|
Author
|
Topic: My 95 visit to Sri Lanka
|
|
Visva
|
posted January 10, 2001 03:08 PM
  
I visited Sri Lanka in 95.Eventhough my folks had a place in the suburbs I decided to stay at the YMCA in fort.My very first day I was taken in for questioning by the Sri Lankan police only because they learned the new comer at the YMCA was a Tamil.I used to live at the YMCA in my twenties.The police questioned me and let me go.I went to see one of my old friends who worked for a major bank in fort.I have lived in the united states since 1984 and in New York since 1986.When I went to see this friend, there was this very attractive woman walked by in that building.The New Yorker in me came without hesitation and I said hello to this woman.This was the second trip I made to see my friend at the bank.The bank security guard knew I am a Tamil when I went see my friend in my first trip.When I said hello to this very attractive woman he went outside and called some navy personnel.Later on I found out this woman was a wife of some navy big shot.The navy head quarters was just right outside and a fifty of navy men gathered around me.After two,three hours of questioning they had nothing to hold and I was handed over to the Sri Lankan police.I ended up spending a week there at the fort police station on conditions very unique to SL.My sister was an influential journalist for a major English News paper at that time.The United states government had given her a scholarship to several top universities which offered crash courses on journalism for about six months .She ended up working for Wall street journal for about a month and returned to her journalasim work in Sri Lanka there.My sisters star power made the police to let me go after a week.I had a Sinhalla friend who is the son in law of a famous politician there in Colombo suburbs.He invited me to Nuwara Eliya and I went there.One morning I decided to take a walk in the town there.I struck a conversation with one of a tea stall owner.There was this this old criple man who was listning to us suddently disappeared.After few minutes three jeep load of police came there and I arrested me.Due to the star power of my friend I was let go after about 15 hours.After learning my arrest in Nuwara Eliya my mother and sisters strongly advised me to leave Sri Lanka.I ended up in the police station three times because I had a Tamil name and Tamil parents.My brother in law who is half burgher and half Sinhalese gave a ride to the airport and he was watching me until I disappeared in to the crowds.After doing all those pass port formalities and checking in I was sitting at the lounge.I was begginning to wonder why my trip has to end this way?Then I told on of those officials at the airport I wasnt feeling very well and I will travel later on another flight.They got my baggage out of the Airplane and I was on my to pettah bus station on a taxi.I took a bus to vavuniya,then to thandikulam,then onto a few hours of boat ride in kilali After couple days I was in my beloved Jaffna.I stayed with one of my old frieds there.In Jaffna at that time may be even now you cant sleep at night because of so much mosquitoes and I wasnt used to that.I got up around one a clock in the morning and decided to take awalk to the town centre and have a cup of tea.As I was walking I started to hear shells exploding,gunfire,all kinds of noises I have never heard before.later on I learned it was an attack by LTTE on Mandaitivu army base.More than 100 Sri Lankan soldiers died in that attack.The gunfires and other noises were heard for a good 16 hours.Civilians got sheltered in a school I got my education for more than 10 years.I pretty much learned whatever I wanted to learn and then I went to see those who got sheltered in my old school.The Jaffna tamils were very slim and i was little built up.I went see those who seeked refuge my school because the Sri Lankan army was shelling that area from Palaly army camp.Some one thought I was a Sinhalese who may have been trying to act like a civilian due to my built.The word spread around fast within few minutes.LTTE was brought in.They refused to believe that I was a Tamil and took them to one of their camps in gurunagal.The camp head realised it was a huge mistake and we got into a little conversation.I told him my desire to meet VP if possible.So he told me I have to go through certain people before my dream materialises.He offered me accomadations in a house so that some body special could come and talk to me.I got off to a ver bad start at this house with the head of that household.That head of that house said I am not allowed to leave without prior permission from him.This was something shocking to me..Accomadations were not bad at all.The food was great it is just that I cant leave that house.I was held against my will for more than a month and a half by the same peole I loved so dearly.After that I got F--- out of Sri Lanka.
This is what my trip taught me.War is horrible,whether it is war for peace or war for war.That is why I am a passinoate activist for peace.The love I have for VP and the LTTE will never diminish so is my love for peace.I am sure some of you might take this as a contradictory statement.If any of you went through what I went through in life in general,you wouldnt see it that way.None Of you,I will gurantee met and mingled with the wide varities of people I came accross in my life.I have dined and wined with the rich and famous.There were circumstances I was forced to live with people who were under privillaged.Been there.Done that.lived that.Seeking new thrills now.------------------
| |
UBBFriend: Email This Page to Someone!
InfoLanka Forum
To close this thread, click here (moderator or admin only).