SriLankan Airlines wants regional hub, War a worry

Sri Lankan Tourism Industry was badly hit by War in North & East. Colombo International Airport was attacked by the LTTE and half of the SriLankan Airlines, flag carrier of Sri Lanka, fleet was destroyed. And not long after 9/11 attacks made everyone stop flying. Thus many Opportunities in the tourism sector was lost. Ceasefire Agreement brought hostilities to an end and paved the way for a boom in the hostpitality industry.

Once the CFA was in effect both local and foreign tourist were able to visit the attractive but once God forbidden areas of North & East. The North -South link was rejuvanated and reached unprecedented levels. All this was good news for SriLankan which recorded the best year ever in 2004 with a record breaking Rs 55 billion profit.

Srilankan flies High...

SriLankan Airlines of which's 44 percent stake was bought by Emirates in 1998 had quite a few ups and downs.thoght it recorded its best year in 2004, it is adversly affected by the Tsunami catrosphe and incresingly shaky ceasefire.

But Peter Hill CEO of SriLankan Airlines remains optimistic, while pointing out that Sri Lankan's achievement in emerging as the largest overseas carrier to India and winning many international accalaimend awards, reaffirms the potential of Sri Lanka to develop into an regional hub. If Sri Lanka emerges as a regional hub SriLankan would be in a position to increase its fleet by 14 to 25. Sounding a note of caution Peter Hill stress that a break of war would put everything in jeopardy.

Mahinda's Chithanaya and its repercussions

The masses elected Mahinda into power by the majority Sinhala-Buddhist hardliners from the south. The voters from the North & East didn’t come as they were forced to boycott by the LTTE. The “Mahinda Chinthanaya” he with the alliance of JVP & JHU was going on stage that Ranil will divide the country and give more powers to the LTTE.
Now after coming into power on the 17th of November 2005, now he adopts the Ranil’s “People’s Manifesto” is being implemented regarding the Peace process, which is totally against what he preached on the stage prior to the elections. The alliance parties were totally against the Norway Facilitators and the LTTE’s killing spree of intelligence personnel of the military.
One of our distinguish lectures Dr. Mahim Mendis and Mr.Jehan Perera who was invited to participate International Human Rights Day in Killinochchi out of the 30 from the southern Sri Lanka. They had spoken about the boycott of the elections in the N-E. the reply had been they had wanted to see the person who is in favor to handle the peace process from the south. If the people had voted from the N-E it is a known fact that Ranil is the victor. But now he approaches to the peace process from Ranil’s approach which is totally unethical practices adopted by the head of state of the country.
Now the President is stating that he will only start the peace process after forming a southern consensus and having a majority in parliament by going for a snap general election early next year. Will the LTTE wait for that long??? As they already run out of patience. The LTTE have stated at their Maveer’s Day speech both in Wanni and in London where Anton Balasingham that out of the two presidential candidates Mahinda was a easier one than Ranil where Ranil was a cunning fox compared to Mahinda. As Ranil have put them on a Peace Trap with the help of the international community. Now with Mahinda winning the election the Country has gone a decade backwards than going forward by the approach they had taken regarding the peace process and economic reforms, by way of giving too many subsidies. I would urge the government and the President of the country not to play with the ethnic issue the country have had enough and the country couldn’t afford another war at this moment. What did the government that came into power in 2004 say??? They told that they will unplug the world bank with making statements to the country, they will resume peace process by 3 months, give fertilizer at Rs 350, give employment to 1 million and so forth. What has they really done???. But Ranil had a clear vision. He fought the war with the brain using tactics unlike going for war and claiming innocent lives.

More than 100 taken in on `Stranger`s Night`

More than 100 suspicious people were taken into custody following a massive cordon and search operation code-named `Strangers Night` in Wellawatta, Narahenpita, Kirulapone and Bambalapitiya police areas, police said yesterday.

Colombo DIG Pujitha Jayasundara said the surprise house-to-house operation was carried out jointly by the police, Army, Navy and the Air Force to track down illegal activities and suspected terrorist members in the area.

He said during the operation which started at 11 pm on Saturday and ended at 5 am yesterday, 107 people were taken in on suspicion while five of them had been detained.

'We used Tamil speaking officers to explain the people about the search and also used women police officers to check women', he said adding that the people had cooperated well.