<ul><li><keyword id="6355572" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="sri-lanka">Sri Lanka</keyword>’s new government, which is yet to be recognised internationally, has awarded two key <keyword id="6404642" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Port">port</keyword> contracts with a cumulative value of nearly $58 million to Chinese firms. </li><li>The legality of the new government, led by former PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, and its ability to make such deals has been questioned. Yesterday, Sri Lanka’s Parliament voted to cut his cabinet’s budget, citing its illegitimacy. </li><li>Sri Lanka’s port deals with <keyword id="1334" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="China">China</keyword> are particularly worrisome for <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword>, since it is an important trade partner. In addition, they also portend the increasing presence of China’s military forces in the island nation. </li></ul> India’s bid for influence in the South Asian region just got a little bit trickier. Amid an ongoing political <keyword id="41673" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="crisis">crisis</keyword>, Sri Lanka’s new government, which is yet to be recognised internationally, has awarded two key port contracts with a cumulative value of nearly $58 million to Chinese firms, according to <a href="https://uk.reuters.com/article/sri-lanka-china/update-1-sri-lanka-signs-port-deals-with-china-amid-political-upheaval-idUKL4N1Y44GC">Reuters</a>. The deals were reportedly signed by the state-owned Sri Lankan Port Authority on Thursday after being approved by the newly-installed cabinet of pro-China former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa last week. Rajapaksa ruled the island nation between 2005 and 2015. The legality of the new government and its ability to make such deals has been questioned. The political crisis was triggered at the end of October when President Maithripala Sirisena removed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and appointed his former ally Rajapaksa to the post instead. In the weeks following the removal, the President has called for fresh elections and tried to dissolve the Parliament, where Wickremesinghe holds a majority. Both proposals were struck down by Sri Lanka’s highest court. As things stand, both Prime Ministers are staking their claim to the official post, despite Rajapaksa having failed two no-confidence motions. Yesterday, Sri Lanka’s Parliament voted to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sri-lanka-politics/sri-lanka-parliament-cut-pms-budget-amid-weeks-long-political-crisis-idUSKCN1NY0OI">cut the Rajapaksa cabinet’s budget</a>, citing his government’s illegitimacy. In principle, the move prevents the cabinet from making any big spending decisions which will inevitably lead to a conflict over the validity of the port deals. A move away from India to China Sri Lanka’s port deals with China are particularly worrisome for India, since it is an important trade partner and conducts a significant amount of its regional trade through the island nation’s shipping channels. In addition, this also portends the increasing presence of China’s military forces in Sri Lanka. Another worry for India is the removal of Wickremesinghe, who was reportedly in favour of awarding a $1 billion container terminal contract to an Indo-Japanese consortium. During his time in power, Rajapaksa sought closer ties with China and took on a number of Chinese loans for infrastructure projects, which has driven the country to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/25/world/asia/china-sri-lanka-port.html">a tenuous financial position</a>. In December last year, Sri Lanka was forced to hand over control of its $1.5 billion Hambantota Port to the state-backed China Merchant Port Holdings after being unable to meet its <keyword id="44647" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="debt">debt</keyword> obligations on the port. If Rajapaksa eventually succeeds in becoming the country’s official PM, he is expected to continue his pro-China policies as evidenced by these two recent port deals. That will further exacerbate Sri Lanka’s finances, bringing it closer into a Chinese debt trap - a fate that regional neighbours <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-bid-for-greater-influence-in-the-maldives-gets-a-boost-as-the-island-nation-reportedly-looks-to-scrap-a-trade-deal-with-china/articleshow/66708410.cms">Maldives</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/wary-of-a-debt-trap-malaysias-government-has-backed-out-of-three-china-funded-infrastructure-projects/articleshow/65502165.cms">Malaysia</a> are trying to avoid. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-bid-for-greater-influence-in-the-maldives-gets-a-boost-as-the-island-nation-reportedly-looks-to-scrap-a-trade-deal-with-china/articleshow/66708410.cms">India’s bid for greater influence in the Maldives gets a boost as the island nation reportedly looks to scrap a trade deal with China</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/wary-of-a-debt-trap-malaysias-government-has-backed-out-of-three-china-funded-infrastructure-projects/articleshow/65502165.cms">Wary of a debt trap, Malaysia’s government has backed out of three China-funded infrastructure projects</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sri-lanka-is-building-a-15-billion-metropolis-to-rival-cities-like-hong-kong-and-dubai/articleshow/65785690.cms">Sri Lanka is building a $15 billion metropolis to rival cities like Hong Kong and Dubai</a>

As Sri Lanka’s political crisis continues, its ‘unofficial’ government has awarded two key port contracts to Chinese companies — here’s what that means for India

