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Building Hotels in the East ..

By Paul Tighe
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Nov. 8 (Bloomberg) — Sri Lanka’s army and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam fought near the northern city of Jaffna as President Mahinda Rajapaksa vowed in his annual budget speech to “eradicate” terrorism in the South Asian island nation.

At least 52 LTTE fighters were killed when the army stopped an advance at Muhamalai, the Defense Ministry said on its Web site late yesterday. The LTTE said 16 soldiers were killed when army units attacked its positions, TamilNet reported.

The Tamil Tigers have “demonstrated that they will never be ready to surrender arms and agree to a democratic political settlement,” Rajapaksa told Parliament. “In this background, we have no alternative but to completely eradicate terrorism.”

The LTTE, which is fighting for a separate homeland, controls areas in the north after being driven from the eastern region by the army in July. Sri Lanka’s military stepped up attacks on LTTE bases in the north and targeted its naval unit, including destroying its last weapons-smuggling vessel since capturing the Eastern Province.

The 24-year-long conflict has resulted in the deaths of more than 70,000 people. Fighting intensified as two attempts at peace talks in Geneva failed last year.

Soldiers are in control of LTTE bunkers at Muhamalai, the Defense Ministry said, adding that 11 servicemen were killed in the fighting yesterday.

LTTE forces repulsed the army’s attack, TamilNet cited Irasiah Ilanthirayan, the LTTE’s military spokesman, as saying. As many as 100 soldiers were wounded, he added.

During the past year, the government has stopped the rebels’ arms smuggling operations, targeted their illegal fundraising activities and curbed their overseas operations, Rajapaksa said in his speech.

Air Base

The Tamil Tigers showed they are unwilling to seek peace by attacking an airbase in the northeast last month, Rajapaksa said. The LTTE said members of its “Black Tiger” unit used for suicide missions raided the base on Oct. 22. Eight aircraft and helicopters were destroyed, the military said.

“Despite the armed strengths and the brutal actions of terror, we were able to rescue the entire Eastern Province,” the president said.

The government has said it is seeking $1.8 billion in aid for the region. Redeveloping the three eastern districts, after 24 years of fighting, will add 2 percentage points to economic growth, the government estimates.

Building hotels in Batticaloa, Ampara and Trincomalee will open up the 462-kilometer (287-mile) coastline of white sands, surf and palm trees to tourists. The government also plans to hold elections in the province next year.

Defense Spending

Sri Lanka needs to keep defense spending at 3.5 percent of gross domestic product and find a “lasting solution” to the conflict with Tamil rebels, Rajapaksa said.

“The fight against terrorism is not a fight against the Tamil people,” Rajapaksa said. “It is our duty to and responsibility to protect and preserve the democratic rights of Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese in all parts of the island.”

The rebels say any peace agreement must be based on a separate homeland. Tamils made up 11.9 percent of the population, according to the 2001 census, the government’s Census and Statistics Department said. Sinhalese make up almost 74 percent of Sri Lanka’s 20 million people.

The government has rejected a settlement that divides the country and is offering to devolve power to some provinces.

To contact the reporter on this story: Paul Tighe in Sydney at Order isoniazid pronunciation ptighe@bloomberg.net

source:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=aNv8jI_zOWus&refer=india

Lahugala Queen

From Devundera to Dedigama

It is difficult to imagine that Dedigama once had a paramount ruler and was the administrative capital of the country in the 14th century.

A mile or two to your right from Nelundeniya, as you drive towards Kandy, there is little evidence today in this sleepy village of the Sri Vibhutiya this once splendid city is said to have had, according to the Tisara Sandesaya, the oldest of our sandesa poems.

Again, we have no Alakeswara around to contest my elevation of Dedigama to the administrative capital of a


Map of ancient Ceylon

paramount ruler of the island when about the same time he was building the fortress of the Sri Jayavadanapura to outwit the predatory attacks of those fief holders in Jaffna, who styled themselves the Arya Chakravartis and not Dravida Chakravartis.

Truth to say the 14th century was a pretty confusing period in our history with a third kingdom, and a Bhuveneka Bahu as its head, was attempting to run the country from Gampala.

The Tisara Sandesaya itself makes it clear that these were troubled times. For the author of the poem, an unidentified monk from Matara, was using a swan to fly a message in the form of a poem, all the way from the southern tip of the island in Devundera, to Dedigama, praying to the god Upulvan to safeguard the king and his ministers from the treachery of his enemies who were plotting to overthrow him.

Perhaps he needed such a reassurance. Though nothing in detail is still known about the shadowy events of this time, there was a good deal of intrigue going on. The astute Alakeswara did not like what the kinglet of Dedigama, Parakrama Bahu V, was up to. For reasons not too clear he seemed to have been in the way of his plans and had to be got rid of. And he did it in the most amazing way.

It appears that at this time in the countryA?a??a??s most confusing period, the kinglet with the most clout was the Aryachakravarti in the North. He had on the land side swept down to Matale and was almost a stoneA?a??a??s throw from Gampala.

On the seaside he had command over all the western ports from Chilaw, Wattala right up to Panadura. Soon he could get complete control over the countryA?a??a??s economy. It was in anticipation of all this that Alakeswara built his solid fortress in Kotte. How solid such a fort could be may be described in the words of Codrington:

A central tower of four storeys was surrounded by two concentric stockades, between which lay a ditch twenty to thirty cubits wide, strewn with thorns and spikes. This ditch was some 700 feet round.

Beyond the outer stockade lay another similar ditch, and beyond this a row of spikes and a thorn fence with a deeper ditch outside. The whole was surrounded by an outer space cleared in the forest.

The approaches were defended by concealed pits dug in the paths, commanded by archers in ambush. In the attack on this fortress…stones were hurled from engines, of reed fired and thrown among the enemy, and of fire darts. Permanent fortifications (such as Kotte) were to be found only in the case of cities. (A Short History of Ceylon).

Meanwhile, Gampala with the backing of Raigama (in effect Alakeswara) was intriguing with the Aryachakravarti to rid Dedigama of Parakrama Bahu V. If you are reminded of similar unholy alliances being arranged today you are not far wrong.

How it all happened is not spelt out in any history book, but the evidence that the Aryachakravarti left behind of his Dedigama invasion was a stone inscription in Tamil in the heart of the Sinhala stronghold, eight or nine miles away from the capital.

The Kotagama stone, as it is known, has remained a mystery, intriguing our epigraphists just as much as the trilingual stone in Galle.

Here is this very poetic (too poetic in fact as a memorial of conquest) inscription left on the Kotagama stone as translated from the Tamil by the Indian government epigraphist, with some explanatory words in brackets:

The innocent women-folk of Anuresa (term used for any Sinhala capital) who did not submit to Aryan of Singainagar of foaming and resounding waters exhibiting drops of water in (shed tears from) their lance shaped eyes and spread their forehead-marks on their beautiful braceleted lotus like hands (erased them in their token of widowhood).

Having succeeded with his first move Alakeswara turned to his second. He threw the gauntlet into the Aryachakravarti camp by hanging his tax collectors sent by Aryachakavarti to gather the tax from the hill country (the pay off for ousting the kinglet from Dedigama). Aryachakravarti did not take this lightly. He planned a simultaneous attack on several fronts both in the hills as well as in several places on the western coast.

However, the men who Alakeswara had trained in guerilla fighting did their jobs splendidly and Aryachakravarti was totally routed and his ships off the Panadura coast were left in flames. It was not only a rout but also a slap in the face of the Vijayanagar imperialists who had by then taken over the reins from the Pandyan king and the funding of the fief holder in the North for his Lankan adventure.

