Monthly Archive for December, 2007

Early Warning

Published on 31/12/2007 in Ideas, Money Matters, press coverage, Security & Safety and services. 0 Comments

Radio messages to warn of natural disasters

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by Nilma Dole

Three years after the tsunami, a natural disaster satellite alert system is now ready to help warn last-mile rural villages on natural disaster emergencies. The Addressable Radio for Emergency Alert (AREA) is a digital satellite device that uses simple radio technology, delivering messages to save lives.

LIRNEasia (Learning Initiatives on Reforms for Network Economics) is a research-based organization that has collaborated with World-Space USA. They have field-tested the AREA device in Brahamawatte – Balapitiya (Galle District) and villages, like Panama in Ampara. “We have concluded eight different configurations that we can communicate to the rural villages and communities” said, Executive Director, LIRNEasia Professor Rohan Samarajiva.

The device is a palm-top radio which can be used to listen to news and music under normal circumstances.

However in the state of an emergency, the normal channel is automatically diverted to another channel which gives updates about an emergency. For different rural villages and communities, different messages can be broadcast on different channels.

From 2006, Sarvodaya has been working with LIRNEasia to help train communities to be more informed about disasters and to think about proper evacuation methods. “For example, flash floods cannot be pre-determined but if the Kelaniya river overflows, villages downstream can be warned that in x number of hours, y inches of the water level will rise”, said Professor Samarajiva.

Sarvodaya stations are located at their regional centres in 32 villages, broadcasting emergency messages managed by their team of experts. Even though LIRNEasia has given many AREA devices to rural villages, there are still more communities who are in need of them. “The government’s assistance is needed to fund the AREA radios for all rural communities with an authoritative person in charge to transfer the emergency message”. said Professor Samarajiva.
source:
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2007/12/30/new17.asp Rumalaya online shoes

2007 What was

Published on 31/12/2007 in press coverage. 0 Comments

2007 What was

By Madhushala Senaratne and Tahnee Hopman

Looking back on yet another year, there is little to smile about with even the few positive moments being overshadowed by conflict, death and destruction. As 2008 approaches, we can only hope that the New Year brings some joy and solace to a country haunted by increasing violence and burdened by the soaring cost of living.

January

6: Around 15 people are killed and more than 40 injured in an explosion on a bus at Godagama near Hikkaduwa. UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe declares that the Memorandum of Understanding between his party and the ruling SLFP may be annulled in the wake of a Cabinet decision to allow crossovers from the UNP.
12: In the worst landslides in 15 years, around 18 people die, 15 go missing, 1,500 houses are destroyed and more than 100,000 are displaced in the Walapane, Hanguranketa and Maturata areas.
Across the country, heavy rains result in widespread flooding A?a??a?? Hambantota district being badly-hit.
19: After weeks of heavy fighting, security forces secure Vakarai town, a crucial gain, and advance north. More than 300 LTTE fighters and 50 security forces personnel are killed. Thousands of civilians flee to government-controlled areas.
27: The navy thwarts an attack on the Colombo port, when it intercepts and destroys three suspected LTTE suicide boats.

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The Sunday Times photographer M.A. Pushpa Kumara captured this scene when Colombo’s night sky was set alight by anti-aircraft gunfire when two LTTE light aircraft hovered over the city and suburbs on April 29

February
9: President Mahinda Rajapaksa sacks three of his senior Ministers — Mangala Samaraweera (Ports and Aviation), Anura Bandaranaike (National Heritage) and Sripathi Sooriyarachchi (Port Development – non-Cabinet rank).

March
2: Five bullet-riddled bodies with faces disfigured and blindfolded are found in a swamp in Kandana.
10: The bodies of eight people, including the Anuradhapura Area Commander of the Army, Jayantha Suraweera, are recovered at the Wilpattu National Park.

April
1: Six labourers are killed at Mailambavani, Batticaloa, and hours later, 16 civilians and a soldier fall victim to a bus bomb blast at Kondawatturan, Ampara.
7: Seven including two children are killed when a state-run passenger bus is hit by a powerful claymore mine at Pirimanalankulam in Vavuniya.
10: In a horrific accident which shocked the country, 23 people die and more than 50 suffer injuries when a beer delivery truck crashes into a CTB bus at Kaikawala, close to Bentota.
29: A total blackout is imposed on the city of Colombo shortly after midnight as two Tiger rebel aircraft hover over the area. The craft drop bombs on a fuel dump of the CPC oil installations at Kolonnawa and an LPG gas facility in Muthurajawela. The LTTE air attack comes as Sri Lankans are glued to their TVs watching the World Cup cricket finals in Barbados, with Sri Lanka taking on Australia. Rain dampened the match with Australia winning the World Cup.

May
6: Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga’s security is slashed on a Supreme Court ruling.
18: Two small children and three other members of one family are hacked to death in their sleep, over a land dispute, in Meegahawatte, Delgoda. A 12-year-old girl who is critically injured is the sole survivor.
27: The de-merged Northern and Eastern Provinces get new flags. The Eastern Province flag depicts an eagle, a fish and a lion, signifying Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara respectively while the Northern Province flag depicts the sun.
28: A claymore blast in Ratmalana kills eight and injures 30. The mine had been kept on the roof of a video shop at Belekkade junction.

