Countering air strikes: improve trade, joint ventures and goodwill
overseas
by Elmo Leonard
The March 27, 12.45am terrorist attack on the military air base in
Katunayake has thus far not borne much impact on Sri Lanka's tourism
industry. Regardless, the hospitality industry expects, immediate,
intelligent, disciplined and stringent measures to plug a repetition of
an attack, for, the losses to the industry, could be much.
 Within hours, Colombo bound flights were diverted to Chennai and
Trivandrum, but came back, the same morning. Cathay Pacific, which flies
Hong Kong, Colombo, via Bangkok and Singapore, four times a week has
suspended flights. Now, Emirates, does not fly to Colombo by night;
altered flights' schedules to day light. The other flights arrive
Colombo as usual. But, how many tourists will continue to come in, and
for how long, is delicately perched on counter measures, the tourism
trade said.
In the afterglow, a few bookings were cancelled. Most other bookings
are being honoured for the present. But, the potential tourist into Sri
Lanka is wary, and is watching the situation, the travel trade said.
Speaking for the industry, Ms Shiromal Cooray, managing director of
Jetwing Travels called on the government to stall the $10 visa-fee, per
tourist, as per the budget of 2007, expected to come into force 1 April
later deferred for August. A visa levy would be a poor way of luring the
tourist into a country, where the tangible security situation is
overblown by the international media.
The most prestigious global television channels, CNN, BBC and ETV for
instance, minutes after the attack on the military airport, reported
that the Colombo international airport was bombed. True enough, that the
military airport must be shifted from its adjacent location, to the
international airport. Yet, terrorist land or air strikes have never
targeted tourists in Sri Lanka.
Globally, such strategy, has been few and far between, instances
being the unforgettable Egypt and Bali. Bali, was intended to hit
Australian tourists, orchestrated by al-Quaeda.
When terrorists strike Thailand, the international media is more
balanced, also showing the country's tourists browsing unconcerned. But,
March 27, all the well-known international media showed in its
continuing headlines, LTTE propaganda of its air capabilities and
destruction to the Sri Lanka Air Force buildings and its personnel.
Obviously, Colombo has no rapport with the international media.
The authorities must also accept its limited capabilities. For
instance, over 60-years ago, during World War II, the day before the
attack on Easter Sunday, the Colombo harbour had 100 ships, reduced to
40 when the enemy bombs rained on. The Japanese bombs fell
simultaneously on the Ratmalana airport and the Colombo harbour. At the
same time Royal Air Force planes took off from a new airstrip built at
the Colombo Racecourse, and engaged the Japanese bombers in dog fights.
Colombo's residents were under tables, it is well known. The civilian
death toll was 85 and 75 injured. Of 85 Japanese planes which flew in,
54 returned. Sri Lanka's losses were 19 fighters and six Swordfish. It
is also common knowledge that the enemy's Japanese all-conquering
progress was quelled.
Four days later, the Japanese came with 54 planes and assaulted
Trincomalee and the attack to British shipping was greater this time.
Fourteen Japanese planes were lost. The Japanese had had enough of Sri
Lanka and never followed up the raids.
Another leaf can be taken from the Arab-Israeli war of 1967, when the
air power of 60-million Arabs was destroyed on the ground by the Israeli
planes belonging to three-million Israelis; it being suicidal during an
air attack to sleep a nation's air fleet.
If Sri Lanka's history is to repeat itself, and defeat the LTTE air
power, the nation must also foster the friendship of the international
community, the basic ingredients, besides government-to-governments
foreign relations: commerce, tie-ups, technology interactions, goodwill
and cultural exchanges.
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