Ampicillin order Parakrama Bahu V had nothing else to do now but flee to the south. And there he took up residence with his queen at Lahugala. The remains of a palace, now popularly known as Vihara MahadeviA?a??a??s Maligawa, carrying an inscription has helped to identify the Dedigama king and his queen.

The queen was wife to both the Gampala and Dedigama rulers according to the polyandrous custom prevailing at that time. A more recent discovery of an inscription says that Parakrama Bahu V set sail from the south to Java with whom this Savulu dynasty, the latest, had intimate connections. But that story must await another day

Dedigama that entered history first as the preferred country residence of the Gampala kings went into a slow decline soon after these embarrassing moments in our history. But it need not fade altogether from our minds because it holds several momentous events of political and cultural importance some of which are seldom held up as the sri vibhutiya of our country.

First, only a few still know that this is the birth- place of the only king in this country who has earned the singular honour of being called The Great. Though the landmark that was erected by him to commemorate his birthplace is in the shape of a dagoba, an unfinished one at that, Parakrama Bahu The GreatA?a??a??s resting place has come to be called the kotavehera.

In fact it may not have been meant as a place of worship because hardly anyone visits it today or ever did for that purpose. Further, this great hero did not come as they usually do from either the Ruhuna or the Raja Rata but from the Maya Rata, maya signifying cunning and diplomacy, both of which he was master.

The memorial left by the great Parakrama Bahu deserves greater recognition today. The second event is how Dedigama comes to figure in the abduction and transport to China, of the ruler of Raigama, Veera Alagakkonara, from his capital in Kotte by the Chinese admiral Cheng Ho.

The evidence is now forthcoming that it was done with the assistance of another Parakrama Bahu, known to historians as the Dedigama Parakrama Bahu. In a struggle for power that reined at that time, China apparently had come to the rescue of Dedigama Parakrama Bahu who hailed from Senkadagala. He has now been identified as the monarch who paid tribute to China.

The third object of great interest that Dedigama holds for the visitor today is the work of a master craftsman, a hanging oil lamp in the shape of an elephant. It may not look a startling creation at first glance, but soon amazement dawns on you on seeing the subtlety of his skill in utilising the principles of hydraulics to create a perpetual lamp.

And in the process displaying also his wit in employing the function performed by living elephants in relieving urine, to feed the oil in similar fashion to the lamp, drop by drop.

The fourth of the objects of historical interest connected with Dedigama is the poetic message carried by the Swan to the monarch of Dedigama. Here the poet has given us a rare view of a royal court in full assembly with a relaxing monarch enjoying a musical session.

The assembly greets the monarch as he enters by standing up and the poet compares the folded palms of the audience, raised over the heads in a gesture of greeting, to the numerous lotus buds in a pool.

Next the pothay gura or the master of ceremonies, signals to a group standing behind a curtain. Then one by one the dancers tip toe to the sound of a band of variegated drums and pipes, some not seen today.

One dancer twirls in a manner so as to spread her garment like a parasol spread out which the poet immediately compares to none but the amorous AnangayaA?a??a??s (CupidA?a??a??s) parasol itself.

After this joyous spectacle of watching the dancers, both male and female, the poet tells his messenger, now that the monarch is in a good mood, is the time for you to announce your presence and bless him that he may live long safeguarded by the gods from his enemies.

Not unnaturally this section of the poem is very enjoyable reading, with the poetic metres virtually keeping time with what is going on in the dance hall.

For a religieux, the poet has a good eye for beauty too, judging from the descriptions of places and people the swan messenger encounters on the way. Some of the imagery is very flamboyant of course, but that is a characteristic of eastern poetry of the Alankarist school.

The following verse should be of special interest because (1) it is a poetA?a??a??s view of Wattala as it appeared then in contrast to the bustling suburb it is now and (2) the imagery, in a way, seems to me strangely enough closer to, at one time, a school of modern poetry in the West – the Imagists:

Wattala streets are like rivers

The waters made up by the glitter Of womenA?a??a??s eyes

The waves are

The streetsA?a??a?? horses.

The innumerable

Soldiery the riversA?a??a?? fish Lasix with no prescription

Glide, oh swan! down these rivers

Like a silver ship admiring the spectacle

The city of Colombo is not far away either. What he sees there is probably what went on in this place, which was mostly a port of call and so a kind of haven for men sailing the Seven Seas.

source:
http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/11/05/fea01.asp

No Phones

Arugam.info has received a growing number of enquiries from overseas; people are concerned that they cannot contact their friends and relatives in recent weeks.
There is no case for alarm!
Everything is well. In the Bay.
It is true, however, that all mobile phone networks have been disconnected.
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Also there is no proper, good or reliable Internet in the Bay any more.
Land lines, in general, are working.
Arugam.info understands that the present communication restrictions are not of a technical nature, but aimed at supporting ongoing military operations in the wider (NOT local!!) area.

Should you wish to trace or contact any person in the Arugam Bay or PottuVille area AbHa is again offering our trusted, confidential contact service:

Simply send an email for your desired contact person to us at the mail address below.
WE will always find a way to communicate!
AbHa will deliver your message locally and ask for a feed back / reply /report from the traced person, if so required.
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VisitArugamBay@Gmail.com

Frazer’s Blog

Work and Play

Just so it doesn’t look like it’s all fun and no work here, I’ve added a couple of pics of some of the roads I am doing at the moment. I’m just about finished the bottom layer of a couple of kilometers, with the macadam (stone) and surfacing to seal it all off will be started soon. We’re going balls to the wall to try and get as much finished off before the rain, but I fear we may be fighting a losing battle.

First (or sub-base for you engineers) layer in Lahugala

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Setting out in Panama

Also, here are a couple of photos of beaches that we are lucky enough to be able to enjoy. Both are pretty deserted (Pottuvil Point has a reasonable break so it does get a lot of surfers when it is on) at present which makes them nice. Peanut Farm has a lovely gentle slope and is very calm at the moment, I had a very peaceful swim around there last weekend.

Peanut Farm
Pottuvil Point. How’s the serenity?

This weekend Fergus and I went down and spent Saturday afternoon at Pottuvil Point, where we went for a wee paddle around the lagoon on a contraption consisting of a pallet nailed to a couple of the local fishing “canoes”. During the wet season we’ll get a couple of big torches and go out at night and try and spot crocodiles (there are some “beauties” in there”). Merete (the owner of Stardust where I was staying at the beginning of the year) had the opening party for her restaurant on Saturday night, which she has finished rebuilding after the tsunami. It’s been a bit of a labour of love for her, slowly slowly at times, but she is pretty happy she has finished and it is a beautiful building with great views of the sea and a nice breeze to keep it all cool.

Last week the LTTE attacked a small Army camp south of Panama, inside the Yala National Park. The usual knee-jerk reaction happened, with the military sending in a whole bunch of troops to look for them but by the time they arrived they were long gone. However they have decided to piss everyone off and cut off the mobile networks again in Thirukkovil and Akkaraipattu, and also this time in Pottuvil which they didn’t do last time, so I am kind of cut off with telecoms at the moment, probably for another week or so. It ain’t so bad though.

South Africa won the world cup, at least it wasn’t the Poms. But I’m over rugby…

source:
http://intheeyeofthetiger.blogspot.com/2007/10/work-and-play.html

AbaY Award?

High profile international recognition for Arugam Bay

Responsible Tourism Partnership said that Arugam Bay has been selected as one of the three finalists for the Best Destination award at the World Travel Market World Responsible Tourism Award.

Charmarie Maelge, Director/CEO of the RTP said that “WTM Responsible Tourism Awards is now in the fourth year and this is the first time that a Sri Lankan tourism establishment has been recognised.