June
1: A lorry laden with explosives weighing around 1,000 kilograms A?a??a?? is detected at a road block at Kotavehera, Nikaweratiya.
7: More than 300 Tamils are evicted from lodges in Colombo amidst strong protests and condemnation not only by human rights groups but also the international community.
8: Nine bodies of people killed, with their eyes blindfolded and hands tied behind their backs, are found at Wennappuwa.
9: Following a spate of abductions, ransom demands and killings, the Criminal Investigation Department questions a former Air Force Squadron Leader Nishantha Gajanayaka.
16: Sri Lankan Rizana Nafeek (19) is sentenced to death by a Saudi Arabian court after an infant she was bottle-feeding chokes. Rizana who was from Mutur had gone to Saudi Arabia in May 2005 at the age of 17 giving a false age on her passport. The appeal against the death sentence is pending.
29: ‘The Buddhist’, the first Buddhist TV channel in Sri Lanka is launched and goes on the air.

Troops celebrate the fall of Thoppigala, the last eastern stronghold of the LTTE, on July 11

July
11: The army captures Thoppigala, the last eastern stronghold of the LTTE, bringing the entire Eastern Province under government control in 14 years. The military claims that at least 211 LTTE cadres were killed.

August
1: The CWC resigns from the government and Leader Arumugam Thondaman gives up his ministerial portfolio.
9: The government expresses concern in Parliament over the statement of UN Humanitarian Affairs Chief John Holmes who in an interview with Reuters described Sri Lanka as one of the most dangerous places for aid workers.
12: Former Attorney General K.C. Kamalasabayson passes away while receiving treatment at Apollo Hospital in Chennai, South India. He is 58.

September
7: A new system for Grade 1 admissions to state schools is approved by the Supreme Court.
10: Malaka Silva, son of non-cabinet minister Mervyn Silva, who is alleged to have hit an accountant of a private firm with a pistol, is remanded.

October
5: Several high-rise buildings in Colombo are asked to switch off their exterior lights and key locations including the Colombo Port, the Bandaranaike International Airport and the Shell Gas facility in Kerawalapitiya are put on full alert after the sighting of two suspected LTTE light aircraft in Tantirimale near Anuradhapura.
11: The CWC rejoins the government with Leader Arumugam Thondaman regaining his portfolio.
14: Just as UN Human Rights Commissioner Louise Arbour concludes her fact-finding mission to Sri Lanka, four of the 10 civil society members (part of an advisory committee set up to address human rights concerns) resign from the panel citing differences with the government. Earlier, Arbour and Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe differed strongly on the need for UN monitors in Sri Lanka.

The Anuradhapura Air Force base after the Black Tiger attack on October 22

Sri Lanka’s sprint queen Susanthika Jayasinghe is in line for a gold and a silver for her performance at the World Athletic Championships in Athens, Greece, and the Olympics in Sydney, Australia, respectively both in 2000, with Marion Jones due to be stripped of her medals after admitting the usage of steroids.

15: The LTTE launches an attack on an army detachment at Thalgasmankada in Yala, killing six soldiers and injuring three. A massive military search operation is carried out. The National Park is closed to visitors.
18: Malaka Silva, son of non-cabinet minister Mervyn Silva, allegedly involved in an assault case is released on bail.
22: Several aircraft are destroyed or damaged when the LTTE’s Black Tiger unit attacks the Anuradhapura Air Force base.
25: The Manampitiya Peace Bridge, Sri Lanka’s longest bridge built across the Mahaweli linking the Northern and Eastern Provinces is opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
26: The government suspends the licence of the Asia Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) for allegedly misreporting an incident at Ranminithenna in Tissamaharama.

November
1: The Supreme Court dismisses the application filed by ABC challenging the licence cancellation by the government
2: LTTE political head S. P. Thamilselvan is killed in an Air Force raid over Kilinochchi. Five LTTE military wing leaders are also killed in the attack. Thamilselvan was the LTTE’s chief negotiator at peace talks with successive governments.
Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna is arrested in London for travelling under a forged passport.
More than 100 Sri Lankan soldiers serving with the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti (Minustah) are accused of sexual exploitation and abuse including the rape of children.
7: The budget offers little relief to the public already affected by the soaring cost of living.
9: The Supreme Court issues a significant directive on noise pollution, banning the use of loudspeakers or any other amplifiers from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

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The scene after a beer delivery truck crashed into a CTB bus at Kaikawala on April 10

12: A 22-year-old garment factory worker, Chamila Dissanayake, who had sought treatment at the Negombo Hospital, is found with critical injuries on a pathway close to the hospital. Police investigations indicate she had allegedly been pushed from the sixth floor by a doctor. Chamila dies while being taken to the National Hospital.
15: The United States freezes the US held assets of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), that acts as a front to facilitate fundraising and procurement for the LTTE.
17: Elina Jayewardene, widow of the first Executive President of Sri Lanka, J.R. Jayewardene passes away at the age of 94.
19: After weeks of speculation and tension that the government will not be able to get a majority and also crossovers, the second reading of the 2008 budget is passed in Parliament. The JVP votes against the budget.
21: The printing press of Leader Publications, which publishes the Sunday Leader, the Morning Leader and the Irudina, in Ratmalana comes under an arson attack.
29: Steven Peiris, Coordinating Secretary to Social Services Minister and EPDP Leader Douglas Devananda, is killed in a suicide bomb attack at the ministry office at Isipathana Road, Colombo 5. Two others are injured. For the first time, the attack is captured on CCTV and is possibly the only live pictures of a suicide bomber blowing herself up.
In the evening, like a sequel to a bloody story, 20 people are killed and 43 injured when a bomb left at the parcel counter at the Nugegoda NoLimit explodes.

