Had a great family holiday in sri lanka this despite the rain. The evidence that there is severe climate change is pretty manifest. We were in monsoon conditions at least 2 months beyond the normal end of the monsoon.
The sri lankan tourist industry has had a double whammy. Firstly from the tsunami. The scale and randomness of the event are overpowering.The south and east coast are littered with graveyards that bring into stark focus the impact of the tsunami on sri lanka. A lot of reconstruction has taken place so the physical scars are less apparent. We stayed at a hotel maybe 50 metres from the beach, albeit with a line of mangrove, that was completely untouched. Other places the water came up to 2 kilometres. Physically sri lanka is , and this is a subjective view from a tourist who travelled a limited amount, probably 75% recovered from the tsunami.
What is more of concern is the civil war with hotels running at 30 - 40% occupancy during the peak season. There are just no tourists in sri lanka. This despite it boasting fantastic beaches, rain forests, good hotels and infrastructure - India lite. There was a period of optimism but the ceasefire talks failed in October. Both the LTTE, the rebel tamil group, and the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) refused toi give ground, with both sides believing further military action can provide the levewrage they require. The effect is devestating to teh economy.
Sri Lanka is such a jewel that it deserves better
The sri lankan tourist industry has had a double whammy. Firstly from the tsunami. The scale and randomness of the event are overpowering.The south and east coast are littered with graveyards that bring into stark focus the impact of the tsunami on sri lanka. A lot of reconstruction has taken place so the physical scars are less apparent. We stayed at a hotel maybe 50 metres from the beach, albeit with a line of mangrove, that was completely untouched. Other places the water came up to 2 kilometres. Physically sri lanka is , and this is a subjective view from a tourist who travelled a limited amount, probably 75% recovered from the tsunami.
What is more of concern is the civil war with hotels running at 30 - 40% occupancy during the peak season. There are just no tourists in sri lanka. This despite it boasting fantastic beaches, rain forests, good hotels and infrastructure - India lite. There was a period of optimism but the ceasefire talks failed in October. Both the LTTE, the rebel tamil group, and the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) refused toi give ground, with both sides believing further military action can provide the levewrage they require. The effect is devestating to teh economy.
Sri Lanka is such a jewel that it deserves better
