Speaking at the opening of yet another triumphalist war memorial in the Tamil homeland, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa asked critics abroad to come and visit Sri Lanka and see for themselves the progress the country has made.

“People were deprived of enjoying the scenic beauty of this area due to the 30-year-old war and people in these areas had to leave their native places and had lived under dire conditions.

“After liberating the country from the terrorism, not only Sri Lankans but foreigners also have been able to come and enjoy the scenic beauty of this area,” he said at the opening ceremony of the memorial in Kudumpimalai, Batticaloa.

He said that this was a great opportunity for the foreigners who hold wrong views to come and witness how Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims live together peacefully in these areas, according to the DailyMirror.

The name Kudumpimalai in Batticaloa has been sinhalicised into Thoppigala after its capture by the Sri Lankan army in 2007. The new memorial was supported by Dilmah, Sri Lanka’s most famous tea company.

A government website explained how the new facilities would encourage more war tourism to the area.

“The exhibition centre and other facilities were established in order to facilitate local and foreign tourists a chance to visit Toppigala region and enjoy its natural environment and also appreciate the sacrifices made by the security forces to liberate the region from the clutches terrorism.” the Defence Ministry’s website said.