Arugam Bay and the rest of the country will benefit tremendously from this rare and most prestigious recognition”. The aim of the awards is to recognise individuals, companies and organisations in the travel industry that are making a significant commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and are providing a positive contribution to biodiversity conservation.

There are 13 award categories. The Best Destination Award is given for a resort, village or an entire country that manages tourism well for the long-term benefit of tourists, conservation and local people.

Maelge said that the Responsible Tourism Partnership (RTP) submitted the application for Arugam Bay on behalf of the tourism community and the people of Nolvadex purchase canada Arugam Bay and the NGOs who have been actively working rebuilding livelihoods promoting community tourism efforts.

The application was submitted in association with the Sewalanka Foundation, Arugam Bay Tourism Association and ICEI in Arugam Bay.
source:
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2007/10/21/fin03.asp
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Attack in deep South

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Yala attack plan to shift attention away from North

Desperate LTTE in diversionary attacks:

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“Remark by arugam.info webmistress:
In keeping with our pledge and promise, all security related news are published. After careful consideration, even this depolrable incident is not considered to present any danger for visitors to the Bay. Firstly, foreigners are NEVER targeted, secondly the place of this incident is far away from your famous Arugam Bay.”

The LTTE this time has come with a different game plan with the launch of a sudden attack on an isolated Army detachment in the Southern end of the country. The intention of the LTTE is quite evident.

It wants to give the message to the country and also to the international community about their capability to launch attacks on Security Forces even in the South despite the setbacks suffered by the outfit in the Wanni and


Environment Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka visited the Yala National Park on Tuesday after Monday eveningA?a??a??s LTTE attack on Thalgasmankada Army Post. Here the Minister meeting the wild life officers.

A?A?the Jaffna Forward Defence Lines.

But, it is very evident from this attack that the LTTE is in a desperate state. If not, why target an Army detachment guarding the Yala National Park. It also betrays a sign of desperation after the outfitA?a??a??s inability to launch any major attack in the North or in the Wanni.

Out of the seven soldiers attached to the detachment manned by the troops of the 18 Sri Lanka National Guard six were killed in this unexpected attack.

Many feared that the LTTE had infiltrated the Yala National Park in large numbers as the tractor which was heading towards Thalgasmankada Army detachment to collect the bodies of the soldiers was caught in a landmine explosion just 600 metres away from the detachment.

One soldier was killed and five others injured in this mine explosion increasing the number of deaths to seven.

Elite Commandos and Special Forces were flown to the Yala National Park on Wednesday morning to launch a massive search operation and track down the Tiger cadres who had infiltrated the National Park.

Even two days after the search operation, troops found no proof of a Tiger presence despite searching many parts of the Park including block II of the park hemmed between Kumbukkan Oya-the border of the Ampara district and Menik Ganga.

Therefore, it is believed that the number of Tiger cadres who had launched this attack would not have exceeded ten.

Yet, the existence of even a handful of Tiger cadres inside the National Park will be a threat as they can launch unexpected attacks not only on Security Forces and Police personnel but also the civilians visiting the park, in their desperation.

That was why the Defence Authorities have taken steps to screen all parts of the National Park to give a full security guarantee to the people visiting the Park before it is open to the public.

Apart from this the security of the historic Situlpawwa Raja Maha Vihara has to be considered in view of the large number of Buddhists visiting the sacred area as it is located just six kilometres away from the Thalgamsmankada Army detachment.

However, this is not the first occasion the LTTE carried out such attacks inside the Yala National Park. There had been many occasions where the LTTE had set fire to a number of Holiday Bungalows inside the National Park in the late 1990A?a??a??s.

But according to records this is the first occasion the LTTE was able to kill seven soldiers inside the Yala National Park located in the southern tip of the country.

What is most important here is to find out how the Tiger cadres infiltrated the Park. There are many possibilities for them to infiltrate the national park considering the enormous jungle area it covers bordering many districts including Ampara, Moneragala, and Hambantota.

According to Security Forces the most probable way for the LTTE infiltrate the national park is through Ampara border across Kumbukkan Oya which demarcates Ampara district and the Hambantota district.

Zone II of the National Park located between Kumbukkan Oya and Menik Ganga, according to sources, provides a safe haven for any group to operate freely considering the number of rock caves in the region.

This area could have been used by the LTTE to infiltrate into the Zone I of the National Park and launch this


The Wild Life department vehicle that gamagedot d

attack on Thalgasmankada located some six kilometres into the land from the location which links Menik Ganga into the sea.

The Security Forces believe that groups of Tiger cadres who fled from Kanchikudichchiaru jungle would have entered the this area across the Lahugala National Park in the Ampara border with the Police Special Task Force launching a number of search operations in the jungle patches of the Ampara district in search of the Tiger cadres who fled from Thoppigala.

There had been information that a team led by LTTE leader Ram had fled further southwards from the Thoppigala in their bid to escape Security Forces operations.

The presence of the STF in the area has paved the way for the LTTE to flee from the Kanchikudichchuaru jungle towards further south of the Ampara district.

The other possibility for the LTTE to move into the area is by mingling with the fishermen arriving there to the Yala National Park area for seasonal fishing.

There had been information from a hunter, that some suspected people were living inside a rock cave in the Block II area of the National Park.

Therefore, it is quite clear the LTTE infiltrated the jungle through the Ampara border from Panama and Lahugala jungle.

Another possible way for the LTTE to infiltrate the Yala National Park is mingling with the pilgrims from the North to the annual Kataragama perahera through the jungle terrains passing the Yala National Park.

The recently concluded Kataragama perahera gave ample opportunities for fleeing Tiger terrorists from the Eastern theatre to move towards the southern end mingling with these pilgrims on Pada Yatra.

Though it was compulsory for the Security Forces to screen them before arriving at Kataragama they had many opportunities to move away from these pilgrims and take refuge in jungle patches easily.

The Security Forces who were guarding the Yala National Park had not been on alert as the area had not come under such a terror attack for the past few years.

The LTTE took this chance to overrun the Army detachment killing six soldiers there in the detachment as the Security Forces guarding the National Park have not conducted any search operations outside their detachment.

But this cannot be taken as a serious lapse on the part of the Security Forces as they never expected such an attack from the LTTE at this point, though there had been many incidents in the past inside the Yala National Park.

There had been several terror attacks on Thalgasmanakada in 1986, and in 1996. The LTTE set fire to a few holiday bungalows inside Yala National Park in 1996.

In October 1997 there was an incident in which the Kataragama bus depot was set on fire while a few vehicles were set ablaze in Galge area inside the Yala National Park.

The LTTE had selected an easy target to transmit a message across the world announcing their presence at a time the outfit was at the receiving end of a severe hiding both on ground, sea and through air attacks, its worst ever reversal in the near three decade old conflict.

There had been wide publicity to this incident as it involved a world famous Wild Life Park and also due to its location hundreds of miles away from the theatre of battle in the Wanni and in the Jaffna peninsula.

Had the LTTE launched this attack targeting a small Army detachment in Weli Oya or in Jaffna the incident would have gained the least prominence to the LTTE since such incidents were commonplace in the North.

Even if they did the same thing in Trincomalee or in Batticaloa, that also would not had any effect as this type of isolated incidents are frequently reported when Security Forces launch search operations to check Tiger infiltrations into the province possibly from the Northern sector.

One major objective of the LTTE through this attack is to divert the attention of the Security Forces from the Wanni in the face of the severe beating taken by the outfit. They want the Security Forces to deploy a major strength, at least a Brigade to secure an area like the Yala National Park, which stretches over 97,889 hectares.

