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It was another meeting which National Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya summoned this week to discuss matters related to the March 25 parliamentary election with secretaries of political parties.

“I hope you are taking serious note of our request,” intoned former Parliamentarian Ashu Marasinghe, who together with General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam represented the United National Party (UNP). “No, I don’t know. What is the serious matter?” queried Mr Deshapriya.

Mr Marasinghe was to reply that a former MP (earlier from his own party) had threatened to attack voters if they were from the UNP. “Give us a decision now,” he pleaded. The Polls Chief said that he had not seen the written complaint which the duo had handed over to the Chairman’s office. “I will look into the matter,” he replied.

The reference had allegedly been made at a rally in Bandaragama by a former MP now supporting Sajith Premadasa.

Both Mr. Kariyawasam and Mr. Marasinghe were sandwiched between M.A. Sumanthiran and Basil Rajapaksa. Seated thereafter were Samagi Jana Balavegaya General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara and Ajith Perera.

At a previous meeting, the duo handed in a letter to Chairman Deshapriya. That letter on behalf of the UNP was to request the Election Commission to allow their representatives to monitor to the department’s computer network that would compile election results. It was promptly turned down by Chairman Deshapriya.

Former President and SLFP leader Sirisena joining SLPP and partner party members at the ceremony where Prime Minister and SLPP leader Mahinda Rajapaksa signed the nomination papers to contest the April 25 parliamentary polls

Rajapaksa reminds gate-crasher of quit politics remarks

Former President Maithripala Sirisena was not expected at last Wednesday’s ceremony at the official residence of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, where the nomination papers were signed at an auspicious hour. Nevertheless, he turned up. At first, no one stood to offer a chair for him to sit. Not until Education Minister Dullas Allahapperuma got up and invited him “Sir, come and sit here.”

Amidst the light-hearted banter came a bombshell from Premier Rajapaksa. He laughingly asked Mr. Sirisena whether he remembered the remarks he once made from the same venue. That was a call for Premier Rajapaksa and son Namal to quit politics. There was pin drop silence for a while.

Health and safety top priority, says national carrier

Like all other international carriers, SriLankan Airlines has put out a public advisory on the measures it is taking to cope with novel coronavirus or Covid 19.

The national carrier said in a statement: “In light of the evolving situation regarding the novel coronavirus (Covid-19), we at SriLankan Airlines consider the health and safety of all our customers and crew as our utmost priority.

“Thus, SriLankan Airlines has taken proactive and voluntary steps to help customers have a healthy flying experience and create a safe operational environment, and we would like to share with you the enhanced cleaning and precautionary measures that has been introduced.

“We are working closely with the authorities to minimise the potential spread of Covid-19. This includes screening of passengers on the ground and the following health advisory notices by the Ministry of Health – Sri Lanka and the World Health Organisation.”

Prof. Lamawansa appointed as ambassador to Russia

Professor M.D. Lamawansa will be Sri Lanka’s new ambassador to the Russian Federation.

Until last month he was the first dean of the newly established Medical Faculty of the Wayamba University.

He was a professor and Head of the Peradeniya University Medical Faculty’s Department of Surgery. He was also a consultant at Peradeniya Teaching Hospital.

As an active member of the Viyathmaga movement of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, he was one of those who worked out the movement’s education policy.

He has already been cleared by the Parliament Committee on High Posts.

Six-year jail term for New Jersey cancer scientist for enslaving Lankan woman

A New Jersey woman has been sentenced to nearly six years in prison for enslaving a Sri Lankan national — forcing her to work as a nanny and a housekeeper without pay, federal authorities said, according a report in the New York Post of March 11.

The report adds: “Alia Imad Faleh Al Hunaity, 44, will spend 70 months in prison after being convicted in May of forced labour, alien harbouring for financial gain, and marriage fraud for forcing the unidentified victim to work as her domestic servant for nine years, Department of Justice officials announced on Tuesday.

“In 2009, Hunaity, also known as Alia Al Qaternah, brought the victim to the US on a temporary visa to perform domestic work. She then forced the woman to overstay her visa and stay in the country illegally for more than nine years while she cooked and cleaned Hunaity’s homes in Woodland Park and Secaucus, federal prosecutors said.

“In 2018, Hunaity forced the woman into marrying her so she could obtain legal residence and continue to work without fear of her being deported, authorities said.

“She also made the woman look after her three children without being paid, according to court documents and evidence presented during her six-day trial in Camden.

“She limited the victim’s interactions with the work outside of Hunaity’s homes,” federal prosecutors said in a statement. “During this time, Hunaity required the victim to sleep on a bed in a public space in Hunaity’s homes, including in the kitchen.”

“Hunaity is a naturalised citizen from Jordan who worked in New York as a cancer research scientist, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

“The single mother of three was not in custody prior to her sentencing. She was ordered to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons at a date to be determined and to pay the victim $1.2 million in restitution, the newspaper reports.

“I want to say sorry for everything,” she told a judge Tuesday.

“Hunaity was also sentenced to three years of supervised release after she gets out of prison, federal prosecutors said.”

Covid-19: Traditional greetings to the fore

Even during the British Raj, both in India and Sri Lanka, the British stuck with their tradition of shaking hands. For the female folk, it was a hug and a kiss among them.

The novel coronavirus or Covid 19 appears to have changed all that. Prince Charles arrived at a colourful ceremony in London and was received with a red-carpet welcome. He greeted those present with clasped hands – Ayubowan or Namaste. That avoided any physical contact. (See detailed story in ST2).

Ayubowan is said while joining the two hands in prayer like manner and maintaining somewhat a social distance. At a time when a life-and-death health crisis is gripping the world, the greeting’s true meaning of long life makes much more sense than before. One cannot but appreciate the wisdom of Sri Lanka’s ancient forefathers.