Trincomalee

Just returned from visit to Trincomalee (10 hours each way!). I only went so I could say I’d been there really – well it is one of the best names on the planet, second only to Timbuctu and Piddlethrenthide....beforehand I was Warned about malarial mosquitoes and LTTE guerillas still lurking in the scrub, but I didn't see any signs of either. What I did find interesting was a report of domestic violence in the area which documented all sorts of cruelties and hypocrisies; in many cases women turned to the LTTE as the only source of protection when families and agencies had failed them. Reminded me of reports of Hezbollah in Lebanon supporting the pople when the government had failed...