rs./ /month for a 64kb lease line circuit. This is the lowest prices package.
CASP pays near 2,000US$/ month for their 512kb line at the new office at Akkaraipattu.
In Colombo, Kandy, Galle etc. a 64kb connection would be a mere 2,650/month or so.
Yet another blow and added burden for the poor guys out East.
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