Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
investigate Rajapaska's massive Chinese-financed construction schemes around his homet-
own of Hambantota. Even Sarath Fonseka, who was Rajapaksa's military chief during the
final victory over the LTTE, ended up in jail after he challenged his former boss for the
presidency in 2010.
In 2014 a radical band of Buddhist monks attacked Muslims while the police and milit-
ary looked on. Sri Lanka's Minister of Justice, Rauff Hakeem, himself a Muslim, con-
demned this even as he admitted the government had done nothing to prevent it. Given
that many Sri Lankans say they are willing to overlook Rajapaska's alleged misdeeds be-
cause the prospect of a return to war is worse, the stoking of ethnic tensions ahead of elec-
tions looked suspicious to many.
Welcome Tourists!
The many allegations of official misdeeds so far don't seem to have affected Sri Lanka's
tourism. Visitor numbers are booming, even if the numbers themselves are a bit fuzzy.
About 1.2 million people visited the island in 2013, an approximate 20% increase on 2012
figures. These kinds of numbers are fuelling a boom in tourist construction that can be
seen across the nation. New hotels are rising up on previously unspoilt beaches while fam-
ilies are building guesthouses near popular tourist sites.
Predictably a host of environmental concerns have been raised about all the develop-
ment but, with most Sri Lankans anxious to better their lot and the government calling for
tourism to contribute 7.5% to the country's GDP, such worries are easily ignored.
