Lucky's order

A furious Police Chief Lucky Kodituwakku, was forced to countermand the "order" of a different kind from one of his senior DIGs, H.M.G.B. Kotakadeniya.

During a visit to the Senior Officers Mess at Brownrigg Road, Mr. Kotakadeniya, had observed that refrigerators there were stocked with a variety of fish and meat.

They had been placed there by officers who could not retain them at home until it became necessary to cook them.

Mr. Kodituwakku has declared that the Mess was meant for the welfare of the officers. Since all of them could not afford to buy freezers or large fridges, it was nothing but fair to permit them to keep moderate quantities. "They need not be sent to the Zoological Gardens," Mr. Kodituwakku has directed.

Reverberations

The reverberations caused by SP Kulasiri Udugampola's raid on the Army Safe House at Athurugiriya are continuing to reverberate in the East.

The LTTE has abducted and killed three persons – Vidyakaran, Nimalan and Balasub-ramaniam, all civilians- for helping the Long Range Reconnaisance Patrols. The LRRP men ventured behind Tiger guerrilla lines to take on targets and used the Athurugiriya house as their secret base.

Mr. Udugampola, was last week removed from the Police team inquiring into the Paha-latalawinne murders. This was after Interior Minister John Amara-tunga, agreed to a request made by the CID. The investigations will now be conducted solely by the CID.

Behind time

It was too late by the time officials contacted the Department of Information.

The news release from Navy Commander, Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri, refuting charges by the Sihala Urumaya accusing the Government of helping Tiger guerrillas obtain fuel from India.

It was to delete the last line which said "It is surprising to note how persons in Colombo could state the number of persons involved and the contents of these boats."

Even if it did not appear in print, there were chuckles in Navy circles.

How would people in Washington know what the US Navy is doing in Afghanistan, quipped one wag. Surely, this is a new millennium where communication technology has revolutionised the world !!

Peace talks

There were peace talks of a different kind between heads of the Army and the Police last Tuesday. It was over the incidents in Kandy where soldiers clashed with the Police after one of their officers was allegedly assaulted.

Police Chief Lucky Kodituwakku and Army Commander Lt. Gen. Lionel Balagalle, have resolved each will take action against their own men. There will be no Court cases. The Army men involved are to face a Court Martial to be concluded within ten days. Police will take disciplinary action against those concerned.