<ul><li>Sri Lankan authorities have so far arrested over 40 suspects. </li><li>The serial bombing that has now claimed the lives of over 321 people including 38 foreigners. </li><li>Sri Lanka defence minister Ruwan Wijewardene told<a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/sri-lanka-blasts-probe-shows-attacks-retaliation-for-christchurch-says-minister-2027263"> </a>Parliament the findings of an initial probe. </li></ul> The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the serial blasts in Sri Lanka, one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in the island nation's history that has killed over 320 people. It made the claim via its 'Amaq' news agency. Earlier, a preliminary investigation had revealed the attacks were in response to the mosque mass shooting at <keyword id="98905" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Christchurch">Christchurch</keyword>, New Zealand last month. Sri Lanka defence minister Ruwan Wijewardene reportedly <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/sri-lanka-blasts-probe-shows-attacks-retaliation-for-christchurch-says-minister-2027263">told </a>Parliament on Tuesday the Sunday blasts were “in retaliation for the attack against Muslims in Christchurch.” According to a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2019/apr/23/sri-lanka-bombings-attacks-live-news">confidential</a> briefing that was shared among government officials, one of the suspects had started sharing ‘extremist’ content from his social media handles, The Guardian reported. A small radical Muslim group, National Thowheeth Ja’amath, is the main suspect behind the attack. Sri Lankan authorities have so far arrested over 40 suspects in connection with the Easter day serial bombing that has now claimed the lives of over 321 people including 38 foreigners. A total of eight bombs struck the island country on Sunday, targeting churches and hotels. The country’s leaders have strongly been questioned over the massive security failure leading up to the attack, as intelligence officials had <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/22/world/asia/ntj-warning-sri-lanka-government.html?action=click&amp;module=Top%20Stories&amp;pgtype=Homepage">reportedly</a> alerted the authorities of a possible planned attack in mid-April. Sri Lankan cabinet spokesperson Rajitha Senaratne told the media on Monday that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe wasn’t made aware of the security threat, calling it a “colossal intelligence failure.” The comments came amid an ongoing rift between president Maithripala Sirisena, who oversees security operations, and the PM. The two have been at loggerheads in recent months leading to a political crisis. On Tuesday, the defence minister again claimed that key government officials were “never” informed about a potential terrorist attack.” On Monday, Sri Lanka's cabinet spokesperson had publicly apologized admitting that the Sri Lankan police had prior information on possible terror attacks but adequate measures had not been taken. The Christchurch mass shootings in New Zealand happened during Friday prayers at a mosque on March 15, which killed over 50 and injured many others in one of the worst deadliest terror attacks in the country. An Australian-born white supremacist, Brenton Tarrant, was held for that massacre. On Monday, President Sirisena declared a conditional state of emergency in the country for the maintenance of essential supplies and services. With agencies

ISIS claims it is behind Sri Lankan serial blasts

<ul><li>The 74-year-old Sri Lanka People's Party (SLPP) leader was administered the oath of office by his younger brother and President Gotabaya <keyword id="60944" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rajapaksa">Rajapaksa</keyword> at <keyword id="9725887" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-rajamaha-viharaya">the Rajamaha Viharaya</keyword> in Kelaniya, a north Colombo suburb, at the auspicious hour of 9:28 am local time.</li><li>This is Mahinda Rajapaksa's fourth innings as <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">prime minister</keyword>. Supporters of SLPP lit firecrackers to celebrate his swearing in as the 13th Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.</li><li> The Rajamaha Viharaya, also known as the Kelaniya temple, dates back to 2,500 years. According to the temple website, the shrine has often been associated with the rise and fall of Sri Lanka. </li></ul> Sri Lanka's former president Mahinda Rajapaksa was sworn in on Sunday as the new prime minister at a centuries-old Buddhist temple after his party won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections that allowed the influential family to consolidate power in the island nation. The 74-year-old Sri Lanka People's Party (SLPP) leader was administered the oath of office by his younger brother and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Rajamaha Viharaya in Kelaniya, a north Colombo suburb, at the auspicious hour of 9:28 am local time. This is Mahinda Rajapaksa's fourth innings as prime minister. Supporters of SLPP lit firecrackers to celebrate his swearing in as the 13th Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. The Rajamaha Viharaya, also known as the Kelaniya temple, dates back to 2,500 years. According to the temple website, the shrine has often been associated with the rise and fall of Sri Lanka. There is a popular saying that as the temple rose, Sri Lanka rose and as it fell, the country and its administration fell. It has thus had a deep association with the political powers of the country, the website states. Mahinda Rajapaksa completed 50 years of parliamentary politics in July this year. He was elected as a Member of Parliament at the young age of 24 in 1970. He has since been elected President twice and has been appointed Prime Minister thrice before. He was prime minister between April 2004 and November 2005. He was prime minister for 52 days in 2018, and from November 2019 to August 5, 2020. The SLPP, led by Mahinda Rajapaksa, registered a landslide victory in the August 5 general election, securing two-thirds majority in Parliament needed to amend the Constitution to further consolidate the powerful Rajapaksa family's grip on power. India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay on Saturday became the first envoy to congratulate the new prime minister when he called on Mahinda Rajapaksa. Baglay recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had complimented the people and Government of Sri Lanka on the successful conduct of elections and had acknowledged the impressive electoral performance of the SLPP. He reiterated the strong desire and the commitment of the Indian government to work very closely with the new government and Parliament in Sri Lanka for further strengthening comprehensive bilateral cooperation, the Indian High Commission here said. Mahinda Rajapaksa polled over 500,000 individual preference votes -- the highest ever recorded by a candidate in the country's election history. The SLPP won in 145 constituencies, bagging a total of 150 seats with its allies, a two-thirds majority in the 225-member Parliament. The cabinet ministers, state and deputy ministers are expected to be sworn-in this week. The Rajapaksa family -- including SLPP founder and its National Organiser 69-year-old Basil Rajapaksa, who is the younger brother of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 71, and Mahinda Rajapaksa -- has dominated Sri Lankan politics for two decades. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had won the November presidential election on the SLPP ticket. In the parliamentary election, he was seeking 150 seats mandatory to execute constitutional changes, including to repeal the 19th Amendment to the Constitution which had curbed the presidential powers while strengthening the role of Parliament. Activists, already alarmed by the diminishing space for dissent and criticism in the island nation, fear such a move could lead to authoritarianism. The biggest casualty from the election outcome was the <keyword id="289630" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="United-National-Party">United National Party</keyword> (UNP) of former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe which managed to win only one seat. The country's grand old party failed to win a single seat from any of the 22 districts. UNP leader and four-time prime minister <keyword id="9725889" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="wikremesinghe">Wikremesinghe</keyword> was unseated for the first time since he entered Parliament in 1977. Mahinda Rajapaksa earlier served as the country's president from 2005-2015, a period which was mired by allegations of human rights abuses, especially against the Tamils. He enjoys cult status among the 77 per cent Sinhala majority community for his action to end the brutal nearly three-decade-long civil war in the island nation with the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009. The LTTE led by its leader Velupillai Prabhakaran had waged a violent campaign in the nation to carve out a separate Tamil homeland in the north and east of the island. The military during Mahinda Rajapaksa's regime as president defeated the rebel group, a task all his predecessors since 1972 had failed to achieve. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/tech-mahindra-cfo-says-lateral-hiring-will-take-time-and-only-after-utilisation-improves-to-pre-covid-levels/articleshow/77440879.cms">Tech Mahindra CFO says lateral hiring will take time — and only after utilisation improves to pre-COVID levels</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/how-karan-bajaj-sold-his-less-than-18-month-old-startup-white-hat-jr-to-byjus/articleshow/77415329.cms">A WhatsApp message, six weeks of talks and a $300 million deal – how Karan Bajaj sold his less than 18-month old startup White Hat Jr to Byju’s</a>

