Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl narrowly escaped from the tsunami waves which killed nearly thirty thousand (30,000) people on December 26, 2004 in Sri Lanka.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s current three-day visit to Germany brings back memories of how the Sri Lanka Air Force very cautiously rescued the former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl who was on a private visit to the island, when the tsunami waves had entered the resort premises where he was staying.
Later Helmut Kohl recollecting how his experience when the tsunami waves had devastated the Southern coastal areas of Sri Lanka, said that the devastation was somewhat like a massive explosion during World War II in Germany.
Kohl who was 74 years of age when the tsunami waves affected the region where he was staying and the Southern Lankan coastal area at large said: “At first we didn’t understand that the tsunami waves had such a destructive effect. We saw that the entire first and second floors of our hotel were under water and we realised the full extent of the catastrophe.”
Helmut Kohl, German Chancellor from 1982 to 1998, also added that he was fortunate to be on the third floor of the hotel. “Everything around the hotel was destroyed and our hotel was also badly damaged. The sea took everything with it. It reminded me of the images from the war that I lived through as a youth during World War II. It looked like a bomb attack,” Kohl said.
He went on to say, “We were advised to move out of the area but we decided to stay. I didn’t want to run away. I thought it was important to stay and try to seek help. But after two days there was no electricity or water and we were told to leave.”
Kohl was airlifted by the Air Force to another hotel near Colombo with the others from his stricken hotel. In gratitude for his rescue, Kohl had even made a significant donation towards to the construction of the maternity hospital of Mahamodara Hospital in Galle. On the initiative of former Chancellor Helmut Kohl, German Government had contributed 25 million Euros, which is equivalent to Rupees 3,570 million for the construction of the hospital.
Kohl’s visit itself had highlighted how far the European tourists prefer Sri Lanka as their favorite tourist destination. With Sri Lanka focusing on more investments and extensive tourism ventures in the Island, the visit of President AKD to Germany is expected to boost tourism in the Island. Top of Form
However, Sri Lankan Tamils living in Germany staged a protest against President AKD in Berlin, highlighting several post-war humanitarian issues, as well as demanding justice for the alleged war crimes committed during the civil war in the North and East.
A large number of Sri Lankans who sought asylum in European have been staging demonstration and protest marches demanding justice to be meted out to the North and East civilians affected by the civil strife.
Similar demonstrations against President AKD are likely to occur when he visits other nations in Europe, Scandinavia, Canada and Australia in future.
Even during the regimes of President AKD’s predecessors, Lankan Tamils most of whom were supporters of the LTTE, had demonstrated against the visits of Lankan leaders to European destinations.
President Dissanayake’s first European visit is taking place amidst high security in Germany. He will meet business leaders and explore the possibilities of transforming the Lankan economy with greater investments from Germany.
