Colombo, May 6 (newsin.asia): Rumours abound about trouble here and there in Sri Lanka, and the social media is still full of comments damning the government for its inept handling of the advance information it had got about the suicide attacks which took place on April 21. Nevertheless, the city of Colombo, which took the brunt of the Islamic State’s attacks, is returning to normal with people coming out of their shells gingerly if not as fearlessly as before.
The horrific Colombo traffic is back again on the roads. Barring Catholic schools, government-run and private schools have re-opened. Government offices are functioning again with full attendance. Trains and buses are back.
The major hotels, however, are under still tight security with non-guests still barred, unless they have a person inside who can vouch for them. This is but natural since three of the top-most hotels here, namely, Shangri-La, Cinnamon Grand and The Kingsbury, had been attacked by suicide bombers on Easter Sunday which had taken the lives of 253 men, women and children.
The sea-side Galle Face Green which throbs in the evening with walkers taking in some fresh air, is still to come back to normal as the bombings had taken place only yards away from it. The desertion of the Galle Face Green has hurt the business of kite sellers and the many eateries.
Muslims who come to the seaside in the evenings in van loads are now understandably scarce because of apprehension that they may be attacked. The group that carried out the bombings had perpetrated the carnage in the name of Islam, though, typically, Sri Lankan Muslims are a peaceful people following a peaceful and accommodative Islam.
However, Independence Square, which is the favourite haunt of Colombo’s elite, is back to what it was. Young joggers whiz past elderly walkers. The manicured lawns and the stately colonial buildings ringing the square are back to being the favourite backdrops for wedding photographs and videos.