December
3: Muttiah Muralitharan breaks the record for the highest number of Test wickets reaching 709, when he dismisses England one-day captain Paul Collingwood during the third day of the first Test match at Asgiriya, Kandy. This match is also the last Test match of veteran cricketer, Sanath Jayasuriya who retires from Test cricket.
5: Fifteen civilians are killed and 23 injured when a powerful claymore mine blows up a CTB bus on the Anuradhapura-Janakapura Road close to Kebithigo-llewa.

Spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan celebrates with wicket keeper Prasanna Jayawardene as he breaks the record for the highest number of Test wickets reaching 709.

8: In keeping with a Supreme Court ruling, permanent security checkpoints in and around Colombo are abandoned. The ruling that permanent checkpoints are illegal was issued after a motorist filed an application that he was harassed and unlawfully detained by police officers at Kirulapone.
10: On World Human Rights Day, several media organizations, civil society groups and trade unions march to the Media Ministry and hand over a petition demanding immediate action to curb increasing violence against journalists.
12: SLMC politicians including Leader Rauff Hakeem cross over to the opposition.
14: Foiling UNP plans to defeat the government, the third reading of the budget is passed with 114 voting for and 67 against. A while before the crucial vote, National Heritage Minister Anura Bandaranaike crosses over to the opposition but leaves Parliament just before voting. The JVP abstains from voting.
19: A newborn baby boy goes missing from the Kalubowila Hospital and is believed to have been stolen by a woman who had offered to look after him while his mother was having a bath. The baby is found by the Kohuwela Police in a house in Thalapathpitiya on December 24. However, another couple who lost their baby son in November from their home is still searching for him.

SriLankan Airlines CEO Peter Hill’s work permit is cancelled by the Board of Investment on the grounds that he failed to comply with a request from the main shareholder of the national carrier, the government. The request was for 36 seats from London to Colombo for the President and his entourage.
Flash floods and heavy rains in the Eastern, Central and North Central Provincesleave over 200,000 people homeless.
26: As the third anniversary of the devastating 2004 tsunami comes round, it is revealed that only US$ 1.7 billion of the US$ 3.1 billion pledged by foreign donors has been received and rehabilitation work is delayed.
27: Tension mounts at the state-owned Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation when Deputy Minister of Labour Relations and Foreign Employment Mervyn Silva and his bodyguards allegedly assault the News Director for not telecasting a speech made by him. When the staff attempts to retaliate, the Deputy Minister takes refuge in the Chairman’s office, until he is taken away under police protection.

source:
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/071230/Plus/plus00011.html

Naval News

Published on 26/12/2007 in Blogs, press coverage and Security & Safety. 0 Comments

Navy apprehends suspicious vessel – off Arugambay

Sri Lanka Navy apprehended a suspicious vessel located 90 Nautical miles East of Arugambay last morning, 25th December 2007.

According to Navy sources, the vessel which had been drifting towards the mainland was detected by Navy Sea units last morning.

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Navy has already sent a boarding party to the ship and the crew is presently being taken to the nearest harbour for further investigations.

Navy personnel are now checking the ship. According to the reliable information the ship’s crew is comprise of Indonesian Nationals.

source:
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20071226_02

“tri anni horribili”

Published on 26/12/2007 in front page. 1 Comment
Around this time, 3 years ago, we were still pretty wet.
But we were united, full of hope and full of confidence.
We even managed a swift and highly efficient self-recovery.

  • We had our very own reliable Early Warning System.
  • The Bay was covered with a high speed WiFi system, free to access by all.
  • We had a good medical clinic thanks to DEMIRA.
  • There was no talk of ‘Tamil’, Muslim or Sinhalese “Area”.
  • Above all, there was no war.
  • All was Then – Not Now.

In our personal experience, the natural flood event 3 years ago was nothing compared with the man made disaster which has unfolded since.

Still, the ‘great’ organizations are content with their ‘impressive’ achievements.
Take a look at two examples, published this week.

  • The Red Crusaders and Half Moonies dwell in glowing reports “From the Field”.
  • https://www.arugam.info/2007/12/25/from-the-field/
  • http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/220224/
  • 31b45032a6112e837bf489cb2a4d2cc1.htm
  • We, the actual victims, had no idea that the guys in plush offices in Colombo 7, such as their grand mansion in Gregory Road, are involved in agriculture Lopid online . But we do know that they tend to send their local staff near -but never actually into – the odd trouble zone. Whilst all ex pats remain near the Happy Hour and the up market ‘Bay Leaf Restaurant opposite on Gregory’s Rd. A excellent location to pretend that IRCS so-called management also do a highly ‘dangerous’ job “In the killing Fields”. This of course is a great tool to justify their high wages and danger allowances.

You can even get it for FREE. They stress. Who the hell would want this silly map, which shows no details at all and doesn’t even mention the hardest hit area Arugam Bay remains their own little secret.
A far better map was produced by the British, 60 years ago and this one is actually useful – but it does cost 75Rs./ at the Ordinance Dept. in Colombo. For this huge amount you actually receive an updated, modern version showing every telegraph pole.

