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The United National Party's Kandy District parliamentarian, Abdul Cader, has become a staunch supporter of the UPFA government. So much so, speculation is rife he will soon join its ranks.
Just two weeks ago, when President Mahinda Rajapaksa was in Kandy, Mr. Cader was one of the visitors to call on him at the 'President's House' there. He did not go there empty handed.
Mr. Cader took with him ten Savans of home-cooked biriyani. A Savan is the customary Muslim serving of meals for groups of six persons each.
That meant the biriyani was good enough for 60 persons or even more to eat.
After all, the best way to a man's heart is through his stomach!
His golden highway
A sailor turned bureaucrat has found a novel method to increase his income.
Whilst serving in his official job, as an additional measure he is constructing houses for sale.
There is an additional task for his security detail too. Besides protecting him, they also have to look after millions in currency notes that he takes along from one site to another. The highway to success is paved with gold for some.
Questions over luxury vehicle
The one-time head of a service arm, now the target of many a controversy, is in the news again.
This time, it is over a service agreement he signed with a local company for the luxury vehicle he imported. Though the man in question has retired, the service agreement for the car remains valid. It has been paid for by funds from his organisation.
A wealthy businessman in Kandy had showed keen interest in purchasing the luxury vehicle. The million-dollar question now being asked is whether the buyer would enjoy all the free service facilities. That is at tax payer's expense.
Not so wise, marshal
Many weeks ago, a top-runger in uniform admitted to his superiors that he was building a palatial house in the central highlands. This is in an area declared recently as a national heritage site by UNESCO.
Though he had obtained all the required approvals, the man who is now avoiding the media, has conceded he had made one slip. He did not obtain the approval of the Central Environmental Authority (CEA).
The ball is now in the CEA court.
Police say Arjuna not out
Democratic National Alliance parliamentarian Arjuna Ranatunga was among those who took part in the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna protest rally in Galle to demand the release of Sarath Fonseka.
Two of his fellow MPs Vijitha Herath and Ajith Kumara were arrested for obstructing police personnel on duty. When they were being taken away, Mr. Ranatunga demanded that he too should be arrested as "he was party to the offence."However a policeman on duty told him their orders were only to take the other two and asked the former Sri Lanka cricket captain to make his way out of there.
Diplomat deeper in Waterloo
As reported in these columns last week, a senior Sri Lankan diplomat based in one of our key embassies overseas is on the verge of being recalled after he was accused of submitting a forged document. That is if his bureaucratic boss does not stop it.
The document, purportedly originating from a language institute, claimed he had achieved proficiency in the French language.
When the authenticity of the document was checked, (because the diplomat had submitted only a photostat copy, not the original), the institute-based in a Western capital, denied it had issued the certificate of competence.
There is a sequel to this episode. The bureaucratic boss who was to travel to the western capital where the diplomat is based, has changed plans. He has now decided not to stay in the apartment of this diplomat. Instead, he is on the lookout for an economy priced hotel.
Probe on judge widens
Criminal Investigations Department (CID) detectives have interviewed a judge over allegations for his alleged physical abuse of a female domestic aide. She comes from the plantation sector.
The detectives are on the lookout for another aide, who had worked in the judge's bungalow previously. The move follows claims that she too had made allegations to the Police on an earlier occasion.
On Wednesday, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) lauded Chief Justice Asoka de Silva, who is also Chairman of the Judicial Service Commission for directing Police Chief, Dr. Mahinda Balasuriya to conduct a full and impartial inquiry. A statement issued by the BASL said, "The Bar viewed with great concern the allegation made recently against a judge of gross impropriety."
It added that the BASL "appreciated and endorsed fully prompt steps taken in this regard by the Chief Justice to ensure that the integrity of the judicial system is maintained and that a proper investigation is carried out."
The detectives are also investigating whether there were any lapses on the part of the Police when the domestic aide made the first complaint to them.
GL falls from Great Wall
External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris, who has held his portfolio for just over three-months, has set another record.
He had spent the longest period on an official visit to a country.
His visit to China began on August 9 and ends on August 15. That is a seven day trip which, an official source says, had never been undertaken by any such minister before.
The embarrassing aspect of the visit was the reluctance of the Chinese government to extend official hospitality for the entire duration.
They said it would be available only for five days. However, a Sri Lankan diplomat in China is doing the needful for the balance period.
Practise what you preach, Mr. Bureaucrat
A top bureaucrat in the External Affairs Ministry has introduced a new rule -- those serving in Sri Lanka missions abroad should spend 18 months in Colombo before their next posting.
The joke doing the rounds is if the rule is strictly applied, the bureaucrat in question would have had to spend 54 months in Colombo. The reason -- he had served abroad continuously for nine years.
Bouncing jewels of ex-MP
A former UNP parliamentarian is in trouble.
He obtained jewellery for the grandiose wedding of a sibling in a five-star hotel. When he found it was not good enough, he returned it and obtained a new set costing Rs 13 million from one of the city's leading jewellery firms.
He paid by cheque for the jewellery. The first cheque bounced, He gave a second. That bounced too. He then gave a third cheque. That also bounced.
The firm is reluctant to go to the Police for the one time parliamentarian in question is a fellow brethren. As a first persuasive step, they have raised issue with a leading VVIP to resolve the matter. Their next, if it fails, is to go to the Police to recover the money. |
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