Sri Lanka's killing fields

Feb 09

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Sri Lanka's killing fields

Four years later, evidence of Sri Lanka's civil war starts to emerge.

In mid-January, The Times of India reported that flooding had caused human remains and abandoned belongings to come to the surface in what have been deemed 'Sri Lanka's killing fields'.

The UN estimates that nearly 40,000 Sri Lankan lives were taken in 2009 when the Tamil opposition forces took their last stand against government forces.

View the story "Sri Lanka's killing fields" on StorifySri Lanka's killing fieldsFour years later, evidence of Sri Lanka's civil war starts to emerge. Storified by The Stream· Sat, Feb 09 2013 10:25:26On February 6, the Sri Lanka Campaign released photographs of the fields.
BlogspotThe Sri Lanka army has controlled these fields since the end of the civil war. Today, most civilians are prevented from exploring the fields.
BlogspotHowever, the government has partially opened the area for some survivors to return home.
BlogspotThe area has also been used as a tourism site to showcase former Tamil-dominated areas.
BlogspotSome attractions include the rebel leader's house, his underground bunker, a shooting range, and a swimming pool labeled "Terrorist Swimming Pool".
BlogspotA souvenir shop sits next to a destroyed water tower. BlogspotThe museum grounds come equipped with cafes next to each landmark. The Sri Lankan military is also advertising a newly constructed hotel in the centre of these fields.
BlogspotPresident Mahinda Rajapaksa has denounced UN estimates of those killed in the civil war. A Human Rights Watch report said the President has taken no meaningful steps to address the government's past human rights abuses and continues to deny its population basic freedoms.