  • Mercy Corps and Oprah Whinfrey are still boasting with the fact that they “changed our lives”.
  • Indeed, they did.
  • But just about everything is much worse than it ever was before in the Bay.
  • No matter. The popular, very clever Show is well in the clear. Financially.
  • Harpo Inc. collected huge sums in the name of Arugam Bay with their 3 shows.
  • A substantial surplus of many Millions was made, even after ‘reaching out’ by signing a cheque for 1 Mill. and walking away from our long term, Mercy Corpse created problems.

How blissful must it be, to be ignorant!

On one side the gullible donors are impressed with glowing and highly inflated claims of achievements.
On the victims side, where nobody has Internet access (Why?? We often wonder??), no one has an idea what is claimed abroad to have been done. In the remote little Bay.
Arugam.info, and also myself are (un-)lucky enough to be able to see and compare both sides.
And as they never seem to match we have seen it as our duty to report – directly from the Field. For three, terrible, long years we did just that.. If we don’t draw attention to this huge fraud, who else is to do so? It got us nowhere. On the contrary, we harmed ourselves and we would have done better to grovel and give in to their financial super power. Earning a few of the morsels they tend to drop to the greedy and their sympathizer’s.

So, who made all the difference?
Answer:
The small, simple, private people.
Exactly the kind of group, the BIG organizations wanted to keep out. Their advice was NOT to take matters into one’s own hand and leave the Tsunami help in their ‘experienced’ and ‘trusted’ hands.
Lucky for the Bay some did not listen and purchased a ticket and came to see, help and do what they could.
If it were not for great guys such as:

  • Nathalie, the party girl, who played with kids. Showed they that someone cared for them.
  • Tom the carpenter, who came with nothing but his tools and belief to assist
  • David le Sueur of Friends of Europe
  • Dutch girls Maria & Hanneke
  • Doc. Martin and DEMIRA,
  • Supem de Silva and the Rotary Club
  • Rasta Neelu and French Frederick
  • Per & Camilla from Danish Villa,
  • Steve of RoccoA?a??a??s fame
  • Members of SLB and Reisespinne
  • Wolfgang, the (then) webmaster
  • N.s.s. Simon, the Bay’s big donor
  • And many more

None of them ever had a vehicle fit for a Minister. Indeed, most relied on Public transport. Surprise, surprise: They all still managed to do a great deal more locally and all over the so-called ‘troubled’ East Coast than any Land Cruiser crew ever did or will do.
Without references to or demands for (non-existing-)danger money.
And all without a weird blue light on top. Or flag behind.

If these highly motivated, educated, critical and informed individuals would have been supported just a little more with some official funds (wasted daily) they are the ones who would really have changed lives to the better.

Instead, the large organizations regarded them as a threat, obstructed and even boycotted many. Most left, sad and demoralized, because they simply could not compete with (empty) promises, flash cars and elaborate lifestyles of the Great ones, which did impress and corrupt the local natives.

Most in the big organizations seem to regard their tasks as just another job. And although they may have started with great intentions they were soon grounded by their own bureaucracy. Only few had the back bone to resign in disgust. Such as Matthias from Koeln and Max Seelhofer, the Swiss Red Cross S.L country chief.
WE salute them all.

And we wish to thank our loyal, critical supporters herewith.
Without all of you great guys I am sure that some of the neck ties dropped of by the Red Cross 3 years ago would have found more than one non-intended use by now.
The US donated toilet rolls, which filled the entire “Hang Loose” Hotel at the time when we had no toilets, however, became useful after all, proving us totally wrong. A good motion.

Let us hope and pray that the next 3 years will not see are repeat performance of this mismanagement and waste of resources!

Below is just one Example.
This what we often see, locally.
Nothing at all has been done, apart from an erected sign!
Or even two…..
Example of Claim:

However, at least one organization had the neck to claim that they ‘completed’ a “Sanitary Project” in Arugam Bay. At huge expense. The trusting donors were content.
But, would they still be happy with their good deed? If they had been given the facts?
If they could have compared this grand “Project” with the REALITY, as below?
Example!

Maybe some of you can understand, why We are NOT happy with what we were forced to observe during the past Three, Terrible Years!

Happy New Year 2008!

Christmas Greetings 2007

Published on 25/12/2007 in From our own Correspondent, front page, Security & Safety and the bay. 0 Comments

Reporting directly from the bright, sunny Bay at Arugam:
Photo taken 25th December, 15:00hrs.:

Arugam Bay looking towards bridge cranes & construction Delivery voltaren

A very Merry Christmas to all of you, our strong supporters of the Bay.
Sadly, we have NO visitors to speak of in the Bay this Christmas.
After all. It is our so-called “Rainy Season”.
It has NEVER been this quiet before.
(Even all the ENJOY’s are absent)

Take a look at this afternoon’s pictures!

