23rd April 2000

By Alia

Rude shock

When all the Avurudu fun and frolic was over, the man in uniform took wing to the troubled spot again.

This time he was greeted with hoots and jeers. A few even threw stones. They were all his own boys who were under a tent unable to join their families though on leave.

The embarrassed man made a hasty retreat. This time he did not talk about discipline. But those who were witness to the shoddy episode are still talking of it.

Once bitten

A news release from the Operational Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence was just being faxed to the media when someone called a halt to it.

Those who received it were told to await a fresh news release. It naturally aroused the curiosity of the recipients. Some began to make discreet inquiries.

It turned out that the news release contained a gaffe. Dealing with a breaking story about Elephant Pass, a line in the release declared "details will follows later."

A senior officer, one with strong nationalist sentiments, did not wish that news release to reach Alia. Not after what appeared in these columns on April 2 headlined "Murdering the Queen."

Luxury house

They are talking in whispers about the luxury house the top man is building in the suburbs of Battaramulla. First, it was about how the floor tiles came at an unprecedented 80 per cent discount.

Now comes the story of timber arriving from the jungles of the North Central province.

They came undetected in official trucks which no one dare stops.

Whoever loses, our big man is always a winner.

Insult to injury

It came as insult to injury to the lady who lost her husband. He had made the supreme sacrifice for the nation.

Seeking to obtain more details and thus comfort herself about her partner in life, she met a boss of the sea faring tribe.

The man with a penchant for headlines with doctored and engineered success stories lost his cool when the lady sought details.

He threw the files and asked her to get out. "We cannot look after each and everyone," he thundered like Admiral Asterbloom in one of the strip cartoons.

Top level inquiry

A top level intelligence inquiry is under way into a scurrilous pamphlet circulating in security establishments. Officials are concerned about some of the serious allegations that have been made and want to ascertain from which quarter they emanated.

Rajpal Abeynayake's Column

Editorial/ Opinion Contents