Sri Lanka It's Happening

February 4, 2006

Today is Sri Lanka's independence day. Once again independece day parades are held amidst tight security, for the first time in four years there is genuine fear of bombs going off in Colombo and soldiers can be seen everywhere. There are some even on the roof of the Hilton.

They don't appear to be snipers, it's not clear if any ordinary soldier can even shoot an elephant from that distance but they are there. If there is a firefight there is a good chance of loads of civillians getting killed while all the terrorists get away.

Independece day itself does not mean much to many Sri Lankans. We are not truely independent. We are more likely an Indian state. President Mahinda Wickramasinghe (ooops Rajapaskha) and his predecessor Chandrika have solde the country to india for a song. When ever the Indian High commisioner in Colombo says jump, Sri Lankan ministers say "how high?"

Even if a staunch supporter of Mahinda denies that Sri Lanka is an Indian state, that does not mean we are independent. Sucessive governments have competed with the one before to empty the treasury as fast as they can. The end result is that part of the money for todays parades are from foreign donors. Naturally they call the shots in Sri Lanka.

Posted by raditha at February 4, 2006 3:24 PM