A leading Colombo businessman whose export brands are now in the spotlight in the commercial world was in for a rude shock last week. It came when he was to embark on an European tour.

His vehicle was stopped at the regular check-point ahead of the terminal buildings of the Bandaranaike International Airport. After being told to alight, the man noticed the Army commando style uniform of the men on duty and remarked "thank God, the Air Force is not there any more. You all are doing a good job now…" he declared.

Little did he realise the men were all from the Air Force but in uniforms resembling those worn by Army commandos. The change had come in after the July 24 Black Tiger guerrilla attack on the SLAF airbase and the adjoining Bandaranaike International Airport.

The businessman had to pay a heavy price. His bag and baggage were given a thorough check and it was almost time for the flight when he was allowed to go.

Needless to say, the incident would not please Air Force Commander Air Marshal Jayalath Weerakkody, who has strongly exhorted the need for his men to be both polite and disciplined.

Its not only the men at the entry point to the airport that travellers complain of. Even those departing from the airport are given a tough time by the guards who line up all vehicles leaving the airport for a lengthy question and answer session. 

As one wag, who arrived in a flight from Chennai (Madras) remarked, it took over an hour, or more than the time taken for the flight, to leave the lengthy vehicle queue before the departure gate. The men were using their weapons to signal departing vehicles to join the lengthy queue.

Only a stone

Last Thursday's Saudi Airlines flight that left the Bandaranaike International Airport for Jeddah had to return barely an hour after take off.

A crew member had noticed a suspicious parcel inside the toilet. The Captain was told of a parcel and fears rose that it contained the deadly anthrax.

The aircraft returned to BIA for a thorough check by the Sri Lanka Air Force anti-hijack team.

They found a small parcel inside the toilet. It was a stone, a porous one, neatly wrapped in tissue.

It turned out that the stone belonged to a Muslim passenger who was carrying it for personal ablution purposes where no water was available. 

He had mistakenly left it in the toilet. The aircraft was then given the all clear to take off.

For special duties

Has a State organisa tion embarked on a programme to recruit temporary Security Assistants ?

Insiders say some 400 are to be recruited for special duties, though what they are has not been defined formally.

As one wag remarked, it is perhaps to keep the peace in the run up to next month's general elections.