It is vital for the LTTE to shift a considerable strength from the Wanni battle front as it facing an acute shortage of fighters to face the Security Forces advancing towards their Wanni strongholds slowly but steadily.

Such a vacuum in the Wanni battle front will enable the LTTE face the Security Forces easily with the limited number of cadres available with them.

During this week alone more than 100 Tiger cadres were killed in the confrontations with the Security Forces West of Omanthai. The number of Tiger cadres killed in these confrontations in this location have increased to 1,500.

Heavy LTTE casualties were reported when troops crippled a Tiger advance on Wednesday at the defence lines North of Uyilankulam, Mannar.

The limited encounter between Forces and the LTTE sprung amidst stormy weather with the onset of monsoonal rains.

Earlier, on Monday the Security Forces were able to kill more than 30 Tiger cadres in the FDLs West of Omanthai. Many of these cadres were female cadres and bodies recovered by the Security Forces were handed over to the LTTE later through the ICRC.

Yesterday too the security Forces averted another major LTTE move towards Security Forces defences in Periyathampanai in the West of Omanthai killing at least 13 LTTE cadres and injuring 10 of them. Seven bodies of the LTTE were recovered by the Security Forces along with their personnel weapons.

What is most significant is that the LTTE is realising that the fall of the Wanni bastions is inevitable in the face of determined efforts by the Security Forces to continue their advance towards the uncleared areas amidst heavy resistance from the LTTE.

In the same way the LTTE is also receiving severe beatings from the Security Forces in the Jaffna FDLs. According to the military at least five LTTE cadres are being killed on daily basis in the Jaffna FDLs in Muhamalai, Kilali and Nagar Kovil.

The recovery of a large haul of arms inside a house in Jaffna was a major breakthrough to the Security Forces since this detection could well have averted a major disaster that could have been planned by the LTTE to gain the upper hand.

That was the biggest recovery ever made by the Security Forces in the Jaffna peninsula. Troops acting on information given by civilians detected this massive LTTE war chest inside a false wall of a house.

The recovery included 622 Kilograms of C-4 explosives packed in boxes, 6334 live rounds of T-56 ammunition, one T-56 weapon, one silence pistol, 21 boxes of bicycle balls, eight suicide jackets, five claymore mines, five cellular phones, one Global Positioning System(GPS) set, 20 T-56 magazines, 790 T-56 silencer ammunition, 70 LTTE code sheets and a large stock of batteries.

This is the second largest quantity of C4 explosives detected in a single instance after the recovery of an explosive laden freezer truck in Trincomalee.

It is clearly evident that LTTE is now in a major preparation to launch a massive attack on vital security installations either in Jaffna or elsewhere in the country in order to rise from its present debacles.

Therefore, the attack on the Thalgasmanakada Army detachment can be seen as one step towards destabilising security in the South as it was the only place they could find to attack the Security Forces.

Therefore it is vital on the part of the Security Forces and also the public to be alert to possible LTTE moves to launch a desperate and inhumane attack targeting civilians in Colombo to exert pressure on the Government to hold back military operations targeting the groupA?a??a??s Wanni strongholds.
source:
http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/10/19/fea02.asp

AbHa

The neglected Bay is still stuck since 2004!
abha-logo.jpg

AbHa (the original Arugam Bay Hotel Association) is considering:
Where did we go wrong?

Because we have little doubt that:

  1. We represent the interests of the Arugam Bay Hotels, since 1999
  2. Arugam Bay has been, without any doubt, the hardest hit area by the 2004 waves
  3. The sea quake centre was, after all, directly opposite the famous surf Bay
  4. Cheap seroflo Arugam Bay Hotels have, so far, not received any real help or funds to rebuild
  5. Although Millions were collected for cases such as our predicament
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  7. The hotels suffered most. First 25 years war, than water, than war again
  8. Fishing folk received great help, but they were back in business the next day…
  9. And: Fish prices – a FREE raw product- have increased 4-5 fold since…!??
  10. A great ‘Master Plan’ exists – but little has happened in Arugambay.
  11. Apart from more obstacles and outside interferences. Nothing! Since 2004.

AbHa considers that, overall, this is nothing short of a scandal.
Or part of a very devious mater plan?
Whatever, before we look for faults elsewhere:

Where do you, our supporters and critics, think WE have done wrong?

Perhaps we voiced our objections to the observed waste of donated Millions to openly?
Perhaps we were too undiplomatic in our approach?
(But after all we have gone through we doubt that anyone else would have been more moderate)
Your feed-back and any observation is always most welcome.
Posted right here, as a plain comment or per email to:
VisitArugamBay@gmail.com
And we will publish your full article!

Mr. Woolley and the waves

Experiences in the tsunami
by Jonathan Woolley

Posted on the net April, 2005, but only just discovered by arugam.info:

IA?a??a??ve been asked by several colleagues about my
familyA?a??a??s experiences in the recent tsunami.
Thank you all for your concern and enquiries.
ItA?a??a??s special to feel supported by, and to matter
to, a community and our CPWF community is
that for me.
We were on Christmas holiday at Duphalac syrup cost Arugam Bay Buy deltasone online
in Sri LankaA?a??a??s south east coast, a remote,
beautiful and simple resort, and one of the
islandA?a??a??s closest points to the earthquakeA?a??a??s
epicentre off Sumatra. Just before 9 a.m., my
wife Pilar and I were on a short pre-breakfast
walk along the beach and our daughter Olivia was about 800m away, about
to enter the sea in front of our small hotel. We had earlier sat together
commenting how perfect the morning was and how tranquil the sea. There
was no visible warningA?a??a??here the sea did not draw back at allA?a??a??we were
admiring it as it was so beautiful. The first hint we had was a wave (more
like a surge as it didnA?a??a??t break) that came too far, wetting us suddenly, but
not violently. Instinctively, we retreated.
About 15 seconds later, Pilar and I were caught in the middle of our backs
by a second surge, when near the top of the beach. The third surge washed
us through a simple open building. The fourth somehow swept us near a
palm tree that we wound ourselves around, holding on to it and to each
other. There we weathered what were apparently about four more surges
over what seemed like the space of about 10 minutes. We remember the
sea as cold, brown and full of debris. The sea washed over us as we held
onto our tree; we both remember thinking that we couldnA?a??a??t resist the tremendous
push and pull much further. In retrospect, we were very lucky to be
partly protected from the debris and the full force of the waves by the building
still standing near our tree. Then in a flash, the water level fell as though
a plug had been pulled from a bathtub. We had to resist being sucked away,
while wedged between our tree and a floating tree-trunk pressing against
us. We still somehow thought then that we had been involved in a freak local
tide. It was only when we saw the level of destruction and death near our
hotel that the extent of it dawned.
Meanwhile, Olivia was on a more exposed part of the bay, open to the full
force of the waves. By about the third surge, she climbed on top of a onestorey
structure; as it collapsed, she calculated a grab for the leaves of a palm
tree, from which she hung for a few seconds, until she was swept further
inland and grabbed hold of the trunk of another palm tree just below the leaves.
She has a photograph of the tree taken laterA?a??a??the leaves are about 8m above
the ground. Others in this area were swept a kilometre into the lagoon or out
to sea. When she couldnA?a??a??t hold on any longer, Olivia slipped into the water,
fortunately as the last surge of the first incident was draining. She made her
way back to our two-storey hotel building. It was still standing although one-storey
buildings of the same hotel had been utterly destroyed.
Our son, Alan, who had been asleep in a second floor room, was awakened by the
deep rumbling noise (near our palm tree I remember no noise at all) and got out of
bed in time to see the water pouring in. Seeing the destruction, he thought weA?a??a??d all
been lost. Fortunately, within half an hour of the first wave, we were reunited in one of
the few remaining buildings. There, we withstood six more sets of surges over the
next 3 hours. From the height of the hotel, we could just about detect new surges
coming. With each, along with 10 other people, we clutched pillars in the corridor,
surfboards and each other. The peak of each set of surges washed powerfully through
the open corridors, specially the last two that occurred close to each other around
12.30 pm and seemed the strongest. Through different estimates, we reckon that the
peak level of most of the sets of surges was about 10m above normal sea level,
which in that flat terrain was devastating, entering at least a kilometre inland.
One of AlanA?a??a??s first actions was finding a mobile phone that had luckily been on a
high bedroom shelf and was still dry. Once reunited, we used that to seek the help
of IWMI, who provided wonderful support and advice and contacted the British
High Commission in Colombo, which kept a register of all the foreign nationals in
our group. We were advised to retreat to higher ground once the waves abated.
That we did, spending the next 24 hours on a hilltop 10m above sea level and
almost a kilometre inland with some 150 others. The injured and foreigners were
evacuated by Sri Lankan Air Force helicopters to Ampara, a nearby district capital,
but it was a slow process only possible in daylight. Meanwhile, food and water was
dropped to us and a few with medical skills attended the wounded. We were stranded
as the bridge had collapsed leaving us in effect on an island.
In the community of Arugam Bay, some 250 people perished out of 2000, many of
them women and children, including the hotel owner and a number of guests.
We keep in touch with several members of our global A?a??A?hilltop survivors groupA?a??A?.
Having gone through a similar experience, we can provide mutual support and
there is less to explain. The group has raised funds to help in Arugam Bay and
Olivia has conducted a needs assessment and linked with local NGOs to distribute
our contribution. It sometimes seems complicated to know how and where to help.
Despite the availability of funds, there is still much confusion and disorientation.
My personal conclusion to all this, so far, is still contained in the comment by a wise
Sri Lankan doctor, who treated us on return to Colombo: A?a??A?You have passed in a few
minutes through an intensity of experience that some never have in a lifetime.A?a??A?