Mahinda Rajapaksa takes oath as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka for the fourth time

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11916313" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="sri-lanka" source="Orion">Sri Lanka</keyword> is experiencing its worst economic crisis on record.</li><li>Grocery-store shelves are empty, medicine is running out, and people are waiting hours to get gas.</li></ul>Maumita Sarkar flew from India to Sri Lanka in mid-April. It was Sinhala New Year when she arrived, which is traditionally a time of renewal and celebration: People clean their homes, carry out rituals, and set off firecrackers. But by April this year, Sri Lankans were <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-61028138">taking to the streets</a> to protest soaring prices, food and gas shortages, and a life they could no longer afford to keep living.Against the backdrop of growing discontent in the country, Sarkar considered her <keyword id="11896628" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="travel" source="Orion">travel</keyword> options. The blogger spoke to the Sri Lankan embassy, a friend who had recently returned from the country, and a handful of local travel agents. They all assured her that things were, as she put, "absolutely fine."She decided to go forward with her trip."As soon as I landed there, the airport had so many foreigners, it seemed all normal," Sarkar told Insider."While the media kept showing all the protests, I saw nothing except a handful of people in Colombo," Sarkar said of her impressions of the Sri Lankan capital. "The whole place was very calm."She spent the next 10 days traveling around the country, taking trains across Sri Lanka's lush landscapes, catching sunsets in the beach town of Mirissa, and Instagramming her way through mangrove wetlands and sacred temples.Even as the country buckles under the weight of its worst economic crisis on record, tourists continue to flock to Sri Lanka. While photos from the capital show the burned-out shells of cars and buses toppled over into lakes, international visitors continue to fly in, hoping to take advantage of a cheap tourism market still in post-pandemic recovery mode.In April, the Sri Lankan rupee <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/b6c91edf-d8b3-42d6-8eef-c42f2f2544b3">hit a record low</a>; food, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-61111405">medicine</a>, and gas are in short supply; and the country is seeing rolling <a href="https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-schedules-power-cuts-of-3-hours-40-mins-on-may-17-94323/">blackouts</a>. On May 10, the government <a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/sri-lanka-riots-shoot-sight-orders-property-damage-2676346">ordered</a> troops to shoot anyone on sight if they were seen destroying property.And still, the tourists just keep coming.<div type="image" title="Motorists queue along a road to buy gas at a fuel station." height="3140" width="4188" msid="91740532" hostid="261"></div><h2>A country in crisis</h2>In recent years, Sri Lanka's relationship with tourism has been one of turbulent symbiosis. The island nation off the southeastern tip of India is home to 22 million people. With its white-sand beaches, temple ruins, and tea plantations, it draws in tourists searching for adventure, spirituality, and off-the-beaten path itineraries. The country's tourism scene had been on a steady, decade-long upward trend that culminated in 2.5 million internationals arrivals in 2018, data from the <a href="https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/ST.INT.ARVL?locations=LK">World Bank</a> shows. In 2019, before the pandemic, travel and tourism <a href="https://knoema.com/atlas/Sri-Lanka/topics/Tourism/Travel-and-Tourism-Total-Contribution-to-GDP/Contribution-of-travel-and-tourism-to-GDP-percent-of-GDP">accounted</a> for 12% of Sri Lanka's GDP.<div type="image" title="Aerial view of Sri Lanka beach and narrow highway" height="2463" width="3285" msid="91740535" hostid="261"></div>But on Easter Sunday in April 2019, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48010697">coordinated attacks carried out by suicide bombers across the country</a> killed more than 250 people. In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, international arrivals to the country <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-49674681">dropped</a> by as much as 70%. Arrivals in 2019 fell to 2 million and plummeted to barely more than half a million in 2020 as the pandemic gripped the world, per the World Bank.Sanjaya Sri Chandra Kumara is a Sri Lankan who, first as a tuk-tuk driver and now as a tour operator, has had a front seat to the country's many tourism swings."When I started in 2017, tourism was a good job, it was my only income," he told Insider. "The money was good everywhere in Sri Lanka. We had a good life.""In 2019 after the terror attack, tourism was torn down again, but all over the world people wanted to help Sri Lanka, so people wanted to visit," Kumara added.The country's dependent relationship with tourism, as evidenced by authorities' interaction with travelers, is still on display in the current crisis."There is a police presence and road blocks occasionally. We have been stopped once," Clair Louise Todd, a Brit currently on a monthlong trip across Sri Lanka, told Insider. "The police were very friendly, even happy to have a photo taken."Now, as many countries across the globe reopen their borders and reap the financial benefits of welcoming back tourists, Sri Lanka is facing a fresh crisis. With its foreign reserves at a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-business-health-economy-sri-lanka-a742a0ebe7a7e0734960d68e49bed69a#:~:text=He%20said%20Sri%20Lanka's%20reserves,foreign%20currency%20amid%20the%20pandemic.&amp;text=The%20reserves%20declined%20to%20%243.1,end%20of%20March%2C%20he%20said.">record low</a>, the country is on the <a href="https://thediplomat.com/2022/05/sri-lanka-is-on-the-brink-of-bankruptcy/">brink of bankruptcy</a>, and the economic crisis has become a political crisis. The country's leadership has <a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/sri-lanka-president-declares-state-emergency-amid-unrest-strike-2669366">declared a state of emergency</a> twice since the beginning of April. Sri Lanka is also facing a <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/18/a-food-crisis-looms-in-sri-lanka-as-farmers-give-up-on-planting">food crisis</a>, with imports down and domestically grown food on a decline thanks to a fertilizer ban.People have taken to the streets by the thousands in protest. As protests deepened and the death toll rose to five with another 190 people injured, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/05/09/1097562723/the-prime-minister-of-sri-lanka-resigns-after-weeks-of-protests">resigned</a> from his post on May 9. On May 14, Ranil Wickremesinghe, the newly elected prime minister, told the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-61434304">BBC</a> he would ensure families get three meals a day — but also said the crisis was going to get worse before it got better. Three days later, he <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/16/asia/sri-lanka-fuel-economic-crisis-intl-hnk/index.html">said</a> the country was down to its last day of gasoline.