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The towering sixes and wickets flying above the ground were not the only thrills and spills for cricket lovers during last week’s ICC 20-20 cricket series. There were other events too.

As revealed exclusively on the front-page of the Sunday Times last week, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in the Ministerial Security Division (MSD) is at the centre of a top level investigation.

This is for being involved in the arrest of three British university girls who were in the room of West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel. It has come to light that the arrests – after the three were taken in a Police vehicle and kept at the Kollupitiya Police Station – were illegal since they had not violated any Sri Lankan laws.

Now, detectives of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have taken over the case. When the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) held its annual sessions in Colombo last month, it was the MSD that was tasked to provide personal protection to the delegates. MSD officials were this week reminiscing over an incident. Two Nigerian delegates had brought in female escorts to their rooms. Before allowing them in, an MSD officer had contacted the conference secretariat to report the matter. He was advised not to obstruct the delegates and let them do what they wanted.

Another incident is how a DIG, one who rose from the ranks from a reserve Sub Inspector, slapped a Senior Superintendent of Police. Initially, the matter was reported to Gamini Navaratne, Senior DIG. He is said to have resolved the matter by asking the DIG in question to apologise to the SSP, who once served in the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and has since held a number of other positions. The latter has been assigned to function as a Police Liaison Officer during the tournament series.
Police Chief N.K. Illangakoon who heard of the incident, insiders say, had been furious. He ordered a full investigation into the matter. On Thursday, the statement of the SSP was recorded at Police Headquarters. He is learnt to have given details of the sequence of events that led to his being slapped.

A retired DIG, who was assisting Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had brought complimentary tickets and was distributing them to some people. When he stepped away leaving some ticket books on a table, the DIG is alleged to have taken a book. This has prompted the SSP to tell him it was not a correct thing to do. Meanwhile, the retired DIG who returned found that a set of tickets were missing and there was an altercation. The DIG in question has flatly denied he took the tickets and that he patted the SSP gently as a friendly gesture.

Last Sunday, the West Indies team which won the T20-20 World Cup that night had a sing song at their hotel, Cinnamon Grand. Around 3 a.m. on Monday, they left the hotel for a City night club and returned only around 6 a.m. after their victory celebrations. This was whilst Police security for the Sri Lanka team was strengthened, some with weapons at the entrance to the hotel proper.

The two teams entered five minutes apart, the victorious Windies walking with a swagger. Man of the match Marlon Samuel was with his earphones listening to music. The local boys walked in with their heads down, but the hotel staff was magnanimous enough to give them a cheer as well.

Sensitive encounters at almsgiving

President Mahinda Rajapksa took part in an almsgiving ceremony commemorating the late SLFP trade union stalwart Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra who was killed last year in an intra-party conflict on polling day for the Colombo Municipal Council.
It was at the official residence of Ms. Premachandra who is a Presidential Advisor. Rajapaksa offered ata pirikara (offerings to the monks) to Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera, who was among the monks attending the ceremony and a frontline campaigner for the abolition of the Executive Presidency.

Rajapaksa had a chat with the widow of the late MP and his daughter Hirunika. He asked Hirunika how she was doing these days. She replied that she was studying because her law exams are to be held later this year. She is leading the campaign to bring to justice those responsible for her father’s death.

PC award: Tamil lawyer was called first

Among 21 lawyers who were sworn in as President’s Counsel by President Mahinda Rajapaksa was M. Sithampalam.
Rajapaksa decided to call him first in a move which his senior officials said was to show he is serious about reconciliation.
Sithampalam is the brother of the late M. Sivasithamparam, a renowned Tamil lawyer-orator, MP for Nallur, and one time Deputy Speaker of Parliament.

President orders politicos to meet people

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has ruled that it is compulsory for ministers, their deputies, secretaries and heads of local councils to be in their offices to meet the public every Wednesday.

The directive follows what an official said were “independent reports” he had received that most ministers were not available to serve the needs of the public. A circular is also to be issued, said the official.

What an irony? Call 1956

The Ministry of National Languages and Social Integration is to launch a new hotline from November 1 to resolve language issues.

The hotline number is 1956. Either by design or co-incidence, the year marks the introduction of the law commonly known as the ‘Sinhala Only Act’, which some critics claim, was the beginning of Sri Lanka’s national problem.

Sajith waited, but Ranil came after he left

The Railway Service Union affiliated to the United National Party (UNP) held its 17th annual general meeting at the party headquarters, Siri Kotha last Wednesday morning.

Deputy Leader, Sajith Premadasa who turned up at 10 a.m. waited till 12.45 p.m. for UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to turn up. But the chief guest was not there.

As soon as Premadasa left the event, Wickremesinghe turned up much to the applause of union members.

Barrage of obscenities on radio talk show

Talk-show hosts of a popular radio station were in for some shock. In a programme where they wished listeners on their birthdays, they were speaking to a young lassie. Of course, the identity of the caller was not disclosed. They kept that for the end of the programme.

Two or three questions into the conversation, her young husband was angry. He let loose a barrage of obscenities whilst listeners countrywide stood amazed. The identity of the talk-show host was disclosed but it was too late.

Who cut what in Anura Kumara’s speech?

Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Democratic National Alliance – DNA – (representing JVP) made a statement in Parliament this week over the cold war between the Executive and the Judiciary.
He complained that the Speaker has removed a part of his statement which had been given for clearance. “Meke hungak kapala ne, kathanayakathumani (Speaker Sir, you have cut off many things in this),” Dissanayake said.

Replied Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa “Mama balala kepuwa (Yes I cut off, but did it carefully)”.”Ehema karanna epaa. Hondama kella kapala thiyenne (Don’t do that Sir, You have cut off the most important part),” Dissanayaka complained to the Speaker.
“Mamath kapanna akamatheyi. Eyeth monawa karannada kapanna wenawa (I also don’t like to cut them. But I have to. What to do?),” said Speaker Rajapaksa.

“Obathumamada kepuwe? (Did you cut it yourself),” queried Dissanayake with a smile. “Rajapakshawaru anunta kiyala kapaganne nehe (The Rajapaksas never get others to cut for them),” intervened Public Relations Minister Mervyn Silva who joined the debate.

Dissanayake added, “Kathanayakathumani, Amathithuma kiyanawa Rajapaksa waru katawath kiyala kapaganne nehelu. Ethakota Mervynlada ehema karaganne? (Speaker Sir, the minister says Rajapaksas do not get others to cut for them. I wonder whether it is Minister Mervyn who does things like that?).” There was laughter all round.

Politico’s son flaunts four-million-rupee watch

The controversial son of an equally controversial minister was in the news again this week. This time, he was at some of the posh night spots in the city showing off his new acquisition – a gold Rolex watch worth more than four million rupees.

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