Global Voices Online

Sri Lanka: Telecom and Conflict

Monday, October 30th, 2006 @ 16:22 UTC

by Neha Viswanathan

Countries:: Sri Lanka
Topics:: Internet & Telecoms, War & Conflict

LirneAsia on telecom in Sri Lanka suffering because of the conflict. “Now, Dialog and the people of the North are paying the price of the path of war. For two months, the mobile networks have been shut down in the North, with service being allowed intermittently in the East. This means that approximately 220,000 families are unable to communicate with their loved ones in the North and that another 200,000 or so families are not sure their phone will work when they most need it. “

2 comments

Shammie Jayaransie

To communicate with their loved ones, first we have to destroy the LTTL terrorists. That is no one. No two is communicate with “loved one” and you too.

# 2006-10-30 at 22:33 pm

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Rohan Samarajiva

I understand the first sentence of Shammie Jayaransie’s comment, though I believe it is an impractical and ultimately counter-productive strategy for those who wish to live in a prosperous and undivided Sri Lanka.

I am sure similar sentiments can be found among the extremists in Israel and Palestine. Yet, the mobile networks function in Palestine even under the most extreme conditions. The Indian Army has learned to live with mobile networks in Kashmir. Why the Sri Lankan Army cannot, is the question raised in my post.

I am afraid the second and third sentences are written in some form of code that I am unable to decipher. Therefore, I am unable to respond to them.

# 2006-11-1 at 2:42 am

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