<div type="image" title="People running on a street while a water cannon and tear gas spray behind them." height="2988" width="3984" msid="91742606" hostid="261"></div>"This has been building for years and years," said Gary Bowerman, a travel analyst who runs a weekly podcast called the South East Asia Travel Show. "It's the perfect storm after COVID-19. Sri Lanka hasn't had any foreign exchange reserves for three or four years. The year before COVID there were the bombings, which really hit tourism hard, and tourism is such a vital source of foreign exchange in Sri Lanka."Bowerman stressed that government mismanagement is at the root of the problem: "It's been debt mismanagement for decades."<h2>'I was just there, didn't even notice'</h2>But you probably wouldn't glean the severity of the situation from looking at the Facebook groups where travelers swap tips.One of these, called "Sri Lanka Travel and Tourism," has 47,000 followers. The page keeps lighting up with comments from people trying to suss out whether or not they should currently visit Sri Lanka, looking for rides out of the airport, and seeking advice on getting gas in the fuel-strapped country."I'm thinking of buying tickets this week for 20-30 June. I read on the internet that there is no electricity in the country, there is a curfew. The prime minister resigned today," wrote a woman from Turkey on May 10. "Can the tourists currently in the country provide information about this?""Is it possible (through Uber) to go to one city to another due to the petrol shortage?" a French member of the group asked on May 17.The comments on these questions are full of travelers chiming in with their own advice, name-dropping gas stations and convenience stores where they managed to refuel. Consistently, tourists and locals alike encourage people to keep visiting."I was just there, didn't even notice. I had an amazing three weeks," one woman wrote on May 11 in response to another user's question about protests and safety. "There are protests but as soon as you're out of Colombo you're in a holiday bubble."<h2>A series of disconnects</h2>The story of traveling and living in Sri Lanka right now reads like a series of disconnects. Visitors don't describe the same reality locals do; some locals say they don't see the version of life the media is portraying.Bowerman, the travel analyst, said the disconnect could be partially attributed to geography. "Sri Lanka is very small, and the protests do seem to be contained in the capital of Colombo. Tourists tend to head out of Colombo and not spend huge amounts of time there.""If you head down to one of the resorts in the south of the country, you may not notice it quite so much," he added, referring to the shortages and blackouts.<div type="image" title="A beach with a resort in the background" height="3471" width="4628" msid="91740537" hostid="261"></div>Caroline Crowder, an American who lives in Singapore and works in education tech, booked a flight to Sri Lanka in January. While her visit ended before the protests began, she said she experienced fuel and food shortages even back then."Every place I ate had something crossed off their menu that they couldn't provide because they couldn't get the food imported," Crowder told Insider. "At a nice Japanese restaurant at Galle Face mall, they had no liquor and no meats with the exception of chicken."Since then, things have gotten worse.Sarkar, the blogger, left the country in May. "The only change I had to do in itinerary was to take the shortest route to optimise fuel usage," Sarkar said of her trip.<div type="image" title="Armed officers standing on an empty street with factories in the background" height="3471" width="4629" msid="91740539" hostid="261"></div>Like Sarkar, Clair Louise Todd, the Brit who described the police presence, researched the trip before going through with it. Todd and her partner arrived in Sri Lanka on May 10 and found protests, burning hotels, and looting: "We were quite shocked and were stopped four times in Negombo by protesters as we were traveling to our first hotel."The couple rented a tuk-tuk for the entirety of their trip. While gas lines can stretch kilometers long, Todd said locals keep helping them out. In the central town of Dambulla, the owner of a closed garage gave them fuel out of his own car; elsewhere, they bought five liters off a local man who had some gas to spare."Another time, a garage that was closed had a small amount so they let us fill up," Todd said. "Within minutes, hundreds of people started queuing when they saw us filling up. The owner closed up again and told everyone, 'no more fuel.'"<h2>Authorities urge travelers to reconsider their plans</h2>The US Embassy has been publishing demonstration alerts on its <a href="https://lk.usembassy.gov/category/alert/">site</a> consistently since the beginning of April. It <a href="https://lk.usembassy.gov/travel-advisory-sri-lanka-level-3-reconsider-travel-2/">issued</a> a level 3 "reconsider travel" advisory in mid-April due to fuel and medicine shortages. As of mid-May, countries including the UK, Ireland, and New Zealand have all <a href="https://www.itij.com/latest/news/governments-advise-against-travel-sri-lanka#:~:text=Australia%2C%20Ireland%2C%20New%20Zealand%2C,civil%20unrest%20in%20the%20country">advised</a> against non-essential travel to Sri Lanka."If you're a tourist and you're thinking, 'well, I can help the country, I can bring in my dollars,' there is an element of truth in there, but there are also a number of dangers," Bowerman said."From a tourism standpoint, there are a lot of issues you need to think about, and this is definitely going to get worse," he added.Some travelers say they are changing their plans. A woman from Greece in the Sri Lanka Facebook group told Insider she's leaning towards canceling the flight she'd booked for the end of May, and some Facebook commenters are suggesting travelers cancel or delay their trips.<div type="image" title="Protesters on the street with a water cannon behind them." height="2000" width="2666" msid="91740543" hostid="261"></div>Meanwhile, multiple Sri Lankans described a state of crisis that's bled into their own lives — but it's not stopping them from welcoming tourists.For some, it's practical.Kumara, the tuk-tuk driver, said that having tourists in his car is one of the only ways he has a shot at getting gas or getting through protestor-blocked roads: "When I have tourists in my car, they give me a chance, every place in Sri Lanka — but only when tourists in my car. If I go alone, they don't give me a chance."Others view tourism as the way out of the country's economic crisis.Sachintha Lakpriya, a Sri Lankan who described himself as a full-time traveler, said he's spent as much as six hours waiting in gas lines: "In some cases, despite waiting in line for a long time, there were times when I finally had to go home without gas or fuel."Even so, Lakpriya said he was "really happy" to see tourists in Sri Lanka right now: "Currently we are facing lack of foreign reserves, and tourism will help us to raise them again."

