• LTTE and INGOs fleeing

• ‘Mosquito menace in Colombo’

• How did the SriLankan airhostess’ uniform get here?

• Promoting Sri Lanka as a tourist destination
  
  
  LTTE and INGOs fleeing

No where in the electronic or print media have we seen any scenes of any of the majority of the INGOs carryingout humanitarian tasks to ease the pain of mind of the displaced but these busybodies went to great length to expose to the world the slightest lapse on the part of the Government.

A classic example is the exposure given by them of the food and medical shortages in Vakarai and elsewhere on account of the on-going confrontation.

After the capture of the LTTE positions since October 2006, we can see the pack of lies put out by the LTTE and the INGOs.

We now understand that the INGOs too have fled with the LTTE terrorists probably to start another new life elsewhere at any cost. Not only the LTTE but most of the INGOs involved in dissemination and chaos should be brought to book and kicked out of this country.

Melville Perera - Kahawala

‘Mosquito menace in Colombo’

I refer to the letter sent by one U.D.G. Jinadasa of Colombo titled ‘Mosquito menace in Colombo’ (DN Jan. 30).

I totally disagree with the contents of this letter as they are false and malicious. Following are the facts in this case.

The staff of the office of the Medical Officer of Health (MOH), Colombo East had detected this land on November 3, 2006 during an inspection of premises in Balapokuna area and the owners of the land had been noticed under the mosquito-borne Diseases Regulations Act.

There had been no response. This land had been sold by the mineral water factory and therefore, another notice was sent to its new owner on December 28, 2006. Mr Jinadasa had made a written complaint only on January 4, 2007 with the details of ownership.

The owners had not taken any action and a case had been filed in the courts on January 25, 2007 under the above regulations. According to the MOH Mr. Jinadasa had been informed of the action taken by her.

From the above, it is clear that the staff of the MOH office had been proactive in locating the place and the owners, even before there were public complaints.

Mr. Jinadasa had been informed that legal action had been taken before he wrote to the newspaper.

This land would have been neglected and overgrown with rank vegetation months before we located it. If Mr. Jinadasa had informed of this land as a civic conscious resident earlier, with the details of the ownership, we could have taken action much earlier and perhaps saved the residents from getting dengue or Chikungunya fever.

DR. PRADEEP KARIYAWASAM - via email

How did the SriLankan airhostess’ uniform get here?

Attached is a photograph flying through the internet as an innocent joke.

Yes it is, but the truth behind the photograph remains a secret! How did this poor lady get this uniform?

Don’t they know that this is how the LTTE can get our uniforms? Don’t they know that the LTTE terrorists have women suicide bombers? If they don’t use it anymore, couldn’t they destroy it rather than give it to someone as charity because this is not a common Saree. This is a real life threatening situation for us, as we passengers travel by SriLankan Airlines.

First I laughed too, then I thought of sending this to you at the Daily News as you always take a risk to tell the world a few truths.

May be you might be able to open the eyes of the Big bosses at SriLankan Airlines and Emirates as well as other security departments.

AMANDA -via email

Promoting Sri Lanka as a tourist destination

Response to the news of Sri Lankan investment of Rs. 350 M to promote Sri Lanka’s Tourism. (Reference DN Jan. 26).

I read with interest that the SriLankan Airlines has invested more than Rs. 350 Million in advertising campaigns overseas to promote Sri Lanka as a tourist destination.

It appears that the promotions are focusing on the European Union countries. Although the article mentions the inclusion of the Tourism Cluster and USAID, I am disappointed to point out that there is very little promotion happening in the United States.

As a resident of the US for over 20 years, I stay closely tuned into promotions, and other information pertaining to Sri Lanka. I have yet to see Sri Lanka tourist promotion on the major TV Networks that reach the huge market in the US.

It is surprising that those involved in the promotion campaign have not targeted the US population that is an obvious market. Disposable income in the US is higher than in European nations.

On the upside although there is disposable income in US dollars, the exchange rates are more attractive to travellers from the European Union countries. However, against the Sri Lankan currency both are winners.

It will be an enlightening experience for all the decision makers in the marketing arena to view the TV clips on countries like Jamaica and India that receive exposure on the major media networks in the US. Sri Lanka has more to offer than many of the other islands that advertise better.

However, there is one important fact that continues to be overlooked. I refer to the state of cleanliness and beauty that we project being garbage littered streets, dotted by rundown derelict buildings that greet entry to the city’s drive from the airport.

Promoting tourism is not only about cut rate airfares and promoting the luxury hotels. There is a lot between arrival and departure that tourists absorb about our country. I wish tourism promoters and the Minister cares to take a look at the impression created in reality. Part of the tourism promotion expense should be assigned to improving the product we showcase.

We have fierce competition from other resorts and tourist destinations that we need to tune into. Business is also about looking around to see what our competition has to offer and differentiating ourselves from our competition. Are we doing that? I have my doubts.

As for promoting Sri Lanka in the USA, I have seen very little.

Concentrating in one or two large cities is a waste of expense and effort.

One has to look at exploiting the digital age and use technology wisely to project our country to wider audiences. Sadly, Sri Lanka got the greatest exposure in the USA and globally through scenes of the Tsunami. My personal experience is that when I relate to Americans about my heritage and mention Sri Lanka, the immediate association is with the Tsunami.

Even with the devastation, it is invariably a follow up comment that Sri Lanka looked like a beautiful country even in the screenshots of the Tsunami.

This proves that it is not our tourism promotions that put Sri Lanka on the map in the USA. It is the Tsunami and people like us who talk about the country whenever we get the opportunity to contribute to our little speck on the map.

I have given talks to high school students and stressed the positive differences between the values we ‘try’ to project in comparison to a large country like the US. The picture we show is carefully selected in engaging their interest as young minds.

However, when adults visit as tourists, their mindset is to absorb what they see about the country and not always the good times and partying that we Sri Lankans look for in our visits.

I remember many years ago as a teacher in a Colombo school in Sri Lanka, we instilled the need for cleanliness not only in our immediate environment but also the larger area around us.

We set aside time to take students dressed appropriately and equipped with the necessary tools to pick up paper and other litter around their school in short walks leading to their school. Of course, we taught them the dangers of exposure to infection and the need for follow up safety practices.

In this day of plastic bags, disposable gloves that we probably manufacture for export to keep other people clean, why can’t we make the men, women and children on the street aware of the importance of keeping our cities beautiful?

Marketing to the Americans requires pushing the right buttons. They like the beaches and luxury but they do not like to see piles of garbage and disease, flies and stray animals.

If promoting tourism, Mr. President and Mr. Minister, pay attention to what we are marketing. If not, we are hurting our reputation as the tourists leave not only with the image of the beautiful beaches but the striking deterioration of a nation.

The war is one we can leave to the military and forces to battle. The environment and the mindset of the people is a grassroots issue where every citizen can contribute towards change.

It takes some leadership and initiative to catalyze the thinking of our people to take pride in their immediate surroundings that can make the nation clean and inviting. It takes a little monetary involvement but more caring and initiative that can collectively do much for a country. Soon we will be saying, “Where has all the beauty gone?” and it will be too late to turn things around.

ANJALIKA SILVA - USA - via email