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Weeks earlier, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) parliamentarians demanded that the four police officers now assigned for their security be retained and not reduced to two.

Their appeal came during a party leaders’ meeting chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena. Internal Security Minister Chamal Rajapaksa explained that increasing demands for police personnel on crime prevention and other related duties prevented such a move.

It included the ongoing crackdown on the illegal drugs mafia and the underworld. Moreover, increased security commitments to parliamentarians with a lower threat perception was also costing a great deal of money, he said.

It seems that security costs are only one aspect of demands of parliamentarians. There are also other commitments that add to the burden of the exchequer.

Take for example a request by Dr Seetha Arambepola (MBBS, MD, DOHNS), former Western Province Governor, now National List MP and State Minister for skills development, vocational education, research and innovation.

Her Private Secretary Manjula Perera, has written to the Additional Secretary (Administration and Finance) of the same Ministry on September 25 giving a list of her immediate requirements.

Here is what they are:  

• An Apple mobile phone
• An i-Pad
• A “Dragon Light” for her official vehicle
• An umbrella to be kept in her official vehicle
• A VIP light for her official vehicle. This is the one that flickers when VIPs are escorted by the security detail in motorcades.

Many questioned why the minister, a prominent member of the Viyathmaga (Professionals for a Brighter Future); an organisation that constantly boasts about how its members will be different from typical politicians, is now asking for such items at taxpayers’ expense — just like a typical politician.

While the letter was bad enough, a media statement issued by Dr Arambepola’s Media Secretary on Tuesday (September 29), evidently as an attempt at damage control, only made it worse.  The letter claimed the items were “used ones” that should have been returned to the ministry by the ministers who worked at the ministry previously. The items are covered by an inventory and should be legally handed over to the ministry. The items that Dr Arambepola’s personal staff had requested were those that were yet to be returned by ministers who held the post previously, it asserted.

There are several issues with the explanation given by the media secretary. Firstly, the Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research & Innovation Ministry is an entirely new one. Secondly, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has asked his ministers to lead by example and not to waste taxpayer funds. Thirdly, cannot the minister, a Consultant ENT Surgeon by profession, afford a new umbrella?

Social media is already mocking Dr Arambepola’s explanation, with users sharing photographs of their
old umbrellas, offering them to
the minister.

Imagine every State Minister having all these. The latest Apple iPhone 11 costs almost Rs 300,000 for a 512 GB unit. The Apple four series iPad air of the same capacity would cost nearly Rs 200,000.

Imagine all State Ministers, if they win these luxuries, flickering their way through crowded traffic? Little wonder it is the taxpayers who will see “the Dragon Light” and where their money goes.

Singlish with a smile

The Department of Government Information has launched an SMS news service in “Singlish” – the Sinhala version spelt in English.

An example this week – Oman
sita pamini thawath pudgalayekuta covid 19 asadanaya vi thibe. Ei anuwa ada wartha wana dewani asadithaya mohu veyi.

Another example: UAE sita pamini ayek, Indian jathika muhudu araksayakin dekakata covid bawa hadunagani. Ada asadithayain 06 k handunagani wartha weyi. Total 3388k.

This is the first time that an official arm of the government has introduced a blend of two languages to disseminate information.

It was launched at a ceremony at the Government Information Department where Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was the chief guest.

Grate turn in coconut prices

Leading supermarkets are now selling grated coconuts in small plastic boxes after the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) introduced price control.

The CAA found an ingenious method for the pricing policy – measured by the circumference of the nut.

There is no way the grated coconut could be measured with tapes. The packages contained one coconut grated and the price in a leading supermarket is Rs 90.

A coconut growing country, Thailand, has for a long time sold grated coconut in polythene sacks through its markets.

President goes up on the wall

The Foreign Relations Ministry’s Overseas Administration Division has sent out a circular to Sri Lankan diplomatic missions overseas.

This is what Circular No 265 says: “The missions/posts are hereby requested to submit the requirement of H.E. the President’s photographs to be displayed at the chanceries, official residences etc., by return fax in order to keep the DG (Director General) Admin informed of further action.”

An earlier order that won plaudits, that the President’s portrait need not hang in every public institution is now rescinded, it seems.

Ambassador Kshenuka Senewiratne lighting the traditional oil lamp at a farewell lunch last week. Sharing the honours is Professor Chandana Goonetilleke, a former President of the Ananda College Old Boys Association East Coast (ACOBAEC).

