Election Time!

  Pottuvil, Sri Lanka
Wednesday, November 16, 2005

It's been a while since I've written live from an internet café! The previous few entries were all written on our office computer and only uploaded today. The internet was down this afternoon in Pottuvil and Arugam Bay but was restored as we were about to head back to Komari. I had mentioned that the electricity was not consistently available. Well, the cell phone network isn't any better and we have gone days before without any service (by the way, there are no land lines in Komari).

Tomorrow is the much anticipated presidential elections. It has been the hot topic in most of the country, except maybe in the LTTE-controlled areas of the North and East where people prefer to keep quiet. I am not sure whether our village will be heading to the polls or whether everyone will stay home to avoid stirring trouble with the Tamil Tigers whom I last read are calling for a voting boycott. There is a strong STF presence (government police) in my area so perhaps people might feel more protected against intimidation from the LTTE.


Either way, we have been advised to keep a low profile, to avoid traveling and being in a city center. Pottuvil (where I am right now) has had its fair share of violent outbreaks. In fact, there was a protest and burning tires on Saturday when we were passing through on our way to Arugam Bay. There will likely be a curfew imposed in the coming days as they're counting the polls.

On a side note, the elections make up the perfect excuse to slack off during the entire week. Monday was the only normal business day... Tuesday was a government Holiday because there was a full moon; Wednesday is a travel day for workers, some of whom must return to their hometown to vote; Thursday is voting day therefore everything shuts down including public transportation; and Friday is curfew therefore everyone stays home!