source:
http://www.waterandfood.org/gga/files/news_events/CP%20Newsletter-14.pdf

PottuVille Bridge…

Politics on international platforms does not change people’s realities

By Jehan Perera

The Sri Lankan government came out with a forceful campaign in favour of the global war against terrorism and against those whom it claimed sought to use human rights as a tool against states in New York at the meeting of the UN General Assembly and in Geneva at the session of the UN Human Rights Council. President Mahinda Rajapaksa used the podium in New York to speak in the Sinhala language and reach the hearts and minds of his countrymen back at home. This was the second successive occasion in which the President used the Sinhala language to address all the nations of the world. Invariably the largest audience for the PresidentA?a??a??s speech was in Sri Lanka where the powerful state media gave it maximum coverage.

One of the roots of the ethnic conflict, and current war in Sri Lanka, has been the issue of language. When Sinhala was made the sole official language of the country in 1956 over the impassioned opposition of its Tamil-speaking peoples, who amounted to over a quarter of the countryA?a??a??s population, the seeds of ethnic marginalization were laid. Although the government made Tamil also an official language in 1990, it remains unimplemented for the most part. The PresidentA?a??a??s choice of Sinhala to make his speech at the UN remains part of a deeply ingrained pattern in government officials, both elected and unelected, to give primacy to Sinhala only.

In his speech in New York, President Rajapaksa gave emphasis to the war against terrorism that his government was conducting against the LTTE. He drew upon the growing international antipathy to terrorism, which took an upward climb following the terror attack on the US in September 2001, to strengthen his governmentA?a??a??s justification for its use of the military option to restore democracy and peace to the country. The LTTEA?a??a??s own track record of human rights violations and terrorist practices assisted the government to silence those who might otherwise have stood their ground firmly for the path of negotiations.

The PresidentA?a??a??s references to the restoration of democracy and plans for massive reconstruction in the newly recaptured areas of the east could have impressed the international delegates to whom a translation of the PresidentA?a??a??s speech was readily available. The President demonstrated considerable skill in coming across as a homespun and patriotic head of state in his unique clothing with a sash around his shoulder. Notwithstanding his narrow electoral victory which was made possible by the LTTEA?a??a??s enforced boycott of Tamil voters, the fact that he is the democratically elected President of a country also gave him equal international legitimacy with other elected heads of state, which was visible in the many photographs and visuals that pictured him with leaders of other countries.

Metoclopramide antiemetic generic reglan Ground realities

But back home in Sri Lanka, most particularly in the north and east where the military conflict between the government and LTTE is focused, the situation was starkly different from that sketched out by the President in New York. The most recent report of the international monitors of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission says that the security situation in the north and east continues to be bleak and deteriorating for the civilian population. The PresidentA?a??a??s speech made in the Sinhala language would have reconfirmed to the Tamil-speaking peoples their disadvantaged position in Sri Lanka in relation to the more numerous Sinhalese people. In translation the claims made by the President that the government was serious about restoring democracy and development to the north and east would have seemed like an impossible dream, given the situation they presently live in.

A little more than two months ago I was an eyewitness to the fear and suffering that stretches across the east, from Trincomalee through Batticaloa down to Ampara, through which the governmentA?a??a??s writ now runs more or less completely. But if the governmentA?a??a??s writ implies justice, security and normalcy, this was not at all the case. Due to the constant apprehension about LTTE infiltration, the government troops are on high alert, manning hundreds of checkpoints at which the people are searched and sometimes detained. The armed Karuna group has its offices in public places guarded by its own armed cadres who also prowl about town as an effective para military affiliate of the government forces.

Although the President spoke of a massive development effort to reconstruct the east, the only thing that I saw of a major infrastructure development project during five days of travel through the east was a big bridge that is being constructed near Pottuvil. Indeed, it is hardly a cause for surprise that development should be taking a back seat in the east at the present time. The government is so badly strapped for cash that it is finding it difficult even to make pension payments, although it has printed cash in a manner that has driven up inflation to near 20 percent, has borrowed heavily from the state banking system, and now has approached commercial institutions for massive foreign loans.
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The President also spoke of the restoration of democracy and elections. But the ground reality gives another story. The remnants of the LTTE still present in the east, and the possibility of fresh infiltration from outside, create a security crisis in which people are constantly checked, detained, abducted and assassinated. Even if this should happen to a few with impunity, it creates a climate of terror in which people are afraid to speak, even of their own sufferings and the injustices heaped upon them. This makes a free and fair election impossible in the foreseeable future. But the correspondence between democracy and elections is so strong in the international community that it becomes easy to see those who promise it as upholders of the higher values of civilization.

Offensive campaign

It was not only in New York that the government took the offensive. The government also temporarily staved off a much anticipated resolution against it by the Human Rights Council in Geneva. The assumption that the Human Rights Council would call Sri Lanka to account for its deteriorating human rights record proved to be a mistaken one. Many of the countries represented in the Human Rights Council are from the third world, or are those who also face problems similar to those faced by Sri Lanka. Each of these countries is cynically aware that if they were to take up a principled stance against a fraternal country, they are liable to be at the receiving end of that same principled stance.

Those who wish conflict resolution and problem solving in national and international affairs to take place on the basis of human rights, peace and justice may wish that the Human Rights Council of the UN is primarily a human rights body. But this is not the case, as it is primarily a political body just as much as the UN, which is a political organization where the interests of member states come before everything else. For instance, the Human Rights Council failed to meet to discuss a resolution that would condemn the Burmese government for suppressing the peopleA?a??a??s movement that demands change in that country. The Sri Lankan government selected a delegation that took advantage of this situation to attack and discredit their opponents.

