Hail Sri Lanka!

Finally, remainder of LTTE in international community has accepted that their so called leader is Dead!

Well, I should say they took a way long time to admit defeat. All those malicious intentions of tarnishing our country's image in front of international community was a good hell of a joke for them. Now see whose laughing!

Tamil People in the world, see what they wanted to do to our country, in which we all lived happily some time ago. Lets come back and build this nation. This is your country as it is mine. Do not just be a refugee to another nation when you have a place to live as a normal citizen.

Hail Sri Lanka!

Good to be back...

It really took me a long time to allocate some thought on posting but I think I missed quite a few chances on blogging certain things I wanted to share.

But now, I'm a happy bird. From one end, my motherland is a free nation! Isn't that happy enough?
After more than three decades my motherland, Sri Lanka is enjoying freedom from terror. War against terrorists is finally over and thanks to our brave soldiers, at the cost of their lives, we here in Sri Lanka enjoy freedom today. Hail the Hero's of War! May they be granted everlasting peace and health and prosperity.

I'm quite out of words these days as the joy and hope for a better future has made my vocabulary a bit frozen.

Long Live Sri Lanka!

After a break

It is some time that I made a post for last. I was stuck with my exams last couple of weeks and could not spare time to make a comment.

As a Banker in Sri Lanka, the only paper qualification that is recognized is the Certificate in Banking and Finance and Diploma in Banking & Finance which are held by the Institute of bankers of Sri Lanka. At some banks this qualification is vital for career development but some banks don't encourage so much as all Bank employees do assume that they have life long jobs in this industry! (atleast in Sri lanka!) Nevertheless, many are doing these exams to get a qualification and well that is exactly what I'm doing in a way. I do need a banking qualification to go for my next promotion and I'm working for that!

But I assure that the teachings are much more typically Sri Lankan style and most are not relevant to the day to day banking industry other than Laws and regulations. Marketing and management subjects are out of date and they haven't given enough notice for that. But as it is the only qualification, most intend to follow this. But the practicality is doubtful..

Negative IDR.. Country is going down.

It has been a while since I posted last but due to too many reasons I couldn't neatly find a time gap to occupy myself in writitng a note.

In the meantime many things caught my attention which I thought I should view my ideas during the last week or so. One such thing was that Fitch ratings, the international rating agency, has revised its rating on IDR of our country from 'stable' to 'negative'. This created a bad sign of cyclone in the Government officials as they denied this negative rating. The pin point was that the global crisis of credit and the lack of liquidity was creating them to spend more foreign currency than they used to! Well, they obviously have forgotten why the Central Bank of Sri Lanka is standing there.

Ultimately the current situation will create more debtto this country and the future will be more devastating than it should be. Unless the CBSL act independantly (without influence from Government that is) and with the aid of the intelectuals, this crisis should be overcome. If not the circumstances will be much more serious and ultimately the general public may be the final deprived group.

Breakthrough's that becomes as common as sand..

I just read one of the interesting posts my husband has made. Usually I don't get next to nothing of what he blogs on his work ;-))
But this has a good message which includes a clip from youtube.com. Check this out.

Provincial Council Elections... Here comes..

Sometimes its hard to think on a single stream and write something when quite different situations begins to rise on their own during a short period of time. All people in our country are just trapped in the middle of too many incidents happening at once. One side war is getting to its peaks and rising prices of commodities and on the other hand, provincial council elections! ( a country who is already suffering on its expenses of war is having elections!)
Tomorrow is the closing date for handing over nominations for western provincial council election. Ruling party and the opposition parties have already started their campaigns through private mediation. I heard one party accusing the government of using the government media very freely for the last elections held. That is no surprise. Government will highlight the subject "war" and will try to catch a few floating votes.
Anyway an interesting game of gambling awaits in the Western Provincial Council election. Lets see who wants to win this time.

Hope this is the last...

Last Friday night became a scary night to Sri Lankan city of Colombo and suburbs as a LTTE air attack was carried out targeting the Air Force headquarters and the the Katunayake Air Force base. The electricity was cut off in city limits and two light air crafts were dancing in the sky. The activation f Air defence system in the city was able to destroy one air craft within entry to city which collapsed to the Building of Inland revenue dept and the other was brought down near the Katunayake Air Force base.
This is not the first time this happened but the first time where the Military was able to destroy both air crafts of LTTE.
I sicerely hope this would be the last attempt made by this ruthless terrorists ever to perform as already they have done enough damage to this country as all Sri Lankans should live together and value eachothers ideas. That will take our country to prosperity.