Sri Lanka is running out of food, medicine, gas, and money &mdash; but the tourists just keep coming

<ul><li>The eight blasts in the country saw a death toll of 290. </li><li>Three big hotels were a target of the blasts, affecting tourists. </li><li>The island nation’s popularity as a tourist destination was already under pressure because of a political crisis and now it could be further affected.</li></ul>The eight blasts in <keyword id="6355572" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="sri-lanka">Sri Lanka</keyword> on Sunday saw the death toll rising to 290, with five Indians killed. Five-star hotels were among the main targets of the bombing that included Cinnamon Grand, Shangri-La and the Kingsbury in the capital Colombo. That is a direct hit to Sri Lanka’s travel and tourism industry. Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) President Harith Perera told <a href="http://www.sundaytimes.lk/article/1084683/tourism-early-casualty-from-sri-lankan-blasts">The Sunday Times</a> that this was the first time that hotels have been directly attacked. The island nation for long has been a favourite tourist destination especially after the end of a protracted civil war that ended a decade ago, bringing peace and tourists to the tropical country that is famous for its pristine beaches and several old tea plantations. According to reports, the Sri Lankan government had been looking at ramping up its efforts for tourism in the country. The government had plans to double the annual income from tourism from $3.5 billion in 2018 to $7 billion in 2019. "Although the tourist arrivals for the year 2018 fell slightly short due to the political instability we saw post 26th October, I think in terms of earnings we have reached the $3.5 billion target, Minister of Tourism Development, John Amaratunga had said to a <a href="https://economynext.com/Sri_Lanka_tourist_arrivals_up_10.3_pct_in_2018,_earnings_down-3-13043-7.html">local daily</a>. With the numbers already dwindling (the earnings from tourism in 2018 were 10.3% lower than 2017), the blasts could further lead to distrust among tourists. The political crisis in Sri Lanka began when Mahinda Rajapaksa was appointed as Prime Minister on 26 October 2018 before the formal dismissal of the current Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, resulting in two concurrent Prime Ministers. This resulted in escalated tensions in the country which also <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/world/sri-lanka-crisis-scares-tourists-in-fresh-hit-to-economy/article25427489.ece">scared off </a>tourists. However, Indian travel firms believe the impact will be temporary. Speaking to <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/impact-on-sri-lanka-tourism-post-attacks-may-be-short-lived-travel-firms-119042100302_1.html?1555882175">Business Standard</a>, Sharat Dhall, chief operating officer (B2C), Yatra.com said "The unfortunate attacks in Sri Lanka have happened just ahead of the peak summer travel season. Sri Lanka has always been a preferred travel option for Indian tourists. While it is early to quantify the impact of this incident on travel to the country, we anticipate a short term effect on bookings with some travelers preferring to shift to other destinations for their summer vacations." Indian airlines like Air India and IndiGo are also helping out tourists stranded in Sri Lanka by waiving off rescheduling and cancellation charges. See Also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sri-lanka-blasts-colombo-airport-advisory-after-terror-attack/articleshow/68975705.cms">Colombo airport asks passengers to check in four hours before flights after terror attacks in Sri Lanka’s capital</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sri-lanka-blasts-foreign-offices-in-us-and-uk-issue-travel-advisories/articleshow/68975432.cms">Find shelter and exercise extreme caution, says US’ travel advisory after multiple blasts in Colombo, Sri Lanka</a>