An example would be a working document listing 547 persons killed and 396 persons disappeared during the period January to June 2007 compiled by the Law & Society Trust, in collaboration with four local partners including the Civil Monitoring Commission nd the Free Media Movement, which was submitted to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry as well as relevant members of the government. The government delegation identified that eight of the names on this list were those of Sri Lankan soldiers. They sought to discredit the NGOs, arguing that A?a??A?the callousness with which the dead become statistics, mere grist to the mill of these ghouls, does no service to those who suffer through violations of human rights.A?a??A? But they had nothing to say about the 935 other persons who had been killed or disappeared and whose spirits cry for justice.

A second example would be the government delegation calling upon A?a??A?the Office of the Special Representative and the international community to impress upon the LTTE and its breakaway Karuna faction to give priority to implementing the recommendations made in the 20th December report of the UN Secretary General on Children Affected by Armed Conflict in Sri Lanka and to cease child recruitment immediately and return child combatants and young persons to their families to that they can be reintegrated.A?a??A? However, this statement made no mention of the fact that the Karuna group is an important ally of the government and that the armed cadres of the Karuna group operate freely in government-controlled areas.

For an improvement in the ground situation it may be necessary for an international human rights monitoring mechanism to be established in Sri Lanka on the lines of the UN human rights monitoring mechanism established in Nepal with field offices. As a part of the peace process that led to the peace agreement between the Nepal government and Maoist rebels there was agreement to establish field offices of the UN to monitor the human rights situation.

In New York and Geneva, on the other hand, the Sri Lankan government denied that there was a crisis of human rights in the country. This means that obtaining positive change from the government and its agencies by themselves is unlikely at this time. President Rajapaksa frequently refers to his pride in Asia. Sri Lanka could follow the Nepal example, strengthen its human rights protection mechanism with international assistance, and be another endeavour of Asian peacemaking.

source:
http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/10/02/opinion/01.asp

Q & A

Arugam Bay

Nova Scotia, Canada
Joined: Jun 2006
Forum posts: 55
(8835951)

Reply to this post

Posted on: 16 September 2007, 15:00
Hiya,
Has anyone been to Arugam Bay? Or stayed at any of the guesthouses there? I would like to know everything if at all poss. Or if you would recommend staying soemwhere else i would like to hear it.
Thanks
Sarah

Birmingham UK
Joined: Jan 2006
Forum posts: 106
(8837520)
Posted on: 16 September 2007, 17:52
Hi
We stayed in Arugam Bay last year.
Suggest you take a look at the following site which give some good information and blogs, comments etc about Aurgam Bay and hotel, facilities etc. https://www.arugam.info/category/accomodation/
We stayed at the Siam View Hotel (SVH) when we were in Arugram bay. Accomodation there is very basic but the restaurant and bar are excellent; best food in ABay. They only a few rooms left after the tsunami destroyed most of the hotel, as with a lot of the hotels and bars in Arugam Bay. We stayed there mainly to provide practical support after the tsunami – Arugam Bay received very little or no funding from the various Non Government Relief organisations. If you read some of the blogs on the site you will see that the author (Fred) is very bitter about the lack of support.
I think Arugam bay is definitely worth a visit as part of a tour, the beach, surf, swimming and diving are probably the best in Sri Lanka. The best accomodation is probably the Star Dust Hotel –
see http://www.arugambay.com/
If you are going there I would recommend staying at the Star Dust but eating and drinking at the SVH.
You may find that you have to contact the local AB hotels to arrange transport – some of the Colombo based taxi drivers give misleadiing info about the safety in the area. It’s perfectly safe.
Regards

Nova Scotia, Canada
Joined: Jun 2006
Forum posts: 55
(8838710)
Posted on: 16 September 2007, 20:00
Thanks for the info.
How much is food and drink? We are looking at staying in that area for 10 nights. Is there lots of activities to do?
Thanks

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Sarah

Birmingham UK
Joined: Jan 2006
Forum posts: 106
(8839179)
Posted on: 16 September 2007, 20:50
Hi Sarah
Food and drink in the Siam View Hotel was very reasonably priced. When we were staying there were quite a few surfers and students from OZ and the UK using the restaurant. Most of them didn’t have a lot of money.
I can’t recall the exact price, but it was one of the cheapest places we visited in Sri Lanka.

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If you are there during Full Moon they have big Poya beach parties at night.
If you want to find out more, suggest you post a question on the Arugam.info site.
Regards
Ken

Birmingham UK
Joined: Jan 2006
Forum posts: 106
(8839260)
Posted on: 16 September 2007, 20:59
Sorry, forgot the add that if you are into water sports and surfing this really is excellent. You can hire a surf board for the week for not a lot of money.
If you can’t surf, then I suggest getting paying for a few lessons from one the beach boys. The beach is really exccellent for learning to surf; the waves sweep across and into the bay, so it’s a great place to learn. If you are an expert surfer then you can go a few miles south to the point where the waves are much bigger, but they sweep across at right angles to the shore.
There are also a number of locals who will take you sailing or rent a boat, also I believe that you can hire diving equipment as well.
There isn’t a great deal else to do at Arugam Bay, it’s very much a beach bum and surfers location.
It may be possible to go further south down the coast to Yala East National Park to do a safari, but you would need to check if this is open. it was closed at one time.
Regards

Nova Scotia, Canada
Joined: Jun 2006
Forum posts: 55
(8839597)
Posted on: 16 September 2007, 21:32
Thanks for all of the aswers. How did you get to Arugam Bay from Colombo? We were looking at making it a 2 day trip by train and bus. Any suggestions?

Birmingham UK
Joined: Jan 2006
Forum posts: 106
(8848737)
Posted on: 17 September 2007, 17:36
Hi Sarah
We hired a van and driver for the whole holiday which included 4 days in Arugam Bay.
However if you are going to spend a significant period in AB and don’t need a vehicle and driver then there are a number of alternatives:-
1. You could get the Hotel in AB to arrange a pick up at the Airport – that can work out quite expensive. I don’t think there are any direct bus services to Arugam Bay, only pre-arranged pick up by AB Hotels/taxis. They charge about $80/person
2. A good (and spectacular) alternative would be to get the train from Colombo to Ella or Badulla; then negotiate with a local driver to drive your party to Moneragala and finally arrange with the Arugam Bay Hotel to send transport from Aurgam Bay to pick up up at Moneragala. The train trip from Bandarawela to Ella is amazing, the track even loops over itself in order to gain height.
The reason you will probably have to do the road part in stages is that it’s sometimes difficult to get drivers to drive to Pottuvil and Arugam Bay even though it’s perfectly safe – but they are normally ok going as far as Moneragala. There may even be a bus from Ella or Badulla to Moneragala but Sri Lanka buses can be a bit rough – but an interesting expperience.
You may find that most drivers going to Moneragala from Ella or Badulla prefer to take the longer route via Wellawaya as the road from there to Moneragala will be better, so getting out at Ella may be better.
Maybe Erik or Dave can advice, we didn’t travel on the A22 from Badulla to Moneragala so I don’t know the state of the road or if there are buses – I can only speculate.
From Moneragala to Arugam Bay there is only 1 big Police/Army checkpoint at Siyambalanduwa; the road is good but goes through a jungle area near Lahugala which is the bit that seems to worry some of the Colombo drivers – but it’s really safe.
Take a look at some of the blogs from Fred on the www.arugamBay.info site about travel to Arugam Bay.
You might even want to have a stopover somewhere on route such as Bandarawela or Ella, we stayed a couple of nights at the Bandarawela Hotel which is an old fashioned Hill Station Hotel and ok
Hope this helps

Nova Scotia, Canada
Joined: Jun 2006
Forum posts: 55
(8849906)
Posted on: 17 September 2007, 18:59
Thanks so much for all of your help. Were so excited and just cant wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!xx

truro
Joined: Mar 2007
Forum posts: 23
(8973621)
jannerburns
Posted on: 27 September 2007, 16:17
Hello Sarah!
Know you’re probably overloaded with all the great info that’s gone before but I had to chip in with one other accomodation reccomendation!
My cousin runs a place in Arugam Bay called the Galaxy Lounge (it has it’s own website so take a look.) It’s at the quieter end of the beach which means you can sleep at night when there are parties going on but it’s only a 5 min walk down the beach to the ‘action’!! You stay in beachside cabanas + the food is really great. Proper traditional Sri Lankan food but you can ask them to cool it down a bit if you’d prefer!!
As others have said, chilling + surfing aside there’s not much else to Arugam Bay but I spent the last week of my holiday in June at the Galaxy + it was awesomely relaxing!!
Have a great time wherever you end up!!
Rach.

