LTTE

I should probably point out that I am aware there is a war going on in this country, and it is quite serious. 51 civilians have allegedly died, but this is all going on in a very small area in the North, so here I am very safe.

What bothers me about it is that it doesn't seem to be that big a thing. Walking down Colombo main street and whoosh past go six jets and three helicopters. Taxi drivers are usually quite keen to tell me whats happening in their country, but so far I've only had one who seems that interested. You would honestly never guess there was a civil war going on in this country.

There is however propaganda all over tv. Feb 4th was an important Independence Day this year, because the government are setting out to clinch the North once and for all. All the Sri Lankan channels were showing ridiculous military related programes. Pop songs with the singer on a navy boat and interviews with army soldiers with a braveheart sound track going on.
The worst though were these infomercials with a bunch of actors in army uniforms with ammo belts and big guns doing skids on motorbikes. They were riding along on motorbikes, skidding to the floor and using them as shelters to fire from, it was hilarious but kind of scary at the same time.