26th March  2000

By Alia

60-minute disaster

Two Scotland Yard experts flown in to help in investigations into the March 10 Rajagiriya bomb explosions and shoot-out between Tiger guerrillas and Police have confirmed an interesting find.

They say that a device found in two out of three suicide jackets were electronic timers. They were meant to be activated by suicide cadres to blast off in 60 minutes.

If by chance a guerrilla is arrested or shot dead, the electronic device would blast the explosives at the designated time, a Police Special Task Force official said.

This is the first time such a device has been introduced to suicide jackets, they added.

Minister warned

Intelligence authorities have warned a Cabinet Minister, regularly visiting a relative in Elapatha, Ratnapura, the LTTE had trailed him.

They have said that two Tiger guerrillas have been inducted to the area to assassinate him.

Flying Clinton

At a press confer-ence last week in Washington, White House spokesman Joe Lockhart was asked why President Bill Clinton had not included Nepal and Sri Lanka, two countries friendly to the US, in his itinerary.

If Clinton was to visit all the countries that were friends of the US, Lockhart joked, all he would be doing is to fly around the world all the time.

Peeping pleasure

They say it happened on a moonless night in a chalet somewhere near the frontlines.

Even if the female of the species are banned in such abodes, (wives are of course exceptions), the officiating boss got the room next to his own prepared for the charming lady.

He also lined up a small party and invited a Good Old Comrade from a neighbouring area.

The host was playing spokesman to educate the visitor on the prevailing situation.

But the session went on beyond midnight arousing the curiosity of the young men. They took turns peeping through a gap.

Soon a live coverage, spread from one to another, was the talking point not only in the Wanni but also in Wayamba.

One peeping tom noted that four bottles of beer and one and half bottles of Old Arrack were consumed.

The session ended just two hours before dawn.

One young man with a sense of humour remarked that the lady guest ended up with bruises after the briefing.

Rajpal Abeynayake's Column

Editorial/ Opinion Contents