And for a Friday returning from Diwali holidays in Sri Lanka, some thoughts….. some musings…..
Sri Lanka has great strategic importance to India and our policy of increasing our friendship with all our neighbours – SAARC (minus Pakistan), BIMSTEC etc. etc. Hence the Presidential elections on November 16th in Sri Lanka must be closely followed. The two main contenders, Sajith Premdasa of the United National Pary which is part of New Democratic Fund supported by current India friendly PM, Ranil Wickremesinghe and Gotabaya Rajapaksa brother of Mahinda Rajapaksa in whose Presidency till 2015 Sri Lanka moved into the Chinese debt trap. Geopolitically, culturally and socially Sri Lankans are very much akin to Indians. We must all pray for peace and prosperity to all in this lovely Island nation.
Tourism, one of the major Foreign exchange earning Industry, was seriously crippled by the double whammy this year – Easter Sunday, April 21 massacre of Innocent church goers and tourists by the ISIS terrorists and 26 October Constitutional crisis. Tourism is slowly reviving. As Indians we must support our neighbour’s economic revival. One of the biggest attractions is Whale watching off the coast of Welligama. Unbelievable to see the largest animal on the planet, Brydes Whale, almost 50 feet long and dark smoky grey coloured. About forty five minutes on a speed boat into the sea and the sight is truly unbelievable. As the whale comes out to breathe, the moaning sound is almost like human beings. The male and female mature around 10 to 12 years and the baby whale, when born, is 12 to 13 feet in length. God’s creations to be seen and marveled.
All of us need to support each other in times of need. Let us all promote Sustainable tourism, responsible tourism, the ethical way, the caring way, the SEEGOS way.