Chanaka Bandarage

It is a great relief that the Arugam Bay attack/incident did not materialize.

We have many 9/11s of our own (the 2019 Easter Sunday attack is just one). Would Arugam Bay have become our Bali 2005? (on 1 October 2005, 20 Australians holidaying in Bali were killed by Indonesian terrorists, over 100 were injured). 

Kudos to all those who worked to avoid this, including the NPP government.

The local media reported that the Indian intelligence has given us the tip. But, the government now denies this. What is the real truth? Who is the source then; solely local?

The NPP government boasts that it is due to their good governance that the attack was foiled. Let them take the credit. But, the government must answer these 3 important questions:

• The government has given two different dates for our Intelligence first knowing about the attack – (i) 2 weeks prior to 23 October 2024 and (ii) before the Presidential election. Which one is correct? Surely both cannot  be correct.  

• . Immediately upon knowing the possible attack, perhaps on the same day,  the US government issued a travel alert. That was on 23 October 2024. Similar alerts were immediately issued by Canada, Russia, Australia, New Zealand and Israel. World media reported this widely (headline news in many TV stations).  The discussions continue.

Would the Sri Lankan government accept that until the US travel alert, there have been no media releases by anyone including the Sri Lankan government? If yes, would it accept that this is not good enough on their part?

The public has a right to know.

(3). Why did the Sri Lankan government fail to appraise these governments (especially the US) well in advance and avoid their adverse travel alerts? They were extremely harmful to our tourism.

If the culprits were caught and law and order was fully restored, there was no requirements for the tourists to leave Arugam Bay/Sri Lanka.

In order to minimize the economic impact, what prudent governments do is to discuss matters with friendly governments. This is a highly confidential matter.

Our government ought to have known that any adverse travel alerts by foreign (western) governments would bring forth very bad results to our tourism industry and the country at large.

After the adverse travel advisories, bulk of the foreign tourists left Arugam Bay. Tourists in other parts of the country also left. A large number of potential visitors cancelled their arrivals.

The sad irony is that our tourist season has just begun (thankfully, the Arugam season has just ended).

What would the government do to bring back the lost tourists not only to Arugam Bay but to the whole country? We were expecting 1.5 – 2 million tourists this year. Would all of them come or less as a result of this?

The US government has currently given us a Level 2 Travel Advisory. This means – ‘Exercise increased caution due tocivil unrest and terrorism’. As there are no signs of civil unrest and we are terrorism free, the government should respectfully request the US to upgrade us to Level 1 – ‘Exercise Normal Precautions’. If this happens, our tourist numbers will increase by 10 times.

Blame game

Some in social media have started blaming Sri Lanka’s Muslims stating it was their plan to attack the Israelis. Not a single Sri Lankan Muslim has been involved.

There is a lot of vilification of the Israel tourists. They are blamed for coming to Sri Lanka. Haven’t they helped our tourism industry?

The Israelis have done no wrong. They visited Arugam Bay because they love surfing and overall they like Sri Lanka.  

Currently, thousands of Sri Lankans work in Israel. Israelis want more Sri Lankans because our workers are very good. And, our workers are very happy there.

Due to this good relationship, since recently, Israelis have been coming to Sri Lanka in large numbers.

In October 2024, there may/may not have been Israeli armed forces personnel in Arugam Bay. But, they were here on holiday. In Israel, every male between 18 – 60 must do compulsory military service.

Apart from a very few, all countries (including Muslim), allow Israelis to visit them as tourists.

It is estimated that on 23 October 2024 there had been thousands of Israelis in Sri Lanka (exact number is unknown to the writer). Most are now gone. Unless the government takes extraordinary steps, it is difficult to believe that many Israelis would return.

This is a major loss of revenue for the country. We are desperate for dollars.

In deep south, Russians and Ukrainians who have come here on short stay tourist visas are running many small businesses – restaurants, hair salons, laundries, tailor shops, bakeries, night clubs etc. They are taking away our locals’ work.  Some of these businesses due to racism have refused entry to Sri Lankans (in our own country!). Then, Chinese have been involved in large scale racketeering here. About 150 were arrested recently in different places. These illegal stayers and criminals must be brought to justice and ultimately deported. Good business owners must be screened and facilitated with proper business visas.

The mastermind and the terrorists

It is alleged that a foreign government was the mastermind of the failed attack owing to its animosity with Israel. The writer is unable to comment about this. All is hearsay.

Israel has not apportioned blame on that foreign government or any other government for the failed attack.

3 people have been arrested by the law enforcements. They say 1 is a Maldivian Muslim (who speaks Sinhalese) and the other two are Sri Lankan Tamils.

According to local media the two Tamils have been ex-LTTE fighters. One is from Chunnakam, Jaffna. The 2^nd arrest was made in Rathmalana (his native place is unknown). The Police are looking for more suspects.

If this is true, then it is a very dangerous and serious situation.

Who can be their local mastermind?

A suggestion only

It is a well-known fact that a former Tamil Tiger who later became a Chief Minister has presence in Arugam Bay. It is alleged that his people are involved in many illegal/unethical activities there. 

He – a darling of recent governments, was accused of murdering a TNA MP. He is widely blamed for committing the Gonagala murders.

The Gonagala massacre occurred on 18 September 1999, at the 31 Colony in Ampara. The LTTE hacked to death 50 Sinhala Buddhist civilians. The terrorists split open bellies of pregnant mothers; infants were grabbed from mothers who were feeding them. These infants were then smashed down on the ground. A middle-aged man who tried to protect himself had his hand severed and skull pulverized.

Some say this former Chief Minister was involved in the Aranthalawa Buddhist Monk murders. A possibility.

Arguam Bay has a vibrant night life with night clubs and discos. Mafia type Tamil cadres (Arguam Bay is predominantly a Muslim town) are blamed for money extortion from lawful businesses, drug peddling, serious law and order breaches and petty crimes.

Could this person (the former Chief Minister) be the local mastermind of the failed Arugam Bay terrorist attack?

The writer is only suggesting.

This person could be totally innocent and may not have had any involvement in this matter.

But, it is worth investigating.

We must not forget that there is another ex-LTTE commander that lives in Batticaloa, he was a former Deputy Minister (another darling of the past governments). He is blamed for the Aranthalawa, Sri Maha Bodhi and Dalada Maligawa massacres and the killing of 600 un-armed Policemen. This person has some time ago outlined words similar to the effect that ‘Prabhakaran was a good person and his demise was a loss to Tamils’.

It is good if these 2 persons are prosecuted for the crimes that they allegedly committed.

These are crimes against humanity.

They allegedly killed thousands of innocent people. They should not be allowed to live in current luxury.

As they are extremely dangerous, the Sri Lankan Intelligence must keep a sharp eye on them.

Let us hope that the government’s investigation on this matter will not be like the  previous governments’ Easter Sunday attack investigations. Let us hope that they will divulge only the truth to us.

(After winning the war, Gota just let go about 10,000 LTTE cadres. Then, about another 10,000 was rehabilitated. Where  are they now? Do we keep a track of them? There are about 10? LTTErs in remand/jail currently. And, this is how we maintain law and order and anticipate to keep a peaceful/calm country.

The Mahavir Day is soon forthcoming; let us see how the NPP government will deal with this).