LONDON (Reuters) – More than 20,000 Tamil civilians were killed in the final days of Sri Lanka's military operation to defeat Tamil Tigers rebels, The Times newspaper reported on Friday.
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U.N. High Commissioner of Human Rights Navi Pillay has said the LTTE recruited child soldiers and used civilians as human shields during the conflict, while the military had indiscriminately shelled areas packed with civilians.
Today someone from Sri Lanka dropped by and I wish to offer a hearty welcome. This brings our virtual flag collection up to ninety-six in number and I am beginning to get excited about the approaching number one hundred.
The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon until 1972. It is an island nation in South Asia. Here is a helpful summary introduction from Wikipedia:
Because of its location in the path of major sea routes, Sri Lanka is a strategic naval link between West Asia and South East Asia, and has been a center of Buddhist religion and culture from ancient times. Today, the country is a multi-religious and multi-ethnic nation, with nearly a third of the population following faiths other than Buddhism, notably Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. The Sinhalese community forms the majority of the population, with Tamils, who are concentrated in the north and east of the island, forming the largest ethnic minority. Other communities include the Muslim Moors and Malays and the Burghers.
Famous for the production and export of tea, coffee, coconuts and rubber, Sri Lanka boasts a progressive and modern industrial economy and the highest per capita income in South Asia. The natural beauty of Sri Lanka's tropical forests, beaches and landscape, as well as its rich cultural heritage, make it a world famous tourist destination.
Sinhalese and Tamil are the two official languages of Sri Lanka. The capital is Colombo and the monetary unit is the Sri Lankan rupee. Mosts of the Buddhists in Sri Lanka follow Theravada Buddhism, the oldest branch of Budhhism, also predominant in Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia.
The nation has, for some time, struggled with conflicts between rebels and the government.
We must also be mindful of the tsunami that struck Sri Lanka and so many other areas in December 2004. This is a 3:44m video at a hotel in Sri Lanka when it struck. It was much worse in other areas but this is frightening enough. Let us remember to pray for those who still mourn and those who are probably still rebuilding their lives.
Here is a ten-minute presentation of an aerial view of Sri Lanka with a sound track of lapping waves, flute, and drum. A lovely chill pill with a gazillion shades of green. It has been shown on several cable channels, including National Geographic.
And now your global DJ brings you a very playful music video (one needs to get past the first 25 seconds of beeping countdown): Sihinayaki - Udaya Shantha Panapitiya - Sri lankan Music
Sri Lankan hip hop? Can't say we don't do variety here.
Gotta have a love song: Pipunu Malaka (Sinhala Music)
The views expressed on this blog are solely those of the blogger and do not represent the positions of any group or organization with which he may be affiliated. As one who spent decades stuffing down his opinions and emotions, I am inclined to cut loose here, which I believe is healthy, honest, and part of the process of sanctification in the long run. Politics and spirituality mingle freely here, along with theatre reviews, photography, and passionate talk about food, literature, and the human journey. If anything written here offends you, please find other blogs to read. I am here to share, not to do battle.