A bright, sunny, clear day with mild, European mid-summer temperatures!
And very peaceful, thankfully, too!
Arugam Bay Surf Point, Christmas Day, 2007, 15:00hrs. Generic for cialis

Simon’s Tattoo

Published on 24/12/2007 in Blogs and press coverage. 0 Comments

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Navy Divers in Panama

Published on 24/12/2007 in press coverage and the bay. 0 Comments

Tsunami billions still at sea

Published on 23/12/2007 in Money Matters and press coverage. 0 Comments

Thousands of Victims still stranded 3 years after catastrophe
By Madhushala Senaratne

As Sri Lanka marks the third anniversary of the catastrophic 2004 tsunami, it has come to light that only US$ 1.7 billion of the US$ 3.1 billion pledged by foreign donors has been received. As a result of the shortage of funds and other reasons, thousands are still living in makeshift camps while rehabilitation work has been delayed.

According to Nation Building Ministry figures, there was a shortfall of US dollars 1.4 billion as against the money pledged for tsunami rehabilitation and related projects. Some of the agencies and governments had disbursed almost all the funds they pledged or were on the verge of keeping to their commitments, but others were lagging far behind. The money was pledged from more than 480 organisations.

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An abandoned house at a tsunami housing scheme in the south.

Of its total commitment of US$ 150 million, the World Bank had disbursed US$ 142 million while the UNICEF had dispersed its full commitment of US$ 42. 3 million. The USAID which had committed $ 115 million had disbursed $ 68 million. NORAD which pledged $ 1.2 million had disbursed $ 607,992.

At least 19,791 housing units still remain to be completed for those hit by the tsunami while in some cases there were people who received more than two houses due to uncoordinated distribution. A?a??A?Of the estimated 117,483 houses required, 85% of the work has been completed while the remaining would be completed by end of June next year,A?a??A? the ministryA?a??a??s tsunami housing projects director, Ramesh Selliah said.

Although 100% of the work has been completed in the Southern province, about 88% has been completed in the East, Mr. Selliah said. He said thousands were still living in temporary camps and were reluctant to move. He said the construction of houses in the northern and eastern areas was slower mainly due to the fighting in the areas.

BatticaloaA?a??a??s Additional District Secretary K. Mahesan, said reconstruction work in areas such as Vakarai was put on hold due to heavy fighting in the region and the subsequent displacement of thousands of civilians worsened the situation. A?a??A?However, over 90% of the required houses in the Batticaloa district have been completedA?a??A?, he said. In addition, much of the work in Ampara has also been completed.

However, maintaining an estimate cost for a house is becoming increasingly difficult with the rise in prices of materials such as cement, according to Sritharan Sylvester, Director of Caritas which handles human and economic development issues in the East. Limited funds, donors moving out of the East and the rainy season were adding to their woes, he said. In President Mahinda RajapaksaA?a??a??s homebase of Hambantota a total of 6,391 houses have been rebuilt and families resettled. This is in excess of the 3193 houses that were directly affected or damaged. A?a??A?The houses built in excess are now occupied by the indirectly affected people such as renters, sub families and extended families,A?a??A? Hambantota District Secretariat tsunami work chief Mahinda Manawadu, said.

But, some of the housing projects have been completed halfway and abandoned. The construction of 200 houses in Ichallampattu in Trincomalee undertaken by World Vision Lanka was stopped due to the conflict in the area. However, its National Director Yu Hwa Li said that they would resume work once stability is restored in the area.Meanwhile, a senior official of the Tsunami Education Rehabilitation Monitor (TERM) said that of the 183 schools identified as directly damaged, 100 have been rebuild so far. Work on the rebuilding of some 40 schools in the Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Trincomalee and Batticaloa has been put on hold due to security reasons while the work on the remaining 40 schools is to be finished next year, he said.

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Certain projects implemented by the Japanese government in the East had also been delayed due to the prevailing security conditions. A?a??A?Although much of the work has been completed, including the reconstruction of Japan-Sri Lanka friendship villages in Trincomalee and Ampara, we faced many difficulties especially with regard to transportation of goods and equipment,A?a??A?, the Japanese embassyA?a??a??s second secretary Yasuhiro Watanabe said.
source:
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/071223/News/news0001.html

Return to Arugambay

Published on 20/12/2007 in Blogs, Money Matters and the bay. 0 Comments

By Dr Kavan RatnatungaThe consequences of Great Tsunami of 26th December still influence events in Lanka. I had visited the east coast of Lanka 5 days after the Tsunami and it was just over 5 months, when I got the opportunity to return to Arugambay to see how the population directly affected by the Tsunami have recovered. They have little time to ponder the larger issues of sovereignty which is currently dominating the media and tearing apart the government and it’s politicians bickering on how to safeguard Lanka and divide the billion$ of Foreign Aid promised for Tsunami relief.

As on the previous trip I joined Lt. Col. Anil Amerasekara. Wing Cmdr. Ranjit Ratnapala was also traveling with us to continue his quest to help the region in the name of his son Chinthaka, who had in June 1997 made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of Lanka. We were joined in Kandy by Nisanka and Ira Madiwaka who had collected funds in UK to rebuild Tsunami affected houses in the east coast.

On Friday we visited three small computer centers near Ampara organized by the Thawalama organization and housed in Buddhist Temples. A computer technician Manjula came with us to fix problems and maintain the 5 computers in each center. A local teacher is hired to educate 5 batches of about 10 students each in English and Computer literacy. After the 6 months course they sit for an exam. We held such an exam on Sunday in one of the centers before returning to Colombo. The exam is set and marked in collaboration with Where to buy tamoxifen online IDM who awards certificates to those that pass (about 30%) and scholarships to those that do very well (about 1%). This program had been active now for about 2 years in eight centers in the North-East provinces of Lanka.