Holiday at Kandalama

It was a memorable trip to Kandalama last weekend as the destination was worth all the fatigue of long distance travelling through a dry zone.
Heritance Kandalama is a unique type of a resort situated at Dry zone in Dambulla about 160km away from Colombo. Opened since June 1994, this is a master piece of Architect Deshamanya Geoffrey Bawa which took 22 months for completion. This had been refurbished in December 2005 but the spirit had been preserved.

The uniqueness of this rare beauty is that it is environmentally friendly. The Hotel spreads to each sides of the mountain with a dark thick forest area surrounding its existence. If you look at the hotel from the middle of Kandalama Tank, the picture you would witness is a giant step in the middle of a green mountain. It is also said that one day if the buildings and other structures are demolished from that surrounding, the original rocky green mountain will lie there at the site. The architecture is such that it has taken every step to conserve the nature around it and also make a simple and elegant holiday get away place with all the tranquillity and the nearest to nature.

Not only the service and excellent food, all things of Kandalama will make a difference to anybody's holiday. One can wake up to the singing of red vented bulbul who are in ample numbers around the hotel. The breeze is soothing that flows from the side of Kandalama Tank. And there are many more treasures for anybody to explore on their own in the woods surrounding this place. Lot of monkey activities which are so delightful to watch, bird watching and elephant rides are to name a few.

Their environmental conservation projects include recycling of water and garbage. Water used by guests are recycled and used for gardening. The garbage are recycled and there is a paper manufacturing plant which make paper out of Elephant Dung. And also as this is a forest area lot of reptiles and wild life meet different situations like attacks to nearby villages or meeting to the on going traffic. These creatures are rescued and taken care of at the Animal rehabilitation centre and all of them are released after a maximum period of three months. They have a garden with herbs and all the trees in the premises are named with the local name and scientific name.

If one is truly in need of a holiday in tranquillity, this would be the ideal place to be as one can be living apart of the city and feel the calmness of being near to nature's most strangest secrets.

My Valentine Gift..

The most celebrated holiday or festival or you name it, the Valentine's Day fell on last Saturday and this is the second year of my marriage. Repeating last year we decided to go out on a holiday and this time it was Heritance Kandalama at Kandalama.
It was a tiring distance to travel but the way back today was more of a dangerous and tiring agenda. As it was a journey of more than four hours I realised how well I was kept from danger and brought in to safety and caring all through this holiday. It was my husband who was like a guardian angel protected me even from the harmful rays of Sun. Tears were coming to my eyes for the responsibility he displayed at all times, still taking me on long walks and been annoyed at the request of the tour on the elephant and a boat ride in the Kandalama Tank which ultimately succeeded.
I think this was the best Valentine Gift for me, to be near him and be cared by such a lovely angelic person. I hope that the title I had put for this post will be suitable enough to convey the gratitude for him.

Sri Lankan Rejection on the UK Envoy

It was in headlines all throughout the day that Sri Lankan government has rejected the nomination made by the British premier a special envoy to Sri Lanka.
Reports say that this appointment was done without consulting the Government of Sri Lanaka! But why? Can a country act at its own wish to intervene in another country's affairs?
Even though the British government was humiliated by this act internationally, this will be a message conveyed to the world at large. Sri Lanka is capable of handling her own problems as yet. I believe that Sri Lankan people have a right to see this war ended and peace be restored. If somebody is thinking that what Sri Lankan Government is doing causing harm to the innocent civilians in this country, where have they been all this time in the past? When lot of Sri Lankans killed infront of Anuradhapura Bo Tree, a sacred place to most Sri Lankans? Where were they when the terrorists blasted bombs in our commercial hub killing and injuring innocent civilians? Where was the humanity at that time?
Sri Lankan people underwent an immense cruelty because the help to resolve a small problem was not handed out at the needed times in our past. Now they have decided to go ahead and win this military operations so that they can control the effects of terrorism in our country.

