While the Supreme Court on Monday was grappling with the vexed problem of whether former Treasury Secretary Dr P.B. Jayasundera still continues to hold public office as a consultant to the President, John Keells Holdings (JKH) Chairman Susantha Ratnayake and Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) Chairman Jayampathy Bandaranayake were away in Singapore on holiday with a group of friends and family – watching the Singapore Grand Prix.

Mr Ratnayake, severely criticized by the court in the Lanka Marine Services Ltd (LMSL) case, is also the deputy chairman of the CCC while Mr Bandaranayake is involved in a chamber inquiry against JKH on whether it has violated the chamber’s code of ethics.

The chamber inquiry, which is ongoing, was briefly mentioned at the CCC main committee meeting presided over by Mr Bandaranayake on September 25. The following day, Mr Bandaranayake, Mr Ratnayake and the group left for Singapore on Singapore Airlines flight SQ 467 in the first class cabin. They returned on SQ 466 on Tuesday, September 30. The airline, until recently, didn’t have a first class cabin unless the airline receives a firm booking for 10 or more seats in this class.