The Potuvil to Arugambay bridge, part of which had washed away in the Tsunami had reopened with the aid of the Engineering regiments of the Indian Army Task Force. An Indian Flag was hung on the side in gratitude, I wonder how long this temporary repair which allowed a single vehicle to be on the bridge at one time, will need to serve the community.


The entrance to temporarily reconstructed Arugambay Bridge
It was about 10 O’clock when we drove into Arugambay on our way to stay overnight at the Guest House in Kudakalli 2 km further south. A ghost town after the Tsunami just five months previously, Arugambay was alive at this late hour. Many Tourists had returned to this surfing paradise and were on the streets walking from their hotels to patronize the Cybercafe and many Bars and restaurants which had reopened. A street performance was entertaining a large audience near a newly constructed Buddhist shrine in the town center.


The infamous Tsunami Hotel sign, repainted with URL
The Tsunami Beach hotel sign had been revised and put back up proudly stating that they had open since 1999. The owners cashing in on on all the media publicity after the Tsunami had even registered in March 2005 an Internet domain tsunamihotel.com. It like the Hotel had still not activated.

Arriving at Daya Fernando’s guest house we surprised the caretakers since they had not got the message of our arrival. However dinner was soon ready and the mosquito nets put up for us to retire to sleep from a long drive. Since I had not slept overnight near the east coast for almost 30 years, I got up an hour before sunrise and walked out with disturbing the others. Daya’s 3 dogs were ready to protect me and show me the way. The surf was up but fairly calm. Starlight and a crescent moon illuminated the many shells that had washed ashore on to the beach. A couple were beach combing a rich bounty. I too picked up some beautiful large shells and coral. I was amazed to see the many striations of black sand on the beach. Considering that region of the beach needs to have been rebuilt after the Tsunami, black sand probably settles only at particular tide characteristics. I was disappointed by the clouds which covered the horizon at sunrise. The others were up and ready for breakfast by the time I walked back to the guest house.

Our next visit was to Panama. A small Sinhala community 10 km south of Arugambay. We went to the residence of Chandrasena who was the secretary to the local Pradesh Saba (community council). He is I was told a (s)pot-less politician. It was he who had compiled the list of 17 houses which had been badly damaged in Panama by the Tsunami and had sent out the appeal with photographs for funding. He told us that all off them had already been rebuilt by Thawalama using funding from Sri Lanka Tsunami Appeal Committee of Western Australia. I also witnessed the handing over of ten carts with pneumatic tires to cultivators affected by the Tsunami from this same committee.

The cultivators of Panama also lost over 350 acres of paddy land, when areas such as Halawa, close to the sea was flooded by Tsunami water. These Paddy fields will remain barren for many years till the salt washes away. Though they have been promised alternate land under the Meeyangoda tank, which is to be restored with funding from the Rotary Club of Kandy, the cultivators now fear that this too is another promise that will never materialize. Most NGO’s who have visited the village of Panama have requested the villagers to fill application forms, but have failed to provide the promised assistance.

In the reality that some promises of help for reasons beyond the control of the well-wishers get delayed or unfulfilled, construction starts when the first group comes with the hard cash. There have been some reported cases when more than one group have known to have paid for the same reconstruction.

That was clearly not going to happen here. The UK funding would need to be used for other housing project in Panama or elsewhere on the East coast. We visited some homes which although had only been slightly damaged by tsunami, the residents who had lost their livelihood to the Tsunami and their ability to complete a partial house construction. The decisions were hard to make with so many valid requests for help.

Nearly all of the help to reconstruct and revitalize the community has come from private organizations which have raised the required funds in Lanka and abroad. The government represented by the Task Force for Rebuilding the Nation (TAFREN) had still not made any positive impact on reconstruction the community. All that the residents have seen are the numerous reports and advertisements in the media of what is being planned, Those affected were wondering where all the claimed foreign aid had got tied up.

Just south of Arugambay, the village of Ulla, within the 200 meter buffer zone was totally destroyed by the tsunami. TAFREN has thus far failed to provide the affected families with alternate property outside the buffer zone, for them to commence rebuilding their houses. The NGO’s who want to help these unfortunate people to rebuild their houses are being discouraged as a result.

TAFREN unlike most NGOs allocates the task signs a MoU and waits. For example the Sinhapura Sinhala Vidyalaya in Ulla near Arugambay was totally destroyed by the tsunami, even though it is beyond the 200 meter buffer zone. The Italian Civil Protection Mission has signed a MoU to complete construction work in six months. It is now six months since the tsunami and they have yet to commence work on reconstruction. The Thawalama Development Foundation that wrote to the President in this connection, requesting her to reallocate this school to them, as they are in a position to find the necessary funds for the purpose, have been informed by TAFREN that this is not possible.

Unlike state aid, private aid has in many cases been made on racial and religious divisions. A Tamil resident from Jaffna I spoke to said that although many who didn’t have any fishing boats have received a one, but he who had lost seven boats in the Tsunami has still to get any replacement.

