The 26-year war in Sri Lanka has come to a bloody end today when the Tamil Tiger rebel chief Vellupillai Prabhakaran and the entire rebel leadership were killed. Though a long road still lay ahead for the country, there is already talk about Sri Lanka tourism getting a boost from the end of fighting. An area that was once considered a travel risk may soon be considered a tourist destination.
While it is still too early to predict the future course of events in Sri Lanka, the possibility of a lasting peace opens up the prospect of the great swathes of pristine sandy beaches in the north and east of the country becoming new tourist hotspots. Resorts that are likely to become holiday favourites include Nilaveli, just north of Trincomalee, and, further south, Kalkudah and Passekudah. Arugam Bay is set to attract the surfing crowd while Trincomalee itself, described by Admiral Nelson as the finest harbour in the world, could become a major new tourist hub.
Currently, the Foreign Office advises against all travel to the country since the fighting is still fresh and remaining pockets of Tamil Tiger fighters still pose a threat. Though the country has been liberated, thousands of civilians have been killed and some are claiming that war crimes have been committed.
The EU ministers called for an independent inquiry into alleged war crimes committed not just by the Tamil Tigers, who have long been on the EU’s list of banned terrorist groups, but also by the government.
To add to the problems, aid workers, including the Red Cross, have reported troubles in getting humanitarian aid to the region. So while the beautiful Asian country of Sri Lanka may one day become a haven for exotic beach seekers, the war-torn country has a long road of recovery ahead.