The tragic blasts on Easter Sunday is just the start of a long weary summer for Sri Lanka's tourism industry

<ul><ul class="summary-list "><li>At least 207 people are dead and 450 others have been injured after a series of explosions hit churches and hotels in <keyword id="6355572" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="sri-lanka">Sri Lanka</keyword>.</li><li>The churches were bombed as worshippers attended Easter Sunday service.</li><li>The hotels targeted are among the most luxurious in Sri Lanka's capital. 35 foreigners have been killed, <a href="https://www.afp.com/en/news/15/blasts-sri-lanka-hotels-and-churches-kill-156-doc-1ft48d4">AFP cited hospital sources as saying</a>. Eight explosions in various locations have now been reported. </li></ul></ul>At least 207 people were killed in a series of blasts on Easter Sunday Blasts in Sri Lanka, targeting three churches and three hotels. As of 1 pm, more than 400 people were wounded and hospitalized, reported Reuters. 
 
 
 
 
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 AFP news agency quoting Sri Lankan Police said the toll in <keyword id="7550956" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="sri-lanka-blasts">Sri Lanka blasts</keyword> had risen to 156, including 35 foreigners. The blasts took place at three churches located at Kochchikade, Negombo and Batticaloa. The three hotels that were targeted are located in Colombo, and include Shangri La Colombo, Cinnamon Grand Colombo, and Kingsbury Hotel, according to media reports. The Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has urged the people to remain strong and united in the tragic time. The Prime Minister is reportedly going to conduct a national security council meeting at his house. 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, in a special message read out on local news channels, has requested the people to remain calm and help the authorities in the investigation. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condemned the attack and said the country stands in solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Indian President Ram Nath Kovind also condemned the attack. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 St. Sebastian’s church, which was among the target, posted pictures showing destructions and bloodshed after the blast on its Facebook Page and urged people to help. The post read “A bomb attack to our church please come and help if your family members are there” No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks. Several peace messages "Pray For Sri Lanka" were trending on social media. Messages and prayers also poured in from celebrities. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Former Sri Lankan captain of the cricket team, <keyword id="79577" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Angelo-Mathews">Angelo Mathews</keyword> in a recent tweet has requested people to not to believe in rumors. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 A travel advisory had been issued by the US embassy in Colombo advising citizens to follow local security instructions and “exercise extreme caution.” External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Sunday that she was in touch with the Indian High Commissioner in Colombo as six explosions hit churches and hotels in Sri Lanka, killing at least 20 people. "Colombo - I am in constant touch with Indian High Commissioner in Colombo. We are keeping a close watch on the situation," the Minister said in a tweet. 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="golrizghahraman" handlename="Golriz Ghahraman" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1035120828780707840/PRgmSRXp_normal.jpg" favoritecount="121" retweetcount="22" status="Devastated for Sri Lanka, especially the targeted Christian community. In a nation who has seen so much violence an… https://t.co/a3297hWuYK" createdat="1555826450000" id="1119843413006774272"></div>
















	
	
	
	
	
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="AJEnglish" handlename="Al Jazeera English" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/875638617606987776/YBOKib96_normal.jpg" favoritecount="595" retweetcount="614" status="BREAKING: Multiple blasts hit Sri Lanka churches and hotels on Easter Sunday https://t.co/3Xn6pRk0kU https://t.co/FHAHmOUr4N" createdat="1555824930000" id="1119837039392899073"></div>















 Helpline numbers for Indian citizens in need of assistance or who seek clarification are: +94777903082, +94112422788, +94112422789, +94777902082 and +94772234176. With IANS

Easter Sunday Blasts: Deadly explosion kills 207, Sri Lankan Prime Minister urges people to stay united and strong