That evening we visited the “Mudu Maha Vihara”. We were surprised to find that the archaeological dept. sign that pointed the way for pilgrims and tourists had been removed and replaced with a large Mosque sign which at bottom mentioned an unnamed archaeological site. An interesting report that circulated soon after the Tsunami was that a reclining Buddha statue had been seen few hundred meters from the coast when the sea receded near the Vihara. The Monk who was in residence on the fateful day, said that no such statue had been seen. The story had been made up to say that the 34 acres of land allocated in the 1960’s to the Vihara as an archaeological reserve is from the sea, and not the 30 acres of archaeological land illegally encroached by the local Muslim community.


Buddhist Monk explains the history of MuduMahaVihara next to statue identified as that of King KavanTissa.
This great Buddhist temple near the sea dates back to the 2nd century B.C. and has ruins and many sculpture from that era. It is stated in the ancient chronicle the “Rajavaliya” that in the second century BC after Kelaniya was submerged by the sea (Tsunami), Devi daughter of King was cast to sea in a Golden Vessel to appease the gods, and washed ashore near a Vihara to became queen to king KavanTissa under the name Viharamahadevi. Kirinda which is a lot further south and this site each claim to be the “true” landing site. Local folklore relate place names Komari to “Ko Kumari” (where is Princess) and Arugambay to reply “Ara gamme” (In that village)

Early next morning observing that the sky was still too cloudy to see sunrise, I went on a bicycle to photograph Arugambay and the reconstructed Bridge at dawn. The village was as empty as when we had walked that way five months previously. All of the rubble had been cleared. However various Political forces with wildly different agendas were preventing the start of the urgent Reconstruction.

After breakfast, packed and on our way out of Arugambay, we distributed baby T-shirts sent by the Senahasa Trust of UK. Although we had sent a message the day before through a local contact that we would be distributing free T-shirts to Tsunami affected families, no one had come when we arrived a bit early. I guess they had probably been disappointed before. A reasonable crowed of mothers with babies gathered after we arrived when word spread in village. We were glad we realized before trying to distribute them that the sealed T-shirts marked 6-12 was months not years as we had first assumed. Although all of the T-shirts were for babies under 2 years, we found some small built 9-years olds who fitted into them comfortably. To ensure that the T-shirts went to kids and not the local store, we insisted that the babies be present despite some legitimate comments from some mothers who didn’t want to bring their babies in the hot sun just to get a T-shirt.


Has the charm Arugambay Hillton to be demolished for the 5* Original
Talking with the villages at that time I was told that TAFREN with the Ceylon Tourist Board is trying to acquire a 17-mile long strip of the best sea coast on the pretext of a Tsunami 200 meter buffer zone, for development of a upscale resort of with five-star hotels, displacing the residents and small business who have occupied this land for generations. This amazing outrage is in detail by John Lancaster in a Washington post Proventil inhaler over the counter article of 6th June. The people of Arugambay must surely be feeling like they say in Sinhala “Like a man fallen from a tree, getting butted by a bull”

An edited version of this article Slow relief but surfers are back By Kavan Ratnatunga appeared in the SundayTimes of Sri Lanka on 2005 June 26th. The printed copy of Newspaper included Photographs shown above and not included in online edition. Access to the Online edition of the SundayTimes of Sri Lanka requires a paid annual subscription.source:
http://lakdiva.org/tsunami/arugambay/

Solid Houses

Published on 19/12/2007 in front page, Ideas, Money Matters and the bay. 11 Comments

Order yougaramdewababa On the event of re-advertised vacancy of project manager (see Comment below), this post is hereby re-published:
Still, there is not one real good development at Arugambay to report.
But, at nearby PottuVille, the Dutch Solid House Foundation is getting on very well with their Tropical Iglu project.
dutch-iglu.JPG

Build to a high standard, mainly for Tamils in a Tamil area, and above all also popular with the locals:
Here we have, at last! a project to be proud of.
Arugam.info regrets that no such brilliant progress has ever been made in the Bay itself – after all How much does prograf cost Arugam is “The hardest hit Community in the whole of Sri Lanka”

2007 Capture Competition

Published on 16/12/2007 in Blogs, From our own Correspondent, front page, Ideas, Money Matters and the bay. 10 Comments

The grand Arugam Bay Order zenegra photo Competition price of 2007 remains unclaimed!
Even a regular visitor to the Bay, having won 2 weeks Free B&B for two in an a/c suite, did not visit the Bay this year. It has never been as quiet as this before!
Order lisinopril hydrochlorothiazide AbHa has decided to extent the offer to redeem for one further year, hoping to welcome brilliant photographer Mr. Philip sometime in 2008.

How about a capture contest?
Below are a few amateur shots, all taken around the same location.
During the past 3 years.

AbHa, trying hard to attract tourists thinks the few photos sum up the “progress” of the past three years rather well, without many words. And show the conflict of interests in the Bay these days.
The winner of the most apt, funny or fitting capture will win a chance to run up and down Arugam Bay beach (just 2km) and try to match the amount of vessels with the slogans painted upon them.
At our expense.
Simply click “Comments” and let us hear your suggestion.

2004 View to Beach

December 2004; a Natural Event

Clean Arugam Bay April 2005

April, 2005. A fine balance is still in place

Outlook 2005

2005: Is this what tourists come to the Bay for?

Outlook Dec. 2007: After NGO

YOUR Suggestions Please!

Boats?

