3rd December 2000

By Alia

Fishy deal turns foul

Fishy boat deal amid New Year war fire" ran the headline in the Situation Report in The Sunday Times of January 2, 2000.

The first report for the new millennium said how "without the glare of any publicity, a controversial multi million dollar deal was concluded to purchase two Multi Purpose Vessels (MPVs) from Israel for the Sri Lanka Navy. Each cost US dollars 14 million or Rs 1120 million.

The deal drew a strong protest from the Russian Federation to President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. They said Sri Lanka had wanted to enter in to a Government to Government agreement with Russia earlier for the procurement of two brand new Svetlayak patrol boats. Instead, they complained, the Sri Lanka Navy had worked out a deal with Israel to procure two 20 year old vessels.

The Sunday Times Situation Report revelation caused a stir in the defence establishment. Whilst some officials took strong exception to the story being run despite a prevailing censorship, one high ranking Navy official accused a senior Government bureaucrat for forcing the deal on them – a charge which was flatly denied by those concerned. Some even sought to have that allegation printed in the media.

Now comes the most disturbing news. The Sri Lanka Navy took delivery of the Israeli vessels many weeks ago and carried out runs from Colombo to the North.

Believe it or not !! The radar controlled guns in the two 20 year old Israeli vessels – the main armament system on board – have become non-operational.

So much for a deal, one among so many, that was to enrage some sections of the defence establishment after it was exposed in the Situation Report.

Fried fish, security

Police Chief Lucky Kodituwakku's weekly Monday conference, which is devoted to the all too serious subject of security and related matters in the City and suburbs, saw a mild diversion recently.

It came when a Gazetted officer, now elevated to a much higher rank, complained that only four fried handello were being served at the Police Senior Officer's Mess at Bambalapitiya for Rs 60.

A puzzled Mr. Kodituwakku wanted to know what handello meant. He was told it was a larger species of sprats (or halmesso).

It turned out that the Officer, one concerned with the personal safety of top politicos, was at the Mess with friends, the previous night for drinks. He had ordered a plate of fried handello for a "bite." Only four small fried fish were dished out in a plate.

Amidst talks of Tiger guerrilla threats and tough security precautions, he raised the issue of the "bite" at drinking time. There were chuckles all round.

A case of once bitten twice shy. He has vowed not to order handellos again. Not until they continue to come in foursome.

A chief, not a deputy

A silly error crept in inadvertently to this column last week. Major General Janaka Perera is Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army and not Deputy.

Rajpal Abeynayake's Column

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