Monthly Archive for December, 2022

MRIA to be promoted as an ‘exotic tourism destination airport’

Published on 31/12/2022 in front page. 0 Comments
Matala Rajapack Airport at Christmas 2022

Airport and Aviation Services yesterday said it is keen on promoting Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) as an “exotic tourism destination airport”, so that its full potential can be realised. 


Airport and Aviation Services Chairman Major General G.A. Chandrasiri said that the efforts towards that goal would be rolled out by promoting hotspots such as Ella, Yala, Arugam Bay and Udawalawa, which can easily be accessed via MRIA. 


He stressed that MRIA is an “attractive” airport for tourism, as it provides easy access to wildlife parks, beaches and cultural and religious attractions. “This route development will boost the tourism industry in Sri Lanka, especially in the post-pandemic period,” said Chandrasiri at the ceremony that was held to welcome the first charter flight by Russia’s Red Wings.With the landing of Red Wings, MRIA resumed international operations after nearly two years. The last international flight that arrived at MRIA was in 2021.

Arugam Dan. @ MIRA in 2022
Arugam Dan & Father at MIRA 2022

Source:
https://www.dailymirror.lk/business-news/MRIA-to-be-promoted-as-an-exotic-tourism-destination-airport/273-251325

Leader of the Panama Pattuwa Land Struggle

Published on 31/12/2022 in front page. 1 Comment
Gnanamuttu Kusumawathi

Photo courtesy of Samanthi J. Gunawardana

Gnanamuttu Kusumawathi, known as Kusuma akka, passed away five years ago. We remember her rebellious spirit and strength with admiration and gratitude. Kusuma akka was a leader in the Panama Pattuwa (Pattuwa refers to an identified area of land in Sinhala) land struggle from August 2010 until the day she died of a heart attack on December 23, 2017. We reflect on her contribution and leadership in the land struggle and on where it is at present, especially in light of the vibrant social movements that emerged in 2022. Her contribution marks a long unrecognized tradition of leadership among rural women in Sri Lanka.

Kusuma akka, like her parents, husband and children, was born in Panama in 1973, a coastal town in Eastern Sri Lanka. Before the emergence of the prominent land struggle the area was understood through the lens of an era-defining separatist war between the LTTE and the armed forces. Panama was an intermediate area in the landscape of contested territory where Tamil and Sinhala communities had a long history of intermarriage, kinship and ritual. Caste was the major source of social division rather than ethnicity. Panama had religious and spiritual significance. The two ethnic communities were connected through cross religious ritual and worship involving the god Murugan (Tamil Hindu) known as Kataragama deiyo (Sinhalese) and Hindu goddess Pattini (Kannagi in Tamil) and god K?valan. Pattini in particular is worshiped in Panama across all social categories and is seen as protecting the villages and giving its people strength.

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New Years’s Eve Event

Published on 29/12/2022 in front page. 0 Comments

New Years Eve Get-Together
@ The Old Siam View Hotel.
Arugam Bay.
Everyone is welcome.
As Always:
Gents walk Inn FREE – Ladies Pay Double 😉

Doors will open at 5pm as always.
There will be mellow music, good drinks, nice people.
Every Non Drunk / Non Aggressive Person is Most welcome!