Multiple bombs explode in Colombo [April 21]

[tgh]

Is it taboo Milboo ?
Seems faily topical and relevant to me

 

[amaroo]

Not just any hotels. Rather, the large and swish. Recent history shows that such hotels are a target.

It’s another reason why I prefer modest accommodation when travelling. Keep a low profile is my motto.

Small and boutique is the way to go .... for all sorts of reasons.

 

[amaroo]

There is no need to have any issues. It was merely a thought, nothing more and which other experts also considered as a possibility. The intricate nature of the attack became more apparent with the fullness of time. Hindsight.

Not sure what's offensive or wrong with the description "issues" , but if you prefer something different ... how about - "I'm not convinced" BTW you did post twice about the assumption, so you must have been slightly positive is was a solid position!

 

[amaroo]

The Christchurch terror attack was a one man show. In the words used by many others, the bloke was clearly a deranged individual with all sorts of issues.

Sri Lanka's multiply terror attacks were coordinated and carried out by 9 people, plus many others according to reports and arrests.

What are the chances 9 + lunatics found each other in the streets of SL one day and decided it was time to deal with some issues.

 

[tgh]

.. and .. they seem to be (have been ) wealthy pillars of society.
It bends my mind to attempt to understand why someone with even half a brain would die for something like this.
These folks folks are seriously difficult to manage because they actually believe that paradise awaits after death

 

[amaroo]

.. and .. they seem to be (have been ) wealthy pillars of society.
It bends my mind to attempt to understand why someone with even half a brain would die for something like this.
These folks folks are seriously difficult to manage because they actually believe that paradise awaits after death

You just can't beat that commitment. Particularly when as a society we can't wait to condemn individuals and cancel million $ contracts for quoting something on tweeter....

 

[amaroo]

More sad news out of Sri Lanka Fifteen bodies found after Sri Lanka raid

On face value - it's a disgrace that someone in that Government didn't act on the Indian intelligence. Makes you wonder if other forces are at play here....

 

[burmans]

Didn’t Mods lock another thread to avoid heading into this very territory?

I think that was somewhat more extreme frankly. There's reasoned commentary and then then there are a few here on the extreme ends of the spectrum. In that particular case more the alt-right end of the spectrum but most of us know that extremism exists both on the left and the right and across all political/religious views.

 

[tgh]

Makes you wonder if other forces are at play here.

Guess we will never know but with the eyes of the world upon them and, perhaps, an eye on the forward tourist bookings.. they seem to be having a bit of a clean up

 

[Melburnian1]

Makes you wonder if other forces are at play here.

Guess we will never know but with the eyes of the world upon them and, perhaps, an eye on the forward tourist bookings.. they seem to be having a bit of a clean up

I've only been to Sri Lanka once (not so long ago) but from what I've read, the recent history of government has been topsy-turvy, so one wonders if this played a part in intelligence from India and apparently the USA being ignored.

Tourism (international) is incredibly important to its economy. In that respect Sri Lanka may be more similar to NZ and increasingly Cambodia than say to India.

It's worth visiting and I wouldn't be cancelling, but taking the advice of amaroo and others to stay in 'small' establishments.

 

[amaroo]

This is starting to look very bad for the SL government .... Sri Lankan police failed to act after finding 100kg of high explosives

 

[kpc]

Sad situation...was thinking of a family holiday in SL but SL has been put off indefinitely! The fact that there was advanced warning but nothing was done by the SL government is a BIG concern Sri Lankan government was warned about terrorist attack!

 

[defurax]

I was at Colombo airport last night. Lots of military and police in the terminal. The staff in the Serendib lounge were making sure that no carry on bags were left unattended.
It's going to be interesting to see how much tourism will be affected, lots of tourists from France, India, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, basically countries that always have higher risk of terrorist attack than most Western countries. Although the current curfews are not really tourist friendly...

 

[Pushka]

I wonder just how many alerts Governments receive these days. Like sorting wheat from chaff. Add in multi government layers and it’s a mess.

 

[Melburnian1]

I was at Colombo airport last night. Lots of military and police in the terminal...
It's going to be interesting to see how much tourism will be affected...

Going by previous history, mainland Chinese will be among the first to cancel.

What times are in force for the curfew? Dusk to dawn, or a little more relaxed than that?

 

[JohnK]

Very sad.

I've been in Thailand for the past 2 weeks and there wasn't much coverage of this event locally unless you watch CNN, BBC etc and very little discussion on the street.

I'm actually starting to get scared as I think I travel too much and seriously believe Pattaya, coughet will be targeted in the near future.

 

[amaroo]

Quite a few countries have advised their citizens to leave, along with diplomatic staff's families. One could summarise they believe more trouble on the way...

 

[GoldCanyon340]

It is just very sad. I've found Sri Lankans to be some of the most happiest people I've met while travelling, just so hospitable and they genuinely love people from overseas taking an interest in their history and culture. Being from London I'm somewhat battle hardened about terrorism, growing up there at the height of the IRA campaign, so I would not reconsider any travel plans to Sri Lanka but I do appreciate not everyone feels like that.

 

[OATEK]

It is just very sad. I've found Sri Lankans to be some of the most happiest people I've met while travelling, just so hospitable and they genuinely love people from overseas taking an interest in their history and culture. Being from London I'm somewhat battle hardened about terrorism, growing up there at the height of the IRA campaign, so I would not reconsider any travel plans to Sri Lanka but I do appreciate not everyone feels like that.

We have friends that have just arrived in Colombo, and seem positive about continuing. They did say that quite a few on their "tour" had not turned up.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

We have friends that have just arrived in Colombo, and seem positive about continuing. They did say that quite a few on their "tour" had not turned up.

One item on my list is to watch a Test match or ODI in Sri Lanka. Kandy is the best location for this as the cricket ground is accessible and the city itself is so easy to get around, especially having a morning or evening stroll around the lake.