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP/Getty ImagesA Sri Lankan man holds up a message on Twitter showing that Facebook had been banned in Colombo on March 7, 2018.</div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>The Sri Lankan government has reportedly blocked access to various social media sites after a wave of bombings left over 200 dead across the country.</li><li>Although there is no known direct connection between Sunday's attacks and social media at this time, Facebook and other social media have played a role in fanning ethnic and religious violence in Sri Lanka and other countries in recent years.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit BusinessInsider.com for more stories.</a></li></ul>After a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sri-lanka-easter-bombings-target-churches-hotels-2019-4">series of bombings at churches and hotels early Easter Sunday left over 200 dead across Sri Lanka</a>, the country's government has blocked access to social media sites including Facebook and Instagram, <a href="https://news.lk/news/sri-lanka/item/25077-social-media-temporarily-blocked">according to Sri Lanka's government news site</a>.According to that report, Sri Lanka's Presidential Secretariat made the decision "as false <keyword id="6355005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="news">news</keyword> reports were spreading through social media."A <a href="https://twitter.com/RW_UNP/status/1119855006512033798">tweet from Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe</a> condemning the attacks cautioned residents of the country to "avoid propagating unverified reports and speculation," and a <a href="https://twitter.com/SLRedCross/status/1119852468559646725">tweet from Sri Lanka's Red Cross</a> debunked social media rumors that their building had been attacked.Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sri-lanka-bomb-attacks-reactions-pope-francis-donald-trump-2019-4">World leaders including Pope Francis, Donald Trump, and Barack Obama offered their support after Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka claimed hundreds of lives</a><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/21/world/asia/sri-lanka-explosion.html">The New York Times reports</a> that, although there is no known specific connection between Sunday's bombings and social media, there have been several incidents in recent years of ethnic violence and social unrest in Sri Lanka stirred up in part by viral misinformation spread on social media and messaging networks like Facebook and WhatsApp.In March 2018, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sri-lanka-bans-facebook-to-stop-violence-2018-3?r=US&amp;IR=T&amp;_ga=2.123457163.1407843267.1555678037-5376845.1524835130">Sri Lanka temporarily banned access to social media</a> across much of the country amid a wave of violence between the Buddhist and Muslim communities. In that instance, Mano Ganesan, Minister of National Coexistence Dialogue and Official Languages, said that the government was trying to halt "all communal hate speech posts via social media."An <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/21/world/asia/facebook-sri-lanka-riots.html">in-depth article at The New York Times</a> explores the ways social media can fan the flames of ethnic and religious tension, sometimes leading to violence. The article describes how a video of a misunderstanding in a Muslim-owned restuarant in which the owner was falsely accused of putting sterilization-causing medication in a customer's food went viral on Facebook, setting off a wave of anti-Muslim violence across the country.<ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sri-lanka-easter-bombings-target-churches-hotels-2019-4" data-read-more-link="" data-e2e-name="read-more-link">At least 207 people killed in Sri Lanka after churches and luxury hotels hit by explosions</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sri-lanka-easter-bombings-us-embassy-warns-citizens-to-find-shelter-2019-4" data-read-more-link="" data-e2e-name="read-more-link">The US embassy in Sri Lanka warned expats and tourists to find shelter and exercise 'extreme caution' after a series of bombings</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sri-lanka-bomb-attacks-reactions-pope-francis-donald-trump-2019-4" data-read-more-link="" data-e2e-name="read-more-link">World leaders including Pope Francis, Donald Trump, and Barack Obama offered their support after Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka claimed hundreds of lives</a></li></ul><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/intelligence/stories-slide-deck?IR=T&amp;utm_source=businessinsider&amp;utm_medium=ctgr&amp;utm_term=ctgr_leadgen&amp;utm_content=dmedia_ctgr_leadgen&amp;utm_campaign=dmedia_ctgr_leadgen_stories_deck"></a> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-airline-shuttle-transportation-pan-am-eastern-new-york-2019-1">The rise and fall of Donald Trump's $365 million airline</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

Sri Lanka has temporarily blocked access to Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp after a series of bombings left over 200 dead, fearing the spread of misinformation

India is planning to invest in a colonial-era Sri Lankan oil-storage facility, continuing with its plans to enhance its naval interests in the Indian Ocean, meanwhile pushing China back in the race. Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/military-defense/Indian-Ocean-cant-be-Indias-backyard-says-China/articleshow/47897529.cms">Indian Ocean can’t be India’s backyard, says China</a> A unit of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/markets/economy/state-run-oil-firms-can-now-raise-prices-of-kerosene-and-cooking-gas-every-month/articleshow/58219384.cms">Indian Oil</a>, India’s largest refiner, is being readied to help fund the $350 million development of what would be a facility with 84 tanks, situated at the strategically located <keyword id="4079412" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Trincomalee-port">Trincomalee port</keyword> on Sri Lanka's east coast. Moreover, talks are on between the two countries to set up a refinery in the island nation, said Shyam Bohra, MD (Lanka IOC). Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/India-wants-to-challenge-China-to-become-Asias-leading-shipping-hub/articleshow/53431603.cms">India wants to challenge China to become Asia’s leading shipping hub</a> Indian Prime Minister will be meeting his Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe in New Delhi tomorrow, and would also be flying to Sri Lanka next month. The reason behind India's interests in the Sri Lankan port could be more strategic than economic, as it looks forward to displacing the hefty investment that China is doing in Sri Lanka, says a report from <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-04-25/india-nips-at-china-s-heels-in-race-to-collect-lanka-port-assets">Bloomberg</a>. In the recent past, China has expanded both militarily and economically in the region, having docked its submarines in Colombo. As per analysts, India didn’t act fast in making big investments in Trincomalee for decades, and it could be because of the government being content with a small base which helps keep enemies out. Lanka IOC is managing the 15 operational tanks at the Trincomalee port, along with a lubricant blending unit, while discussions are on to jointly develop part of the tank farm with 84 more tanks, bringing the total capacity to almost 7.5 million barrels. Talking of China, it has already built a port at <keyword id="212453" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Hambantota">Hambantota</keyword> in Sri Lanka's south, and is also investing heavily in <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/India-must-be-worried-about-Chinas-46-billion-gift-to-Pakistan-Know-why/articleshow/46997631.cms">Gwadar port</a> in Pakistan along CPEC. Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/china-to-fund-weapon-building-in-pakistan/articleshow/57690131.cms">China to fund weapon building in Pakistan</a> On the other hand, India’s progress with a nearby port at <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/markets/economy/India-deal-for-Chabahar-Port/articleshow/52402008.cms">Chabahar in Iran</a> has been slow as well. Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Why-Iran-nuclear-deal-may-lead-to-windfall-gains-for-India/articleshow/48318611.cms">Why Iran nuclear deal may lead to windfall gains for India</a> (Image source AsianVoice)