War alone will not lead us to peace, that we all know. But, this war got to end by eradicating the terrorism operated inside our island. For that let nobody interfere.

Twenty20 Fever

Yesterday evening I happened to be at the stadium to watch the Twenty20 Cricket Match between India & Sri Lanka which was held in Colombo under electric lights. All the stands were filled with spectators even before an hour from the start of the match holding Sri Lankan flags in their hands. Both teams were doing their warm-up exercises and the crowd was cheering from that time. The game lasted for about a little more than three hours and the spectators never gave themselves a break on cheering. The amazing thing was that the whole of the crowd were enjoying the game to its peak.

From our players' part the crowd would not be satisfied with the small mistakes they committed. I could hear their sighs on those minors which actually led to a loss in the game at last minutes. It was an achievable goal but certain decisions they made did not work out as the team expected.
I think its time for them to learn. Better late than never they say. The World Cup Tournament is ahead. Hope that Sri Lankan Team will perform as they did in past and learn their lessons quickly; for their sake and for the spectators' sake.

Madara Rider

This is a UNESCO World heritage since year 1979 which I found when I was just searching under my name. In Bulgaria, Madara Village in the province of Shumen. A historic carving on a rock of a Knight triumphing over a lion is displayed.

Fruit Juice While it lasts!

Its the beginning of a long weekend here in Sri Lanka and everybody will be looking forward to it. I was going through the latest headlines around the world a while ago when my husband wanted me to go through a certain blog page. A sarcastic smile in his face told me what to expect (or nearly did).
A blog page on how to make fruit juice by Sumedha, one of my husband's colleagues. I could see the meaning on that laugh!
I went through the blog myself amid all the criticisms and believe me, I liked it. Atleast I think he has been very frank about his passion in making friut juice, which is considered a female job!
Way to go Sumedha, I wish you good luck! And by the way, keep adding more to it.

National Day!

It is 4th of February, Independence Day of the Sri Lanka. This small island was under foreign rule from 1505 to 1948 and we gained Independence from British in 1948.
Today, the 61st Independence day celebrates the unity and harmony which should be combined with our lives. All Sri Lankans will remember today amidst the war against the terrorists in North of our country, that we are one big nation. We are one big family of all races, languages, religions and cultures. This is our motherland. Protecting its identity and integrity is our responsibility.

Spreading hope through Omid satellite

Iran has stood up in its space career as a new satellite by the name of Omid has been launched with the view of spreading "monotheism, peace and justice" in the world as per the President, Mr. Ahmadinejad.
From the reports, the six world powers have got a bit frightened, I would say from this bravery and France has even being ahead to comment by saying its using the technology of missiles.
Why so disturbed? This is just for telecommunication and research purposes! Not that Iran is going to blast with an atomic bomb...

Super Game, Tennis!

I believe that its a bit late to blog on the historical Tennis matches I witnesses during last week. But how can one person just ignore to blog something like that? Australian Open 2009 held lot of interesting activities this time for my naked eye. A superb Men's semi final and two grand finals just took the crowd to a breathtaking athletic event in the calender.
Amazing semi final match between Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco was a terrific match which I enjoyed to the fullest. Their athletism was visible throughout the match which lasted more than five hours.
The grand final didn't become the second as Nadal and Roger Federor played an astonishing final game and the young atlete Nadal took an amazing turn by winning the Grand Slam award.
And the women's final equally gave the spectator the joy of Tennis as Serena Williams won against Dinara Safina.
It was a great experience to watch such amazing games happening and the spirit they shared throughout the tournament. Best of luck for all for the coming season!

War Against Innocence or For Peace

Sri Lanka is undergoing a major situation as the Military is involved in heavy fighting in the Northern part of the Island. It is after so many years of agony that now we see a ray of hope of a united Sri Lanka with all religions, races and people of all kins.

Many media and non governmental organizations have come forward at this time to comment on what is happening in our country and some neighbouring countries have taken defensive steps to even threaten the Government to go for a ceasefire.

