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British Prime Minister David Cameron arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) an hour before midnight on Thursday.  Soon after alighting from his aircraft, he chose not to go through the arrival reception and headed straight to his vehicle. Most of those present were puzzled when it happened.

Cameron did not board one of the waiting Mercedes Benz S 400 vehicles that were lined up. Instead, he boarded one of four Range Rovers that were flown to Colombo for use by British dignitaries during their visit. Another was used by Foreign Secretary William Hague. Two other Range Rovers were used by Prince Charles and his entourage. 

However, an External Affairs Ministry official explained that a request to skip the arrival reception and proceed as soon as possible to Colombo had been made by the British High Commission in Colombo. He had wanted to rest before attending Friday’s opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Heads of Government.

After much haggling on both sides, senior EAM officials (and those directly handling the CHOGM) had agreed to the request.

Uncle flying high, airline going down

The talking point in travel trade circles is the paradisiacal lifestyle led by a top boss in a State organisation running at colossal losses. The man is accompanied in all his foreign travel by a photographer. His task is to take photographs of this boss wherever he goes and whatever he does. Of course activity in one destination, where he engages in rest and recreation, is restricted.

The photographer, they say, is a lucky man. He gets to travel with his boss seated next to him in Business Class. Who cares when it is the public money that is spent?

No wonder the son of a VVIP remarked once in the presence of the high-flyer and some newspaper editors; “uncle is flying high, but the airline is going down”

Ten leaders came in private jets

At least ten top delegates attending the CHOGM in Colombo came in private or military aircraft. Among them was Prince Charles (Royal Air Force), British Prime Minister David Cameron (Royal Air Force), Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid (Indian Air Force), Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott (Royal Australian Air Force), Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame (private aircraft), South African President Jacob Zuma (private aircraft), Nigeria Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo (private aircraft) and Namibia’s President Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba, (private aircraft).

Confusion over coffee bill

There was some confusion at a five-star hotel when a waiter kept chasing a delegate to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The visitor had gone to the coffee shop, ordered a cup, drank it at ease and just walked out. He had not paid the bill.

When the waiter accosted him with the bill, the foreign delegate said he thought the coffee was served free of charge and was all part of the registration package at the hotel.

Pimms and titbits from Charles’ birthday party

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall arrived in Colombo somewhat late on Thursday and those invited to ‘Westminster House’, the official residence of the British High Commissioner, John Rankin to welcome the heir to the British Throne were kept waiting. They had been asked to turn up at the gate between 3.50 and 4.30 – not before, not after.

It was well past 5 pm when the Royal couple breezed in. The guests were already tired and thirsty as the drinks were served. Among the selection was Pimms, a rum based favourite English summer drink, drunk best with lemonade and a slice of apple. The guests reached out for whatever they could take, and among those who seemed not only to take it, but relish a tall glass of Pimms was a Musalman who holds high office in the city. One has to give him the benefit of the doubt for indulging in a little bit of haram.

Birthday boy, Charles did the honours cutting the cake made by Mount Lavinia Hotel. He symbolically cut a huge triangular piece, but gave his wife a slice of it and nibbled a bit. It seemed finger-licking good as Sounderie David played ‘Happy Birthday” on the piano.

Mauritius disregards ultimatum

Colombo’s diplomatic circles were talking about how a top runger in the Commonwealth telephoned Mauritius President Navin Ramgoolam. He had told him “If you want to host the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in your country, please make sure you attend the Colombo meeting.”

According to reports doing the rounds, President Ramgoolam told the top runger, “if you want to cancel it, go ahead. I won’t change my mind.” Mauritius took its decision to boycott the 23rd CHOGM after Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh decided to skip the Colombo summit.

Some 68 per cent of the Mauritian population are of Indian origin and of them 15 per cent are Tamils.

India did not want but came to the dinner

Bilateral talks between Sri Lanka and India at the official level took place last Friday. External Affairs Ministry officials led by Secretary Karunatilleke Amunugama led the Sri Lankan side while India’s Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh headed the Indian team. Ms. Singh had arrived early for this week’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

As the talks continued, an official in the Indian delegation suggested to Secretary Amunugama that he cancels Tuesday night’s dinner at Kingsbury Hotel for visiting official delegations. This was to enable them to continue with the talks. However, Mr. Amungama flatly refused the suggestion. Invitations to hundreds had already been sent out.

Later, the Indian delegation too turned up for the dinner. A princely senior diplomat of the Indian High Commission was told by an EAM official how there had been a request to cancel that night’s dinner. “They are in a cancellation mode,” the diplomat remarked jokingly.

He was alluding to cancellation by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of his plans to attend the CHOGM. A “career type” at the Sri Lankan EAM remarked acidly to a colleague, “see, they can even laugh at themselves. In our case, they are all laughing at the EAM”.

Tamil youth helps build north-south bridge

Four and half years after the defeat of Tiger guerrillas, the incident at midnight at the Kaithady bridge enroute to Jaffna was a praiseworthy deed by a Tamil youth. Sabaragamuwa Chief Minister Maheepala Herath and an entourage were on their way to Jaffna. It was to take part in a programme jointly organised by the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council and its northern counterpart.

One of Mr. Herath’s security vehicles met with an accident. Three persons travelling in the vehicle were badly injured. It was raining heavily and the area around was flooded. The youth who was near the scene volunteered and took the victims to hospital. He also alerted those in the Northern Provincial Council of the incident. They promptly turned up at the hospital.

How obscene SMS came to Wimal in Mervyn’s name

The obscene SMS message appeared on Minister Wimal Weerawansa’s telephone and it came from the mobile phone number of his colleague, Mervyn Silva. Weerawansa promptly telephoned Minister Silva to ask how such a thing could happen. The latter denied with all vigour that neither he nor anyone else had sent that message from his mobile phone.

Criminal Investigation Department (CID) detectives were called in to investigate the matter. They confirmed the position taken by Mr. Silva that his phone had not been used to send that message. His phone records had revealed no such activity.
Later IT experts at the CID explained to Minister Weerawansa how the SMS message had arrived. Some unknown party had used a specific computer software to originate it. They gave him a demonstration on how it had occurred but the culprit responsible has gone free. Detectives have not been able to trace the party.

Political barber does not split hairs

The genial Lalith Weeratunga, Presidential Secretary, is known both in Government and Opposition circles for both his humility and humanity.

Ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), he went to his regular tonsorial engagement. As usual the barber engaged him in a conversation. This time, however, it was not about living costs or opposition antics.

He seemed to impress upon the country’s top most official that besides splitting hairs, he was also keyed into current affairs. So the subject was the decision by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to keep away from CHOGM.

Mr. Weeratunga responded to a few initial queries. Then declared the barber; “Indiawata honda paadamak uganwanna oney neyda Sir,” (India should be taught a good lesson, shouldn’t it, Sir?).

The chief bureaucrat who would not agree to such suggestions even at a private tete-a-tete with his barber was calm and made no comment.

There was a similar encounter in September when a media personality went for a haircut. The barber was livid that the United States had moved two different resolutions against Sri Lanka.

However, he also thought, there was no cause for too much worry. “See today’s newspapers. After all President Rajapaksa and the first lady are posing for a photograph with President Barrack Obama and his wife. They are good friends,” he declared.