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The findings of the probe into SriLankan Airlines, the country’s national carrier, will be investigated by two agencies — the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) and the Commission Investigating Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).A Government source said yesterday that the FCID would question former Chairman Nishantha Wickramasinghe, the former Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena and other senior officials.

The CIABOC, the source said, would probe instances where political and financial favours had been extended. A Board of Inquiry (BoI) headed by lawyer J.C. Weliamuna, found that while Nishantha Wickramasinghe, brother-in-law of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and Kapila Chandrasena, allegedly abused their authority, they also disliked each other. “But for inexplicable reasons, they appeared to have protected each other.”

The report said both had worked closely to support each other in relation to their own interests such as emoluments and facilities, not to mention the re-fleeting exercise. It also referred to ex-Chairman Wickramasinghe’s “penchant for young air hostesses” costing the debt-ridden airline even more problems. The report said ex CEO Chandrasena though unsuitable for the job was paid a minimum monthly salary of Rs. 1.5 million on top of other perks from other appointments.

The report alleged that Mr. Wickramasinghe and Mr. Chandrasena had falsified documents to lease a luxury sports utility vehicle for the use of the ex-Chairman. This was in addition to a luxury Mercedes Benz and Prado super luxury vehicle that he was given. On the other hand, a London station manager who tried to stop the illegal practice of sending motor spare parts for the use of the former President’s son, Yoshitha had been suddenly transferred out on the direction of the former President.

More bosses than labourers in CMC
It is a case of more Chiefs than Injuns.  The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) granted councillors the privilege of forwarding the names of five each to be recruited as labourers. Their chores, among others, were to keep streets clean and spray insecticides on mosquito breeding sites.

However, the move has led to concern among heads of departments. Some of those recruited were of a different kind — three-wheeler drivers and others of some means. They are asking their immediate bosses to give them desk jobs.

Officials worry that if the men continue, they would become permanent in the posts after six months. Insiders say a further batch is to be recruited soon.

Probe on how whisky was given to protesting politicos
The hallowed precincts were made into a bedroom last month. Some politicos slept it out in protest.
Now a probe is under way at the highest levels. Insiders say that a khakied supporter responsible for the place had helped in smuggling alcohol into the chamber.
He had allowed a group to take in Black Label whisky. For some, a few tots so that they could sleep well.

Operation Lanka Hospitals at FCID
The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) is now probing whether there was market manipulation or a conspiracy to manipulate shares related to the sale of Lanka Hospitals Limited (LHL).

In this connection, Dilith Jayaweera, a director of George Steuart Brokers, was questioned at length by the FCID. Most of the questioning, an FCID source said, centred on how the shares of the hospital valued at Rs. 28 a share quickly rose to Rs. 64. It was during this period that LHL shares had been sold at Rs. 62 to an Indian bidder, the source added.

This is one of the many ‘insider trading’ investigations that are under way after details of such activity were made available to the FCID. An LHL director f who was also a director of the brokering firm is to be questioned in this regard by detectives. They say this was to ascertain his role in the transaction.

Secret state agency behind Jaffna’s ‘Dish Asia’ TV
A former Tiger guerrilla cadre who was in hiding in France returned to Sri Lanka and was employed by the previous regime to operate a Tamil television station in Jaffna. It was called Dish Asia Network. On January 8, when the Presidential election was under way, the station had run reports to say voting would continue till 6.30 p.m. The reports angered the Tamil National Alliance (TNA). It complained to the Police.

After the man was known to be in hiding, the Police went to court for an arrest warrant. It was issued. Thereafter, the polls were over and officials said he was freely roaming the bars in Jaffna. Events have now taken a new turn. The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) has received a complaint on how a State agency, which usually operated under cover, had used public funds to operate the television station. It is to begin its own investigations into the case.

Rajitha: Rajapaksa lost because of ‘yes ministers’
At Thursday’s weekly Cabinet briefing Minister Rajitha Senaratne was to give the reasons why former President Mahinda Rajapaksa lost the Presidential elections in January.

Even if someone said the sun was rising because of President Rajapaksa no one raised objections at ministerial meetings. There were those who sang praises in songs dedicated to him. Others likened him to a god. It was a case of “Yes Sir!, Yes Sir!!” . This is how the infallible Rajapaksa became inconsequential after the Presidential polls, Minister Senaratne said.

Mangala sees NAM as archaic
Successive Foreign Ministers have not failed to mention that Sri Lanka is ‘non-aligned’ when they speak of the country’s foreign policy.
There was a marked change when Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera spoke to Colombo-based diplomats this week. He said, “Our foreign policy will be guided by what best serves the interests of our people.”
Speaking to a group several weeks ago, Samaraweera did not hide his feelings when he said that the term ‘non-aligned’ was archaic and he did not like its use.

Pol mess for Nilame: 108 coconuts missing, bad period continues
A Nilame of the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy was struck by two and a half months of the malefic effects of Saturn and he wanted to ward off the planetary ill effects. Astrologers say Saturn is a planet that brings about pain and grief upon a person and causes illnesses and limb fractures
As advised by a soothsayer, the temple official was to take one hundred and eight (108) coconuts to be broken at the ‘Wel Bodhiya’ of the Pathini Devale in the Kandy town area.

The ‘Wel Bodhiya’, however, is not a place to keep vows or seek vengeance against anyone; it is a place for prayers for the good.
Together with his security guards, the Nilame visited the holy place the previous day and had left the coconuts around the ” Wel Bodhi ” to be made use of the following day.

He instructed the temple watchmen who guard the premises day and night to have an ‘eye ‘ on the coconuts.
When the Nilame accompanied by his wife arrived early the following morning (4 a.m.) to perform the ritual, the coconuts were missing. A search was made for them but without success . The guards were questioned about the missing coconuts and they are reported to have admitted that they had fallen asleep.
He had informed the local police post about the loss of the coconuts.