The other side of paradise

During my travels in Sri Lanka in early 2005 – the photo above is a taste – I saw the aftermath of the Boxing Day tsunami, the almost devastation of the tourist industry and a country struggling to rebuild.

The civil war within the country still rages, though less intensely than in years past. Child soldiers are used by the Tamil Tigers and any number of human rights organisations and the UN are attempting to stamp out this vile process. There are even reports of Tamils sheltering tsunami affected children and then recruiting them for battle. All sides in this conflict are tainted, however.

It is easy in the West to feel removed from a country-specific conflict, but Sri Lanka is practically on Australia’s doorstep.

Text and images ©2024 Antony Loewenstein. All rights reserved.

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