Sri Lanka News Updates with Discussions

State sponsored abductions
The theoretical basis of abductions and extrajudicial killings is that the civilian base of the LTTE has to be destroyed if the armed forces are to protect the Jaffna peninsula. This is very clearly obvious in Jaffna, where abductions happen largely at night. In addition, political interference too has proven to be a hindrance. It is alleged that state sponsored abductions and extrajudicial killings take place with the cooperation of paramilitary groups. It is also alleged in newspaper reports that abductors often have in their possession the tax returns and bank account details of those whom they have captured. It has also been reported that in Colombo people who pay ransom money are allegedly allowed to pass check points without any hindrance. As a result of international pressure and local concerns being expressed, the level of abductions in Jaffna has dropped significantly. It is important that this trend continues and is monitored.

Paramilitary abductions
Blackmailing Tamil businessmen is a phenomenon which is largely aimed at obtaining a ransom. The sums asked for are in the range of Rs.50-100 million. These threats against Tamil businessmen have largely declined due to the pressure of the Indian government which has come down very hard against this phenomenon. In the absence of this lucrative business, Muslim businessmen are now a target of attack. Often businessmen do not report such incidents to the Police. It is reported that Muslim businessmen are moving to countries like Malaysia as a result of this situation. This is a major loss to the country. In the East, the Karuna group is responsible for ongoing child recruitment, abductions and targeted killings, as well as intimidation and violence against the internally displaced. The recent split in the Karuna group may further escalate human rights violations against civilians.

Abductions by the LTTE
The LTTE has been engaged in a number of cases of extortion, abductions, torture and extrajudicial killings. It has also been prime culprit of child recruitment. During the first few years of the Ceasefire Agreement, the LTTE was responsible for large scale extrajudicial killings of intelligence officers and members of other Tamil political parties. These actions have been thoroughly condemned and have led to the banning of the LTTE in several western countries. In the last few months, the LTTE has abducted a large number of young persons in the North to recruit them to the LTTE military ranks. The numbers run to thousands.

The President's stand
The President when he was in the opposition was very passionate about this issue and continued to visit Geneva and give submissions on human rights to the Human Rights Commission. He organized mammoth demonstrations against the Bheeshanaya of President Premadasa. In the late 80's, he even took some bones from the famous Balanakanda mass grave to Parliament and placed them on the Speaker's table, demanding an inquiry on the brutal massacres being conducted by the Army and the STF. He was one of the most vociferous critics of the Batalanda torture chambers and continuously raised the concerns and agony of the mothers and fathers whose children had gone missing

Hotels in Sri Lanka cut rates as tourism drops

Last Updated: 12:01am BST 30/06/2007

Danielle Demetriou reports.

Hoteliers in Sri Lanka are cutting prices in an attempt to win back tourists deterred from visiting the Indian Ocean island by continuing civil conflict.

According to figures published this week, the number of British visitors to Sri Lanka fell from 38,420 during the first five months of last year to 34,021 in the same period this year.

The island has struggled to attract tourists in the aftermath of the tsunami of December 2004 as a result of escalating tensions between the Tamil Tigers and the government.
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Some hotels are being forced to close as occupancy levels plummet. In May, tourist arrivals fell by 40 per cent compared with the same month last year. Others are reducing prices

as he may be a share holder of Hotel in Kilinochi where Pottu is the general manager

I think Pottu got his PhD from Oxford.

It is VP Mudalali who got his PhD from Harvard.

Wow Pera, I am impressed soundes like you are so close to those two powerful men!

There is a new place calle Global Tower on Marine Drive Wellawatte.