With that over, they trooped out to the driveway to see the arrival of a Siai Marchetti Warrior fixed wing bomber. The days when this Argentine built aircraft took off or touched down at the SLAF's main base after bombing raids on Tiger guerrilla targets in the North and East are long gone.

This time, it rolled on its wheels as airmen pulled or pushed it. The outgoing Commander of the SLAF, Air Marshal Jayalath Weerakkody, and his wife Kumari, boarded the seats of the pilot and co-pilot. They lay in one row adjacent to each other behind two control sticks.

On human power they taxied for some 200 metres along the road towards the main gate. Thereafter, they alighted and were driven off in the Commander's official Mercedes Benz.

That was the last official ride out of the SLAF base for Air Marshal Weerakkody. It brought the curtains down, though abruptly, to a 30-year career.

No promotions for 17 former SPs
One time Superintendent of Police Kulasiri Udugampola, at the centre of controversy after his January 2 raid on the Army's Safe House at Athurugiriya, has failed in his efforts to retain the SP rank. Hence, he would continue to remain as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP).

The names of 17 ASPs including Mr. Udugampola have been left out in the list of SP promotions released by Police Headquarters this week. All of them attended fresh interviews.

In terms of the list, 30 ASPs have been promoted to the rank of SP. A further nine have been promoted but their new appointments are to take effect only after inquiries pending against them are completed without findings being made against them. One ASP who was due for promotion has died.

On May 22 2000, 35 ASPs (including Mr. Udugampola) were promoted to the rank of SP. Later a further five were also elevated to the SP rank.

However, a Supreme Court ruling on December 11, 2001, quashed these appointments. The Court ordered that fresh interviews be held for new promotions.

Leaks worry DII big bosses
Big bosses at the Directorate of Internal Intelligence, the country's premier intelligence agency, are worried over leaks of highly sensitive and classified information.

Finger pointing on who is responsible began last Thursday after reports that the DII had paid a local agent, representing a communications firm, to procure from a British company a lady's handbag equipped with colour camera, stereo microphones, tape recorder and remote wireless keys. The local agent, incidentally, faces the risk of being black-listed by the Army over another deal.

A letter then Additional Director, DII, T.V. Sumanasekera, a former DIG, wrote to the UK company is now being widely circulated after the matter was raised at last Wednesday's Cabinet meeting by Minister Ravi Karunanayake.

According to insiders, similar documentation relating to a much more sensitive multi-million rupee deal, equipment to monitor digital cellular phone conversations, may soon do the rounds.

A change of government during last December's Parliamentary General Elections prevented the import of this enormously expensive equipment from Israel.

As one top sleuth said, this was to be brought down ostensibly to "protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity" of the country. "But it was to eavesdrop on conversations for political superiority and to find out who is having an affair with whom," he said.

Monitoring land based telephone lines became a regular feature with politicians, media personnel and others becoming regular targets during the tenure of the People's Alliance. However, thanks to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, such activity is now completely banned.

A building at the DII's headquarters at Guildford Crescent, used for this purpose, remains closed. The only occasion it was opened under the UNF Government was for cleaning. That was when Defence Minister Tilak Marapana was to pay a visit to the DII.

Tipped as envoy to US
Central Bank Governor A.S. Jayawardena's name is being mentioned in UNF Government circles as the likely Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United States.

The last incumbent, Dr. Warnasena Rasaputram, was also a one time Governor of the Central Bank.

Deer hunter arrest leads to transfer
The officer-in-charge of a hill country police station has received transfer orders.

The reason ? Well, he arrested a businessman who was on a deer hunt with an Army deserter and refused to let them off.

That was not all. The sub-inspector in question seized a double barrelled shotgun, a grenade and the carcass of the deer too !!

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