Nova Scotia, Canada
Joined: Jun 2006
Forum posts: 55
(9033015)
Posted on: yesterday, 19:37
Thanks for you info. I have had a look at the website and the place looks amazing. Im going to send them an email this week for rooms! Thanks Sarah xxxxxxxxxx

source:
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g293961-i8983-k1459225-
Arugam_Bay-Sri_Lanka.html

Frazer’s Blog & non halal pork

My Shitty Week

Just thought I’d share my shitty week. It was pretty shitty.

Shit Monday: Ceftin length of treatment My driver got fired after 1 1/2 years. To be honest he probably deserved it. Bright Spot: Got given 1 kilo of wild pork in Panama (the town, not the country)
Shit Tuesday: Tractor driver working for us in Pottuvil got arrested for “illegally” transporting sand between 2 sites, I spend 1 hour trying to get him released then another 2 at the court.
Shit Wednesday: Meeting with Police in Pottuvil to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Bright Spot: The Pottuvil Divisional Secretary (Government Rep) ragging on the Chairman of the Pottuvil Pradeshiya Sabha (Local Council) for 10 minutes about how hard he finds it to work in Pottuvil, and how he has never had so many problems in any other division he has worked in over the past 20 years. We agree.
Shit Thursday: Not much on the shittiness front this day.
Shit Friday: Boundary wall collapses on a site and kills one labourer and injures another. ’nuff said. Visit wailing family, accident site, got offered to see the body but turned it down. Police arrest Technical Officer and Supervisor but release later. Bright Spot: Get another 4 kilos of Panama pork
Shit Saturday: Visit other man in hospital. Bright Spot: Seems like he will be OK with no lasting damage. Fiji beats Wales (sorry, South Pacific solidarity and our Security guy is a big Fijian).
Shit Sunday: Get some sort of weird allergic reaction to something and lips around left corner of my mouth swell up for a few hours. Bright Spot: BBQing some of Friday’s pork tonight. Have lunch in Arugam Bay with Dawn as she is leaving for a few months. Get word that Annette will be back soon. Don’t have to deal with anything to do with work. Guys are here installing generator so I might be able to sleep in AC at nights now (it’s really hot at the moment).

Conclusion: This week SUCKED.

Had to share that. Hope to have some pics from Ha Noi and Bangkok up soon.

1 people talking back:

Order digoxin swisshits said…
Hahaha
“Get some sort of weird allergic reaction to something and lips around left corner of my mouth swell up for a few hours”

Monday: Got given 1 kilo of wild pork

Friday: Get another 4 kilos of Panama pork

Sunday: BBQing some of Friday’s pork tonight

Maybe to much “non halal” Pork?

Give my best regards to Rifai!!!

Cheers
Magnus

source:
http://intheeyeofthetiger.blogspot.com/2007/09/my-shitty-week.html

Frazer’s Blog and New Austrian Cook

The End of My Madness

It’s all been happening since my last post. Well, not all, but a couple of things.

At the start of July we moved into the guesthouse, waayhay! I have been getting surprised looks from all the local staff as I appear in the office around 7.30 in the morning, as they were used to me showing up at least an hour later because of the travel time from Arugam Bay.

A panoramic view of the house (we’re building a bar too)

Outside

Inside the main dining area
Ranjith, our cook, after Patricia did his hair (don’t ask, we have no TV…)

Anyway we finally got to move in, there are some teething problems but we are getting over them. The cook is fantastic (I’ve been eating more pork than you can poke a curly tail at to get over my deprivation) and we are working to make it more liveable every day. Small steps. We even have hot water which is a luxury I was missing a lot, I just feel so much more cleaner now.

I also managed to finally get away on holiday, so I shaved off my beard after a couple of months I think, I’m not sure, anyway not shaving until I got to go on holiday was the deal. Was pretty hairy anyway and kind of glad to see it gone although it wasn’t too annoying in the end.

Order bonnispaz My beard at it’s peak

The aftermath…

I spent the first few days in Colombo and got Laser Eye Surgery at a hospital there. Was quite surprised at the “production line” that the doctor had going on, I had the initial consultation at about 4pm and then by 6 ish I had new eyes. Was all pretty painless although the bit where he poked my cornea to establish the thickness, even though he’d put in anaesthetic eye drops, was a bit strange. After a bit of an uncomfortable evening, where I could barely open my eyes (understandably) they were not too bad the next day and the follow up check revealed 20/20 vision! All for the bargain price of just over $1,000 USD for both eyes, which is probably about half what you’d pay for one eye at home.

They have settled down now and I can read, watch TV, look at the computer etc without having to wear glasses, it is just training the muscles to focus properly from now on. I am not too sure about the long distance at the moment, but I’m not sure if I am expecting too much – like being able to spot the flag on the moon.

Graphical Representation of before and after eye surgery (possibly exaggerated) Purchase noroxin antibiotics

So I went down to Phuket again to catch up with Steve, got to see the bar which was still being constructed last year when I was there. Was a bit dangerous not having to pay for beer but I’m not complaining… I had an overnight in Singapore but got in late so didn’t really get to see much of it, had a wander down Orchard Road which is one of the main shopping streets there. I think I’d like to go back and have a better look around at a later stage. First night I was in Phuket Steve was having a full moon party to try and drum up some business in the off season (it was pretty dead, not many tourists but still the ex-pats that live there coming in). Funny thing was it wasn’t a full moon, he had planned the party after checking the internet but he looked at 2006 instead…Never mind, went off OK, there was a snake show and fire dancers and not a bad crowd. Went a bit silly and one of the waitresses had to take my bike home after closing cos I was not fit to ride (apparently), even though Steve only lives a couple of hundred metres down the road. Was probably for the best. That kind of set the tone for the trip and I think Steve was pretty glad when I left (especially after I changed my ticket to stay a few days longer) so he could catch up on his sleep. Anyway it wasn’t just me who was trashed, some girl fell off the couch things that night too and went through one of the glass coffee tables. The third time that has happened Steve tells me. He is now considering replacing them with sturdy wooden ones…

Snake show at the bar

Sunset from Steve’s parents balcony. This was followed by possibly the biggest thunder storm I have ever experienced, pretty cool though

Back to Sri Lanka and to work, we are going to start roads on our big project soon and my concrete block project should be wrapping up in a month or two. While I was away there were issues with labour now it is rice harvesting season, the local armed thugs annoying our gravel suppliers to pay them “tax” which stopped the gravel and even 3 or 4 days of rain. I guess I was lucky, Fergus had to deal with it. Cheers!. It slowed things up but we are pushing on, double teaming the roads etc to get it done. USAID have agreed to give some more money so that we can get a consultant in to turn the block making factory into some sort of business so it will be interesting to see how long that lasts in Pottuvil before all the equipment and/or money gets stolen and it gets shut down. I’m not jaded, honest. Only against Pottuvil. It’s a long story.

