Pictorial: Embedded in Silavaththurai
November 30th, 2007
by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai
Silavaththurai was in the news locally and internationally in August-September 2007.
I was one of the first few journalists who were on an embedded tour with the Sri Lankan Army to Silavaththurai in September 2007. We went to Naanaattan by van, from Naanaattaan to Arippu by Unicorn, crossed Arippu lagoon by boat and then finally from Arippu to Silavaththuari by tractor. We walked through jungles to witness the former territory controlled by the LTTE. The journey from Arippu to Silavaththurai on a red sandy and dry road took almost two hours, because of the condition of the road.
Civilians got displaced as fighting broke out between the Sri Lankan security forces and the LTTE. People from this area came to Murungan and stayed in welfare camps.
Abandoned LTTE camp in Silavaththurai
A medical camp of the LTTE
Sri Lankan Army solider looking at a Johnny mine
Bombed LTTE sea tiger base in Silavaththurai
Civilians abandoned their boats in Arippu due to fighting and displacement
Soldiers in Arippu
Abandoned bullock cart in Arippu
LTTE bunker in Silavaththurai
Sri Lankan Army soldier walks pass a bunker in Silavaththurai
Houses are sealed to protect the belongings from looting
Soldiers in Arippu
Boats abandoned by the civilians are being recovered by the soldiers and taken for a safe place, and will be handed over to the owners
Another camp used by the LTTE in the jungle of Silavaththurai
Desserted Arippu
Photojournalist of the Sunday Times Saman Kariyavasam taking photos in Arippu
Destroyed monument in Arippu
Divisional Secretariat of Musali
Another bunker used by the LTTE in Silavaththurai
Roman Catholic Vidyalayam in Arippu
Recovered weapons are displayed at the Thallady camp
LTTE flag is displayed at Thallady camp
Portraits of martyrs are displaced among the recovered items
Cut-out among the displayed
Main street in Mannar town
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[Source: HumanityAshore.com]
Email: dushi.pillai@gmail.com
Entry Filed under: transCurrents Photo Feature
10 Comments Add your own
1. Anonymous | November 30th, 2007 at 8:38 am
Excelent Pictures, cant find in any of the websites.Gives the real life of people suffering of the war
2. thavapalan | November 30th, 2007 at 11:00 am
Dear Thusyanthi, I highly appreciate your highly risk and dedicated documentations of the events. I hope that you are the only person involed in this activities to my knowledge . It wil help in the future to understand our history and for analysise it.
3. Alex | December 1st, 2007 at 2:25 am
No word for ur dedication & efforts.
Keep going!
4. sivaguru | December 1st, 2007 at 4:41 am
tamils and sinkalese have their own very diffrent religion, land, langauge and culture. both immigrants from india kerela and bengal). it it time for a 2 state solution like palestine and israel.
5. MyTake | December 2nd, 2007 at 10:51 am
If Indianas believed in Sivaguru’s theory then India sure will be a multi-state territory (TN, Panjab, Gujarat, Bengal, etc) and engraved in continuoius territorial and ethnic wars. Some people just don’t get it and they are blind-sighted by petty racist ideology. While devloped nations are trying to embrace diversity and move forward (with some resistance I should say), some ignorant folks just want to see nations ruined becuase of extreme ethinc ideologies fueled by power crazy politicians and military juntas. Too bad for Sri Lanka and it’s time a strong and good governing “dictator” took power in Sri Lanka to unite the country again…..
6. Thilee | December 3rd, 2007 at 3:29 pm
Pictures speaks more than words.
We have some lessons to learn from India.
1. They were behind Sri Lankn in devlovepment by 1950s. Still they brought the country with some long term vions.
2. They have very much bigger ethinic divisoions compare to SL but managed to go along (even though they have issues)
All of these were possible because they had some greater leaders like Nehru/Indra/Vajbay/Manmohan.
Every leader had different views and positives and negatives. But they never let the country down.
Manmohan was a Seikh (/Sikh). A Seikh killed Indra Gandhi. But the country will never opposed Manmohan as a PM.
But Sinhalese had a totally different mentality.
If you all would have agreed a Tamil leader to a PM position in 1960’s/70’s Or a power sharing solution, we might have a different kind of country now. It all came throught the visions SL leaders had..
Now MR is bringing the country to a never return position. supporting pak/iran and loans which we wouldn’t be pay back in 100 years, will be a huge disaster for Sri Lankans forever. You better rethink of your support to kill a nation.
7. siri | December 5th, 2007 at 11:24 pm
Re: above comment from Thilee, the difficulty comes due to the socalled democracy. You see, in India only 40% are HIndi speaking where in SL about 75% are Sinhala speaking.
8. Mujeeb | December 5th, 2007 at 11:46 pm
Dear Dushi,
Wonderful picture, Pictures speaks more and more… “ART is LONG….” Really you are a grate Artist and excellent documenter. I hope you will achive more more… Because you are a hard worker…. Keep it up… Congratulation on your success. I’m so glad when i see this picture….
9. thiaga | December 6th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
Re to Siri’s comment it is not the percentage that matters.
It is the non-recognition of other’s rights.
There are quite a number of examples.
In Canada French has been given a distinguish status besides making it as an official language same in Belgium,
Switzerland’s has four official languages.
These are progressive countries who wisely adapted these policies so as to avoid future conflicts.
SL could have been one if not for the short sighted aims to occupy power without thinking about the consequences which had evidently followed and we are in the midst of it.
10. Saravanaraj | December 12th, 2007 at 5:13 am
Good job, would have been better, if you include another picture of Colombo city roads, with BMW or Hummer to compare with Mannar roads with bicycles.
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