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For most Sinhala cinemagoers, the attraction remains a formula film – with scenes of fighting, comedy, songs and a happy ending.
One is not sure whether the same phenomenon has entered the political spectrum. It was the United National Front (UNF) parliamentary group meeting this week chaired by Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe. In the absence of a “national government,” he was explaining the difficulties of having an expanded cabinet.

The 19th Amendment to the Constitution forbade it, unless there was a “national government.” On such occasions, through a motion in Parliament, the numbers could have been expanded. Hence, Wickremesinghe declared that former Ministers who wished not to have portfolios should volunteer and make public their views.

Rishad Bathiuddin, leader of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), was quick to respond. Mr. Bathiuddin, who is vying with his rival Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader Rauff Hakeem to become the sole political leader of the Muslim community, rose to say he did not want a ministry. There were two others too, Malik Samarawickrema and Mano Ganesan.Eran Wickremeratne, a former State Minister for Finance rose immediately to say leaders of minority parties should not be ignored because of the contribution they had made to the UNF.

But all three persons, who did not wish to be ministers, were sworn in on Thursday morning. Naturally, there were those who wished for portfolios, particularly those who crossed over from the SLFP. But they were disappointed.

The swearing in ceremony itself had some interesting moments. Some ministers did not know where to sign the letter of acceptance. One of them handed back to President Sirisena not only the signed letter but also the table pad which he used to sign the letter. Another opened his pen, put it in his pocket and fumbled with only the cap in hand.

Rohini Kosoglu

Lanka’s Rohini chief of staff to prospective US presidential candidate
Senator Kamala Harris (Democrat – California) has named a new Chief of Staff as she prepares to make a decision on a presidential run over the holidays. Rohini Kosoglu has assumed the helm in Senator Harris’ Washington DC office, where she has served as the Senator’s Deputy Chief of Staff since 2017. The promotion makes Ms. Kosoglu the only Asian American woman currently serving as a Chief of Staff to a Senator.

Ms. Kosoglu, daughter of Sri Lankan immigrants, is a legislative and policy expert with more than a decade of Senate experience. She began her political career as a mailroom manager for Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). After working her way up to Senior Policy Advisor, she then moved on to Senator Michael Bennett’s (Democrat -Colorado) office as his Senior Health Care Advisor. During her time in the Senate administration, she has managed legislative activity involving landmark laws, including the Affordable Care Act.

The University of Michigan graduate, who earned her Master’s from George Washington University, said part of her job as Chief of Staff would be to keep the Senator’s door open to young people and show that “this is the job that they can have. This is the job that they can see themselves in.” In an interview with Roll Call, earlier this year, she said, “I definitely try to prioritise if any women, particularly women of colour … just want to meet to talk about how to move up on the Hill or whether they’re interested in working on the Hill.”

Meanwhile, Senator Harris has two books coming out next year and is expected to kick off her highly anticipated presidential campaign next month.

Top cop blackguards wrong premier
The episode was not only humorous but also most embarrassing to a top cop.
He asked an aide to get the Prime Minister on the telephone. The aide did. The top cop let loose a verbal uncomplimentary barrage about Ranil Wickremesinghe.

At one point, the person who answered the phone exclaimed, “Thamuseta moley honda nedda or is something wrong with your brain?”
The top cop had been speaking to Premier Wickremesinghe. He had meant to ask his aide to get former Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa. The aide was given a strong dressing down.

Theologians tell Mujib to be cautious
Some Muslim theologians invited UNP’s Colombo Central parliamentarian Mujibur Rahman for a meeting this week.
They advised him to be cautious not to hurt the sentiments of those of other religions when he addresses news conferences.
It seems the theologians are keeping a close track of political developments.

Ranil’s pan remark takes the cake
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe once again drew parallels between himself and a pan (Thaachchiya) at this week’s ‘Yukthiye Satana’ (Fight for Justice) rally at the Galle Face Green.Addressing the rally, the Prime Minister said most people assumed that the UNP would not be able to continue its political activities for at least a week after October 26.

“However, they forgot that it is the ‘thaachchiya’ (pan) which is placed on the fire and not the hopper. It is the pan which faces the fire,” Premier Wickremesinghe said much to the amusement of his supporters.
He added that it was the people’s sovereignty that doused the fire against democracy.

Port City Christmas party hit by so-called wave of ‘terror’
The Chinese builder of the Colombo Port City, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), cancelled its annual Christmas party this week for a peculiar reason: Fear of a “terrorist attack”.The event was scheduled to be held at a hotel in Mt Lavinia on Friday night for the Sri Lankan and Chinese employees of the project. A separate party was taking place at the Jaic Hilton in Colombo.

While the second celebration did take place as planned, an email hurriedly circulated by a CHEC employee on Friday morning saying it was from the head office announced in bright orange that “The Christmas party tonight is off”. The reason: “Information from the head office, targeting the Sri Lankan port city project department, is concerned about a terrorist attack.”

It is not clear what terrorist attack has been anticipated and why it targeted that department. There were, however, reports of a clash between Chinese and Sri Lankan workers at a separate construction site in Colombo Fort.

Rajapaksa, Samaraweera in banter on alleged coup
In marked contrast to the fisticuffs and property destroying mayhem seen in Parliament only a few weeks ago, dignity and decorum returned to the House on Friday when all parties attended sessions for the presentation of the new Government’s Vote on Account (VoA).

There was plenty of good-natured banter between those on the Government and Opposition sides. For the most part, they did not let their tempers get the better of them. Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera initially landed some jabs at the expense of Opposition Leader, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was also Finance Minister in the short-lived Government he took over on October 26.Speaking while presenting the VoA, Mr Samaraweera revealed that the former President had spoken to him in the MPs’ Canteen in Parliament on the afternoon of October 26, asking him to ‘join’ the new Government.

“At the time, I thought he was daydreaming as usual. It was only late that same night that I understood that it was not so,” he remarked.
Mr Samaraweera, though, noted that the request the former President made meant that, contrary to his subsequent claims that he had been caught unawares by President Maithripala Sirisena’s invitation to be PM, Mr Rajapaksa knew of the “conspiracy” to topple the Government in advance. “This makes you an accessory to the coup.” Mr Samaraweera told the former President.

In reply, Mr Rajapaksa denied claims that what happened on October 26 was a coup. He also warned the Government MPs to “not be too comfortable” in their seats. “When it happens the next time, I will also make sure to let you know in advance,” he told Mr. Samaraweera.

Travellers stranded in Wilpattu rescued through joint effort
A group of travellers stranded in the Wilpattu National Park was rescued through the combined efforts of the Puttalam Disaster Management Centre (DMC), army and navy yesterday. The incident occurred around 4 p.m. on Friday when a bus with 89 passengers en route to Jaffna got stuck in heavy mud as a result of heavy rains.

The passengers were forced to spend the night on the bus. They were able to contact the Mullikullam Naval Base and the Puttalam Disaster Management Centre via the Puttalam Divisional Secretariat. Puttalam’s DMC director had alerted the 143 Brigade Commander, Brigadier Dammika Dissanayake and the navy for support.

The navy deployed their tractors and pulled the bus out of the mud and towed it onto the Elluwankullam bridge. However, since the water level under the bridge had increased and travelling by bus was deemed dangerous, naval special forces stepped in to help the stranded 89 passengers get across.
Brigadier Dammika Dissanayake then invited the passengers to the army camp where they were provided lunch, and temporary lodging.

Giving a helping hand to stranded passengers. Pic by Hiran Priyankara