In the middle of September Fergus and I are off to Vietnam (Hanoi to be precise) for a couple of days for a conference and as it is Fergus’ birthday on the way back we decided to stop off in Bangkok for a couple of nights as he didn’t really want to celebrate it in Colombo. He did his masters at the AIT there a few years back so knows the city well and has friends there, so it will be good to have a tour guide who likes to drink beer. He says there are some great Jazz and Blues clubs there so hopefully we’ll get to check them out. It will break up the remainder of my contract nicely so I should be able to coast the next 3 months before getting the usual 1 month off around November to make the pilgramage back to NZ when it is a little warmer there. I think I’ve been in the tropics too long now to handle any sort of winter at home, the last summer was bad enough (especially stepping off the plane in Wellington wearing shorts and jandals).

While I was away the east of Sri Lanka was “liberated” from the clutches of the LTTE, so I am assuming that the shelling in the nearby jungle that has been going on for the past couple of days is just the Army trying to catch their dinner of wild deer and boar… Although things have quietened down here which is good but it sounds like both sides are gearing up to square off in the north where the LTTE still control a large area. Watch this space. Last week saw the anniversary of the killing of 17 ACF staff near to Trinco last year, there has still really been no progress in the investigation into who did it. Everyone blames the other side, de riguer round here. There was talk of missing evidence, now the person reported to have said it didn’t actually say it etc etc. Goes round in circles really.

source:
http://intheeyeofthetiger.blogspot.com/2007_08_01_archive.html

VisitArugamBay@Gmail.com

www.Arugam.info is an open source forum and web site designed for the entire How much doxazosin can i take Arugambay Community. It is our own, local platform to communicate with outside world.
Kevin @ SVH Internet centre
Anyone can comment on this site. Order femcare
Anyone is also invited write a full, front page post or article for all to see.
There is NO censorship or control!
If you have any views with certain relevance to our famous Bay, you are again reminded to contribute!
For guys unfamiliar with wp: You are welcome to send your contribution, be it text or photo, to the email address above and we will publish it for YOU!!
(Please note that www.arugam.info is a non-political, non religious and also totally pacifist site)
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Fly to Arugam Bay?

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Blue Skies 1 Comment/s
01 October 2007 14:48:47

Sri Lanka to revive ‘open skies’ aviation project

Oct 01, 2007 (LBO) A?a??a?? Sri Lanka is planning to revive an initiative to encourage civil aviation and aerial sports in the island after security restrictions resulting from an internal conflict all but killed the industry.

The ‘Ruhunu Open Skies’ programme designed to promote the use of Sri Lankan airspace for commercial, educational and recreational aviation activities will become law soon, said Chira Fernando, a member of the newly formed Sri Lanka Aeronautical Society (SLAeS).

“So there’ll be an area where people can fly without too many restrictions,” Fernando, an international airline pilot who had been flying for 39 years told a group of aviation professionals at the society’s first meeting on Sunday.

This will open up possibilities for a range of activities from ultra-light aircraft flying and hot air ballooning to para-gliding and model aircraft flying, he said.

The area demarcated for development of domestic civil aviation under the ‘Ruhunu Open Skies’ covers the coastal belt from Kalutara to Arugam Bay in Pottuvil and the adjacent 200 nautical mile maritime economic zone.

The region has three airfields namely Katukurunda, Koggala and Weerawila that can provide the basic support infrastructure required for aviation.

Civil Aviation Authority chairman Paddy Mendis told the meeting that the open skies programme would not be confined to the south only.

He said he was aware of the security problems that led to restrictions on private flying but said that most of these could be overcome to enable the revival of domestic aviation in the island.

Sri Lankan banned private flying in 1995 after fears that Tamil Tigers could use aircraft for attacks.

The Tigers did in fact reveal they had aircraft earlier this year when they used single-engine light aircraft fitted with small bombs for attacks near Colombo which however did not cause much damage.

Some of the restrictions imposed on domestic flying earlier have been eased especially to enable private domestic operators to fly passengers and cargo to the northern Jaffna peninsula which has been cut off from the mainland as the Tigers control the land route.

But prevailing restrictions forced some private companies and flying schools to close and an exodus of aviation professionals and cadet pilots abroad.

New restrictions have even banned the flying of radio-controlled model aircraft owing to fears that the Tigers could use them for attacks.

Mendis, a former air force commander, said it was necessary to distinguish between what was possible and probable.

“Blowing up houses using model aircraft is limited to Hollywood,” he said.

Likewise, he added, hang gliders can fly at a top speed of 30 miles an hour and not higher than 500-600 feet, and could be hit by soldiers armed with rifles.

source:
http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?newsID=230549999&no_view=1&SEARCH_TERM=7

Supermarkets in the East?

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COLOMBO: The Government has allocated Rs. 9 million to restructure and develop nine Co-operative Societies as Co-op Cities (Super Markets) in the Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts to streamline the essential food distribution at concessionary rates among civilians in areas liberated by the Security Forces under the East Reawakening Programme.

Trade, Marketing Development, Co-operative and Consumer Services Minister Bandula Gunawardana told the Daily News the Government is directly involved in the promotion of Co-operatives in the East for the first time in Sri Lanka. Nine Co-op cities are expected to be open next month after the restructure process.

He said these Co-operative Societies had collapsed due to conflict and tsunami. Forty five branches of Co-op Cities will be set up within 60 days in Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee to fulfil Eastern civilians basic requirements.

source: http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/09/27/news13.asp

Japanese Market

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Deputy Tourism Minister Faizer Musthapha last week emphasised the need to explore the Japanese tourist market as there is a lot of potential in that market.
In an interview with “The Traveller” on his return from the World Travel Fair, organised by the Japanese Association of Travel Agents in Tokyo, he said that there are 17.5 million outbound tourists from Japan annually vising other countries and Sri Lanka has been able to tap only 17,500 of this market.
Musthapha, spearheaded a recent campaign in the Middle East which has already borne results viz. an increase of over 20% in tourist arrivals from that region, has focussed attention on the Japanese market as well.
“All stakeholders must make a concerted effort in increasing our market share in Japan and, in this connection, the Tourism Ministry, Sri Lanka Tourist Board, Sri Lankan Airlines are working on a common strategy to woo the Japanese market.
The Deputy Minster said: “I have held discussions with the tourism authorities in Japan and had a meeting with the President of JATA, Harumi Umeda.”
Sri LankaA?a??a??s ambassador in Japan Ranjith Uyangoda and Presidential Advisor Hubert Jayakody, a seasoned campaigner in business circles in Japan, also participated in the discussions, he said.
With the much awaited Tourism Act coming into effect from October 1 and the launching of a Promotions Bureau, an sustained campaign to woo the particular market will commence, he added.
One of the areas that we could explore in this market is Pilgrim tourism, since both countries are predominantly Buddhist, Musthapha pointed out.
There is a lot of scope in the Japanese market for adventure tourism and Arugam Bay in the east coast has earned a name as a popular surfing destination internationally. In fact, Arugam Bay has been a popular destination with the Japanese and we must explore the possibility of increasing our market share, he stressed.
JATA World Travel Fair is considered the biggest travel fair in Asia with 134 countries participating and an approximately 110,000 visitors from all over the world.
source:
http://donhermon.blogspot.com/2007/09/japanese-tourist-market-in-sri-lanka.html