The bouquets for Kshenuka were not masked

The scene was reminiscent of the famous masked ball and masquerade party in the grand finale of the 1963 Hollywood box office hit The Pink Panther.

But this time around, the venue was different: a masked farewell in New Jersey for outgoing Ambassador and Sri Lanka’s United Nation’s (UN) Permanent Representative: Kshenuka Senewiratne.

Conforming to rigid health regulations — and mandatory physical distancing — against the spreading COVID-19 pandemic, more than 75 masked Sri Lankan expatriates braved the virus and turned up for an al fresco farewell lunch last week at Medwick Park at Carteret in New Jersey.

Ambassador Senewiratne and her husband arrived in the company of a Police escort vehicle as befits diplomatic protocol.

Attending the farewell were Congressman Frank Pallone of New Jersey, and former Franklin Councilman Rajiv Prasad — both strong political supporters of Sri Lanka. Congressman Pallone is serving his 16th full term in the US House of Representatives, and represents the sixth Congressional District.

Both Mr Pallone and Mr Prasad, praised Ms Senewiratne for her accomplishments, including being the first Sri Lankan woman ambassador to the UN.

The expats at the lunch included alumni of Royal, S. Thomas’ and Ananda Colleges, and representatives of the Sri Lanka Association of New York (SLANY), the Sri Lanka Medical Association of North America (SLMANA) and The Association of Sri Lankan Muslims in North America (TASMINA).

In his vote of thanks on behalf of the organising committee, Vajira Gunawardana, a former President of the Royal College Old Boys Association East Coast Foundation, thanked the ambassador for her exceptional service to the country, the United Nations and the Sri Lankan community.

As the first female Sri Lankan ambassador to the UN, he said, “you introduced a new level of sophistication to the office of ambassador. This coupled with your demeanour, humility and social engagement with the whole spectrum of the community, has brought new respect to the office of the ambassador.”

With the current campaign of gender empowerment at the UN, he said, “Kshenuka’s superlative credentials should be an asset when women activists search for the right candidate to be elected the first woman Secretary-General next year.”

Dr Wije Kottahachchi, one of the organisers of the farewell and a former president of SLMANA, singled out the Ambassador’s “brilliant diplomatic career and her service to the Sri Lankan community in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.”

Washington Embassy holds Poya sermon for the first time

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington D.C. organised a Buddha Pooja and Dhamma Sermon on October 1 at the Embassy premises in view of Adhi Vap Poya day. This is the first such Dhamma Sermon organised by the Embassy, following the unveiling of the statue of Lord Buddha at the Embassy premises on September 2.

The Dhamma sermon was delivered by Ven. Ranwala Gnanawasa thero under the guidance of Most Ven. Maharagama Dhammasiri Nayaka Thero, the Chief Incumbent of the Washington Buddhist Vihara.

Ven. Ranwala Gnanawasa thero acknowledged the initiative by the outgoing ambassador Rodney Perera to conduct Dharma Sermons at the Embassy premises on Poya days and invoked blessings on the Government and people of Sri Lanka.

US town says Swastika comes from Sanskrit, not from Nazis

The four-member board for the town of Black Brook, with a population of about 1,500, that has jurisdiction over Swastika, unanimously voted to keep the name saying that the place was named after the Sanskrit word meaning “well-being,” according to multiple outlets. The vote took place on September 14 but was not widely reported until this week.

“We regret that individuals, from out of the area, that lack the knowledge of the history of our community become offended when they see the name,” Black Brook’s town supervisor Jon Douglass, told CNN.

“To the members of our community, that the board represents, the name that their ancestors chose.”

The name of the town, like the Swastika symbol itself, predates World War II and Nazi Germany, which co-opted it for Nazism and anti-Semitism.

“There was concern that due to the Germans and everything, that people may have a different outlook on the name. And some of the residents that were from that area fought in World War II and refused to change the name just because Hitler tried to tarnish the meaning of the Swastika,” Mr Douglass told National Public Radio (NPR).

“I think that’s probably, maybe some viewpoint that it’s associated with hate. But then, I believe, there are others that do not associate it with hate. Did the Hindus and the Buddhists and all of them, did they erase it from their religious history because of the Germans?” he added.