Columns

Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa who now heads Viyath Maga, an organisation made up of professionals and businessmen, sprung a surprise on the United National Party (UNP) Chairman and Minister Kabir Hashim last Thursday.

He paid a visit to his Rajagiriya residence to see how the former UNP General Secretary was faring after a brief illness. Mr Hashim had undergone surgery for a nose and throat ailment at a private nursing home and had returned to his residence to recuperate only that day.
Mr Rajapaksa went there after a wedding at a five star hotel in the City. He was accompanied by Dilith Jayaweera, a businessman with links to a media outfit that is engaged in bi-partisan publicity campaigns (for the Rajapaksa-led SLPP and the Wickremesinghe-led UNP).

A 90 minute chat began with the two sides avoiding subjects related to politics. However, like fish taking to water, they were soon discussing politics and how to improve the public service. Mr Rajapaksa said that instead of appointing advisors on many a subject, he preferred making them Additional Secretaries to Ministries so that they could take decisions and enforce them. Mr. Hashim, who has been told by doctors not to exercise his vocal chords too much, acknowledged the viewpoint by nodding his head.

As the duo prepared to leave, a relative of Mr. Hashim asked Mr. Rajapaksa: “Is it final that you would be the ‘Joint Opposition’ candidate for the presidency?” Mr. Hashim broke his silence. “Ey vagey deval ahanna epaa,” or don’t ask such things, he advised.

It is noteworthy that the visit came when former UNP Chairman and Minister Malik Samarawickrema and Minister Mangala Samaraweera castigated Mr Rajapaksa in two separate statements they issued. Mr. Samarawickrama accused Mr. Rajapaksa of exhorting the UNP’s economic policies when he addressed a well-turned out meeting of Viyath Maga at the Shangri La hotel and Mr. Samaraweera referred to alleged corrupt activities associated with Mr. Rajapaksa. The Viyath Maga event was also attended by prominent businessmen who were earlier staunch backers of the UNP – a move that has angered the UNP leadership.

According to at least one insider, Mr Rajapaksa had voiced a future economic framework for Sri Lanka on the lines of the speech made by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Communist Party’s annual sessions in Beijing in March this year. Co-incidentally, weeks earlier, he had spent a month in a Chinese university.

President orders probe on media reports
Criminal Investigation Department detectives have been assigned to probe media reports which claimed the security forces have been placed on alert for possible civil disturbances.

The move follows a directive from President Maithripala Sirisena to Police Chief Pujith Jayasundera. The Police Chief has been told to determine whether the reports were formulated by any group and disseminated to the media.

A state run newspaper as well as a private outlet had reported on the story. CID officials said they would record statements from those responsible for the story.

Weeratunga extradition bill tops US$ 300,000
With Sri Lanka having an ineffective diplomatic mission in the United Arab Emirates, the Government has been compelled to use the services of a law firm to deal with matters relating to a most wanted person – Udayanga Weeratunga, former Ambassador to Russia.
Legal sources say that so far the Government has incurred more than US$ 300,000 as fees (Rs. 47 million) for the firm as efforts to seek the extradition of Mr. Weeratunga to Colombo continue.

Top Chinese official here; US senators also due
A high ranking Chinese official is now on a visit to Sri Lanka
He is Kong Quan, Vice Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chinese National People’s Congress, China’s national legislature.
With 2,980 members in 2018, the National People’s Congress is the largest parliamentary body in the world.
Also due in Colombo are four United States senators from the Senate defence committee.

Lavish birthday bash free for politico
If he were living, even Governor Henry George Ward, the eleventh governor of Ceylon under British rule, would have been surprised.
A hotel on a road which still remembers his name hosted a lavish birthday party for a politico; liquor flowed and the food was a feast.
The local Johnny was so thrilled at the turnout too. The joy was all because he did not have to pay for food, drink or for the hotel. For him, they are all for the asking.