India pushing back China in race to collect Lanka port assets

<ul><li><keyword id="849911" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sinhalese-Buddhists">Sinhalese Buddhists</keyword> and Muslims clashed in the districts of <keyword id="192421" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kandy">Kandy</keyword> and Ampara.</li><li>A state of <keyword id="38387" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="emergency">emergency</keyword> was declared in <keyword id="6355572" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sri-Lanka">Sri Lanka</keyword> on March 6th. </li><li>The situation has since stabilised. The government has blocked access to social media and messaging platforms in the affected regions.</li></ul>On March 6th, the Sri Lankan government declared an emergency for the first time since 2011. The move was a direct response to the outbreak of riots and clashes between members of the Sinhalese Buddhist community, which comprise 75% of the national population, and the Muslim minority, which make up about 10%, in the central district of Kandy and the eastern district of Ampara. 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	












































 Sri Lanka is no stranger to <keyword id="6378337" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Communal-violence">communal violence</keyword>. For decades it endured a civil war with Tamil separatist groups, which concluded in 2009 after the Sri Lankan military seized the last few strongholds belonging to the Tamil Tigers and killed its leader. Then, in 2014, the southwestern region of the island nation was besieged by ethnic riots as Sinhalese Buddhists vandalised Muslim shops and homes. Since coming to power in early 2015, the coalition government of President Maithripala Sirisena has done a poor job of quelling communal dissent and clipping the wings of organisations like the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), a Sinhalese extremist group. The most recent clashes follow a strong performance by the party of former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa in local elections. A number of hardline Sinhalese outfits like the BBS are known to support Rajapaksa. Timeline: Feb 22nd According to local media reports, M.G. Kumarasinghe, a 41-year old Sinhalese truck driver, was attacked by a group of Muslim men in Teldeniya, a town in Kandy, over a road dispute. Mr Kumarasinghe refused or was unable to yield the right-of-way to the men, who were travelling in auto-rickshaws. A fight ensued in which Kumarasinghe sustained a number of serious injuries. He was subsequently admitted to the Kandy’s Teaching Hospital the same day. Four men were reportedly arrested by the police for the assault. Feb 27th A group of Sinhalese men, who were said to be intoxicated, raided a Muslim-owned restaurant in Ampara, claiming that the establishment laced its food with ‘vandapethi’, a chemical that is believed to result in impotence. The anger of the men stemmed from the belief that Muslims have a clandestine agenda to become the majority group in the Sri Lanka. A cashier at the restaurant was forced to admit that the food was adulterated. The raid was followed by riots, in which a number of shops and a mosque were vandalised. A police force was deployed to the area. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 March 3rd Kumarasinghe succumbed to his injuries at the hospital in Kandy. March 4th In response to Kumarasinghe’s death, a Sinhalese mob attacked and looted Muslim establishments, residences and mosques in Teldeniya. A number of Sinhalese men also shut down their shops to protest the police’s supposed lack of action against Mr Kumarasinghe’s killers. Night: Two Buddhist extremist clerics, Ampitiye Sumana and Amith Weerasinghe, were reported to be seen inciting riots in the area. March 5th Morning: The Sri Lankan government sent hundreds of officers, including the Special Task Force and military personnel, to Teldeniya and neighbouring towns in the district. A number of people were arrested for their participation in the riots the previous day. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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11 AM: A mob of Sinhalese men banded together in Teldeniya after a call to assemble was disseminated via social media. They started burning Muslim properties in the town soon after. They also called for the release of 24 men who were arrested. 4 PM: A curfew was imposed in Kandy by the police until 6 AM the following morning. 8 PM: Mangala Samaraweera, Sri Lanka’s minister for finance and media, made his voice heard. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 10:44 PM: The Sri Lankan government issued an official statement condemning the violence. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 March 6th Morning: The body of Abdul Basith, a 27-year-old Muslim, was found in the remains of a shop in Kandy. The shop was reportedly set ablaze the previous day by Sinhalese Buddhists. 5:34 PM: The country’s Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe declared a national state of emergency on Twitter. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Around four mosques, 46 shops, 37 houses and 35 cars in Kandy had been vandalised up until this point, according to Hidayath Sathar, a member of Kandy’s provincial council. 8 PM:The police curfew was re-imposed in Kandy. 9:23 PM: The Sri Lankan government sent military reinforcements to Kandy as the violence continued. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 11:03 PM: The US Embassy in Sri Lanka issued a <a href="https://lk.usembassy.gov/security-alert-sri-lanka-u-s-embassy-colombo-sri-lanka/">security alert</a> for US citizens. March 7th Morning: The police curfew was re-imposed in Kandy again. The government decided to prevent access to social media websites like Facebook and Twitter in the affected regions. 1:25 PM: Former Sri Lankan cricketer Kumar Sangakarra called for unity. His team-mate and captain Sanath Jayasuriya followed soon after. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 2:10 PM: A tweet from DialogAxiata, Sri Lanka’s major internet provider, confirmed that access to social media platforms and messaging services would be curtailed indefinitely. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 The mob violence continued in Kandy as dozens of Muslim shops and houses were attacked. All government schools in the region were ordered shut until further notice. March 8th Morning: Sri Lanka’s Terrorism Investigation Division arrested Amith Weerasinghe and 9 other people for their role in inciting violence. 10 AM: The police curfew was lifted. 12:44 PM: A government official told the police that the rumored sterilising substance that triggered the violence in Ampara on February 27th was actually flour. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Afternoon: A peaceful march took place in the capital city of Colombo. Two prominent television actors were said to be in attendance. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 5:24 PM: The Colombo Gazette reported that Jeffrey Feltman, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, had arrived in Sri Lanka. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 The streets have been cleared out and the situation was reported to be improving. As things stand, the emergency is expected to last for ten days, after which the Sri Lankan Parliament will debate an extension.

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