Thread by @rohini_mohan

A Sri Lankan friend tonight told me people outside the country asked her if she's safe, what with the protests and all. People are asking me also it's safe to travel to #SriLanka. Some even cancelled out of fear.
Here's my uncharacteristic message:

1. It's totally SAFE, peaceful. The protests are historic, unites the country. #SriLankaProtests in Galle Face in Colombo are inspiring to visit. Families are taking their kids.
If you don't like such things, fly into Colombo & drive/train to other parts. They're stunning.

2. #SriLankaEconomicCrisis needs dollars, so travel to this beautiful island, spend without guilt. There is fuel shortage so don't plan road trips. Take train, eat local. Trust me, it's better.

3. Hoteliers, waiters, housekeeping, chefs, guides, all 400,000 in tourism sector in #SriLanka are doing all they can to make foreigners comfy, eat well. So some days you won't have yoghurt, sometimes the meat is super expensive. That's it. They're doing their best.

4. Milions holidayed without guilt/ fear during much of the civil war (90s to 2010). I wasn't gungho about the invisibility of human rights abuses as govt airbrushed #SriLanka as tourist haven. Now's different. There is no war, only democratic protest.

5. People need income. Small entrepreneurs, even in war battered areas, need customers. The north & east #SriLanka are gorgeous, unexplored, but there are luxury resorts to bed & breakfasts. The beaches of south & west are so tourist friendly. They miss visitors in Galle, Mirisa.

6. #SriLankan food needs a thread in itself. It's really what got me obsessed about #SriLanka. It's fulfilling, delicious. Vegetables, rice, coconuts are not abundant today but you'll get ample meals in much variety.

7. INR-LKR is 4.27. USD is 320. Euro is 350. Prices ARE slightly higher than earlier, like for a taxi ride. But even a budget traveller like me can afford it.

No, it's not misery tourism coz you're not travelling to see suffering/poverty.