From the point of view of a normal civilian in this country who has been born with the war and now waiting to see an end to war, I believe that it is time that everybody realize that Sri Lanka has suffered enough from other parties who are trying to gain their own benefits out of our problems. People of our country has suffered enough. Even now they are suffering more than ever. North people with a terrible war right in their faces and southern people with an inflation high as the sky. But everybody is waiting. With long hope of Onions of Jaffna in market again. There will be many costs for this war like what is described in BBC yesterday, Wounded Sri Lankan Civilians Rescued but one day or the other this terrible war must end. And for that People of Sri Lanka are willing to pay its price!

Violin..

Faces faces everywhere
Eyes are protruding with dismay
People walk by stop and stare
What the speciality at bay
A lovely hand discoloured from Sun
Burnt with a harsh skin
Ragged cloths not washed for months
moving to and fro
A music so soft sweet and clear
flows the surroundings
A violin played with an ease
by a beggar sat on the pouch.
Life is at its bitter worse
Cursing an unknown
A loneliness has covered that face
A cry for a desperate call
Who can end this misery
Who can light these lives
Bring hope and happiness
To those who lying aside...

Hail President Obama!

Yesterday was a historical day for USA as the 44th President was sworn in with a crowd of over 2 Million people.
The first ever african origin President has created much hope in the hearts of all citizens of USA and the whole world is watching what his international relations are going to be. As the American economy is having difficulties recovering its position and many a people left without jobs, the newly sworn in President has much responsibility to do greater effort to bring back all what has been in total crisis during last 12 - 24 months.
"We gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord," those were the words of the President. And he asked all Americans to "Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and begin again the work of remaking America". He gave the new hope for his people, created the courage and urgency to act together to build a nation.
I think that our Sri Lankan politicians including the head of state have lot to learn out of the speech made by this new President. The courage he's creating, the hope and understanding to act on the need to build back a nation, should ring sirens on our politicians. Rather than pointing finger to eachother on things that'll never benefit the country or its people, our members of parliament should learn to work in hand in hand.
I heard that President Obama has a family of brothers. If President Obama was a politician and elected as president in "our country" would he create a cabinet of ministers with all his brothers?

Energy, scarce in origin

Energy, today's one of the most spoken words in day to day life. Every human being is unknowingly affected by this crisis all their lives.
Energy sources have become type of a luxury item during the recent past as the main natural resource, the crude oil started gambling with peoples' lives. Due to many economical and political reasons the price of crude oil increased itself by more than 250% of its original price. This affected to almost every aspect of daily lives of all as transportation cost rose sky high. This gave way to price hike in all commodities which paved way to increased living costs all over the world. Most economies started suffering as many business entities started drowning in the high operating costs.
After most of the trades collapsed the oil price finally came back to normal dropping itself to its earlier stages in price. And the citizens expected with relief that all the prices will come down as the most essential cost came down. But alas. None showed happy faces!
Amazingly not a single thing in the market moved down. Not even OIL.
Every trader, manufacturer started to take opportunity. They keep the commodity prices at hike blaming the oil price and try to make the lost profit during the recent past.
Who is to blame? The government? Or God?

I found love my way

I was just loafing around
Life's corners up and down
I moved around... peeped..
fell aside... but got up again
walked along the tides
Stumbled upon many a place.

Faces everywhere
Unknown and some forgotten
time was passing by... tick.. tick..
weather changed from cold to warm
Sun started shining its blissful rays
warmth filled the air, ice melted away
frowning at the smiling Sun.

Silence packed his bags to leave
as no welcome he received
Birds started signing happy songs
with the pine trees swaying in breeze

I sat down at my window-seat
looking around the wonderful things
world of cold melting away
a warmth of love had risen its way

why the sudden change I wondered
a pair of brown eyes
were looking through its way
had halted at my window-seat.

I didn't realize the change
the warmth out of coldness I felt
too sudden to believe
Love has come my way...

Matrimonial Bondage.

Its always nice to meet your old friends atleast once in a way. One most common place is at their own weddings. I happened to get such a chance yesterday as two of my friends got married to each other. The specialty in this is that both the bride and the bride-groom are my friends. It became a lovely day as most of my friends got together to wish the couple their best wishes to the new life.

Meeting some of these friends felt like seeing a long distant relation. Everyone was smiling and chatting with cheer as all had so much to share! It was a bustle when all got together. It was fun!