Published on 15/12/2007 in From our own Correspondent, front page, Money Matters and the bay. 0 Comments

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Sami and Mere at Arugam Bay

Published on 12/12/2007 in Blogs, press coverage and the bay. 1 Comment

Landing in Lanka

They say Sri Lanka is a jewel of an island, filled with smiling people and breath taking nature. From our experiences of the past few days, we are pleased to report that they are not wrong.After arriving at the ungodly hour of 5am, and, eventually, amongst a mountain of luggage, seeing our backpacks sheepishly appear on the luggage belt, we made the hour long journey into Colombo. Once there, we went to our friend Dixie’s house, one highly neat dood. Brilliant photographer. UN worker. Inspiring conversationalist. At Casa de Dixie we caught up on old times as well as much needed sleep. We also met some other super nice UN and NGO people, whom we played water polo with at one of the snazziest hotels in the country, The Blue Water.

Then, in the bumpy backseat of a genuine white UN 4×4, we had a thrilling ride across the entire breadth of the country, along some tear jerking vistas and sheer drops on the winding highland roads. After some 10 hours we ended up at the secluded Surf gem of Arugam Bay. There, in our hammocks, we chilled for a few days at a fantastic beach front surf place, the Galaxy Lounge, complete with delicious food and plentiful beers.

As a whole, Sri Lanka is full of vibrant, happy, polite people, who are keen to introduce themselves and to learn more about other cultures. Without fail, this has been the case for everyone – whether Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim or other.

Despite a sad collapse of the cease fire and a tragic return to what can only be described as full out civil war, the country feels strangely safe for foreign travellers. In fact, from what we’ve been told so far, the biggest threat are the many super duper poisonous snakes. Eeek. They are presumably waiting for Sami to wander into the tall grass for a drunken late night piss. So far we’ve only seen one King Cobra, but it was far scarier that any high security zone, military checkpoint or Kalashnikov wielding camouflage soldier.

Tomorrow we’re accompanying our buddies on a second UN mission, this time a trip to document a much needed road project that connects remote villages in the dense East Sri Lankan jungle.

In the next few days we’ll probably be back on the South Western Coast, the epicentre of unashamed decadence and worryfree holiday drinking. No doubt, having had this unusual priviledge of seeing the hidden eastern areas of Sri Lanka will certainly make our relaxing even nicer. We can only hope that one day this country will see peace again and that this gem of an island will get what it deserves.

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Sinking Ship

Published on 12/12/2007 in From our own Correspondent, front page and the bay. 4 Comments

Don’t worry! This is nothing political, military or New!
The first part of this story relates to the greatest attraction the East Coast has to offer, to any diver.
HMS Hermes Airphoto by japanese pilot

Just North of Generic diovan hct availability Arugam Bay Is there a generic for lamictal the British aircraft carrier HMS Hermes lies in fairly shallow waters. Sunk by Japanese Aircraft at the end of WW2. The carrier was on its way from Trincomalle harbour to Male, Maldives.
A full dive report has already been published on this site; use the search function if you are interested in details.

HMS Hermes sinking off Sri Lanka Coast

The Hermes was once a fine ship.

Hermes Aircraft Carrier in Action

Very much like some good Hotels and Restaurants on the East Coast once were.

Whatever sealed the fate of HMS Hermes 65 years ago has a certain resemblance to the slow death of the entire Hotel industry. Their boats started to sink when a big wave hit them, in 2004. Plenty of help was promised, from all sides – but nothing substantial ever came along to rescue them.
A combination of civil unrest in other parts of the Nation, incompetence by visiting NGO’s and a total lack of finances have resulted in closure of most establishments which managed to stay afloat.

One leading hotelier describes the situation as such:

Ever since 2004 we feel like sitting in a boat, full of holes.
We kept ourselves busy plugging them by whatever means we have – but scooping out the water to stay afloat has been a hard job, left on our own devices.

….to be continued

Arugam on Wikipedia

Published on 11/12/2007 in Money Matters, press coverage and the bay. 0 Comments

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Private resort in Marawila attacked

Published on 06/12/2007 in front page, Money Matters, press coverage and Security & Safety. 4 Comments

A private sports resort in Marawila was set on fire by an unknown gang early last morning, the management told the Daily Mirror yesterday claiming that it was the second such attack within the past one week forcing it to shut down operations.

Aquarius Sports Resort chairman Dr. Dietmar Doering said that around 15 -20 men stormed the premises on Tuesday at the time a few German and American guests were inside, damaged property and set fire to the place.

A?a??A?On Poya day, just one week ago four rooms of our hotel, which has been leased to a local party, were smashed by the same or a related gang. A driver of a Government Minister from the area had refused to pay a bill and a subsequent fight resulted in the destruction of four of our hotel rooms and two shops in Marawila. Vehicles too were smashed. The total damage was around 15 million rupees. A settlement subsequently resolved the dispute while none of the parties claimed damages from the other party,A?a??A? Mr Doering said.

He said he had now decided to wind up his operations in the country as his life and that of his guests were under threat owing to frequent attacks on his resort.

A?a??A?Law and order is no longer in the hands or in the control of the authorities here. We are in the process of issuing warning notices to European travel trade organisations based on the incidents which happened here last night,A?a??A? he said.

When contacted by the Daily Mirror the Marawila police confirmed that an incident had taken place but refused to divulge further details.

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