withdrawal symptoms

with peace talks back on track, sri lanka should be happy. except that in sri lanka we are never happy unless there is something on. the continued killings in the east and the events in beruwella are cases in point. and then, there was that ring of explosions around colombo a few nights ago. after 25 years of conflict it seems that we simply cannot do without our daily fix of mayhem and bedlam. perhaps what we need is a national de tox program.

tipping point

check out this bulletin from a bbc correspondent in jaffna link

(un)happy new year

last night, off the coast of trinco, a ltte boat laden with explosives rammed into a sri lankan navy vessel. 13 are reported to having being killed. a week earlier in the same town, 7 tamil students rounded up by the army, were reportedly shot. 5 died. nice start to the year and, perhaps, a clearer pointer of events to come.

meanwhile in colombo, the hotels were overflowing with revellers on the 31st night. at mount lavinia beach, bleary eyed elite wakening at 9.30 the next morning were served a can of red bull and a paracetamol - and then a scrumptious breakfast.

everyone was no doubt enjoying their good judgment in voting for war and getting other people's sons (north, east and south) to die for the choice.