Anyway, Dear Buddhi & Amila, thank you for inviting us all for your wedding as we had such a good time together. May your new life be full of joy and merriment so that whatever hardships that comes on your way will not harm your happiness!

Missing daily smile

It has been a dull day today. I'm home alone! I feel the scale of my room today. Too dark already.

I've been married for 18 months now and I have always found difficult to stay away from my husband. Especially when he goes abroad its dull and dark and lonely.

I was even wondering what I should be blogging about today but nothing struck my mind. Only that I got to wait alone at home.

Anyway, in Sri Lankan culture (i should say Asian) , when a girl gets married she becomes solely dependant on her husband for not only physical but morale support. At least to tell her that she looks good in her Saree today!!

Well I will miss that then... But I know I have his attention always and forever even though he's not around. Thats the bond that is created in marriage; an everlasting binding to each other.

Festivity in the Middle of the Road!

The brave warriors of Sri Lanka Army, navy and Air force are fighting a battle against terrorism in the northern part of our country these days and all Sri Lankans are waiting cautiously to know what is happening in war zone.

There were victories on its way to liberate the North and our brave soldiers have advanced further toward their target in success. Hail the victories!!

Our His Excellency the President takes these victories as means of public speech to give away the "happy news" to all Sri Lankans himself. I don't see anything wrong in this. H.E. the President should inform the people of this country what is really going on in the North, as its the only means of knowing what is happening in the North (whether true or false).

And I agree our people who love freedom from terrorists should get opportunities to celebrate these victories. But these celebrations should be not in ways of lighting crackers in the middle of so called highways in Sri Lanka! All towns were covered with smoke and white paper dust these evening proving the amount of fireworks that have been lit to celebrate these victories.

Dear Sri Lankans, have you already forgotten that behind these victories how many innocent families have lost their loved ones? Have you already forgotten how many soldiers sacrificed their lives for you to be safe in South? Have you forgotten how many are lying in their death beds at this moment?

Its time to think. The money you waste by lighting fireworks can help those people, families who are suffering from this war.

Yes we should celebrate! But in a meaningful way...

Freedom Media

Today became another day with terrible attack against a media personnel which resulted death in the end. An unknown gun man has shot dead an Editor of one of leading English news papers in the mid day.

This journalist had a voice for almost everything. He captured people's attention to various types of fields and one was the political arena which was creating a mess in the society. He had a voice for what he believed as wrong and made everybody understand his views.

He may be wrong in his aspects of judgment. BUT no body had the right to silence him this way as what happened to him today.

Today should be a day where the Sri Lankans should understand that every individual in a democratic society has a right to voice his/her ideas. If somebody doesn't approve of it, let that person shut his ears and wait!

Political Mess...

In our country it is breaking news that a media station being under attack by some unknown masked ninjas. Everybody has turned their attention as to what is going on without any clue on things that are happening. Many has a say in this. As a country where almost every individual is operated by the hands of politics, the real picture and the earthly truth is mislead.

Our country has been governed by two political parties in the last six decades after we gained "Independence" from British in 1948. These two political parties have created massive changes in all aspects of culture, economic policies and thinking of the people lived during these times. Some from the point of view of making a better society and some are for their own well being as politicians. These acts of the past only created a devastating impact on the people and their beliefs rather any betterment in lives.

Today Sri Lankans are covered with masks of rivalry over each other. Their political misconceptions have created havoc by influencing their decision making. People fight each other for a colour/party to please their political leaders.

When will the Sri Lankans realize that they should come out of this dungeon and see light? When will they realize that its time to build this nation they have so desperately destroyed?

Let me start this conversation by wish this whole world a peaceful New Year!

It has been a long time since I appeared on this blog. That had quite a reasons for me to wait without putting a post. But I must say that I enjoy putting a post more than just roaming around the darkness not knowing where to go.

A year ended and a new one dawned bringing hope for peace and end for violence to this whole world. Thats everybody's wish. To live and die in peace. Even though my country, Sri Lanka is in the middle of an "ethnic crisis" as the whole world declares it, we the common citizens wait eagerly until this war at North ends and for the day that the peace will arrive at our door step. We believe that all Sinhala, Tamil, Muslims and Burghers can live as one family in this country. So why fight for some piece of earth we will never own?