{ I don't read either rec.travel or rec.windsurfing.  I just thought
  that some of you might find the following interesting.  

  Sri Lanka is a tropical island in the Indian Ocean, located
  between 80E,82E Longitude and 6N,10N Latitude --prasad }

   RTw  09/15 2337  SURFERS TAKE CHANCES AT EASTERN SRI LANKA BEACH

      By Feizal Samath
       ARUGAM BAY, Sri Lanka, Sept 16, Reuter - Big-spending tourists
   and the average Sri Lankan would think twice before visiting this
   picturesque bay in the Tamil rebel-torn east.
       But the risks of getting caught up in ethnic fighting have not
   deterred the real enthusiasts among the foreign surfers who make
   an annual pilgrimage to Arugam Bay, acknowledged as one of the
   best beaches in the world.
       "Surfers take many chances for good waves," explained
   Australian Ann Gillaid as she collected her board at this resort
   200 km (150 miles) from Colombo.
       This year between 50 to 75 foreigners a month, mostly surfers,
   visited the bay village in the May to September period, a sharp
   drop from the average 200 per month before 1983.
       "The numbers fell after Tamil rebel activity increased after
   1983," says Sri Lankan Lawrence Upali, who has operated a popular
   beachside restaurant for the past 12 years.
       The only road to the bay is through a wildlife park, once home
   to herds of elephants but now roamed by Tamil Tiger rebels by
   night. Another access road is restricted due to rebel activity.
       A police commando unit stops travellers from using the road at
   night. It is opened in the morning only after patrols check it for
   any mines laid overnight by the rebels.
       Most of the Tamil-dominated north is in the hands of the
   Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam guerrillas, fighting for a
   homeland in the north and the east for the minority Tamils. The
   east has a mixed population of Sinhalese, Tamils and Moslems and
   is largely controlled by the military.
       Arugam Bay is the only place in the eastern districts of
   Amparai, Batticaloa and Trincomalee to be visited by foreign
   tourists.
       "We are not promoting tourism in these places because of the
   unrest. But we are aware that tourists keep going to Arugam Bay,"
   N.U. Yasupala, director-general of the Ceylon Tourist Board, said
   in Colombo.
       He said Arugam Bay in Amparai, Passekudah in Batticaloa and
   Nilaveli in Trincomalee were advertised in international travel
   magazines as having the best beaches in the world.
       While local travellers are often attacked by Tamil rebels,
   foreigners have been spared to date, with the exception of a
   Dutchman killed last year in a bus attack.
       Locals say he failed to leave the bus as ordered by the
   rebels, choosing to stay and protect the Sri Lankan passengers.
       "It is a bit scary when you hear these stories. But we
   generally don't think about these things, though everyone warns
   you, the tourism authorities or others in Colombo, that it is
   dangerous to go to Arugam Bay," said Gillaid.
       Many of the surfers are Australians while others come from
   Britain, Italy, Germany, France and Israel. A few non-surfing
   tourists also seek out the bay.
       One Welsh surfer said the waves at Arugam Bay were as good as
   those in Indonesia or Hawaii.
       "But what attracts us most to this place is that fisherfolk
   here lead a simple life and living is cheap compared to what one
   would spend (elsewhere)," he said.
       Many surfers have visited the bay for four or five years in a
   row.
       "This place is also nice because it is deserted and there are
   no high-rises," Gillaid said. "We like the simple village life and
   little comforts. It should stay that way. Surfers prefer a quiet
   location and if tourists start crowding the place, we would go
   away."
       The visitors stay in small "cadjan" huts with two beds, hired
   by locals for just 50 rupees (about $1) a bed. Food is cheap.
       Most of the Australian surfers spend two to three months a
   year at Arugam Bay. Others stay a couple of weeks.
       Esther Reese, a 21-year-old student from Germany and one of
   the few non-surfers, said she heard about the bay from friends.
   "People tell you there are problems in these areas but we have not
   encountered any since we came last week."
       Most of the tourists come to Arugam Bay by bus from Hikkaduwa,
   another cheap but crowded seaside resort 160 km (100 miles) to the
   south.
       "Our bags are checked at all security points but otherwise
   there are no problems," said Gillaid, who says she plans to return
   next year.
    REUTER FS JXK SM

--
Prasad Dharmasena     Internet: <p...@fed.FRB.GOV>     UUCP: <uunet!fed!pkd>