Untitled Document

Is the spy Chief in or out?
Uncertainty seems to have gripped Sri Lanka's intelligence community more than any other sector. The guessing game is now on whether the top man responsible for all spy agencies, Defence Advisor, Merril Gunaratne, retired DIG will remain in office or continue.

Insiders say he was to have quit on December 31, after his offer to continue to serve after President Kumaratunga took over the defence and interior portfolios was turned down.

Even staff assigned to his office at the Ministry of Defence was on the verge of being recalled to the Directorate of Internal Intelligence (DII) when orders reportedly went out that they should remain.

The new DII boss however is breaking new ground after taking over office. Unlike his predecessors, Keerthi Gajanayake, DIG began his stint by visiting some of his outposts in the former operational areas.

He has already covered Vavuniya and Mannar and made a first hand study of the ground situation. Similar visits to other areas are in the offing. Meanwhile some of the sleuths posted on overseas assignments are to be recalled to Colombo immediately. Some of them, insiders say, are being dubbed as UNF Ambassadors. They may return to postings in the field instead of the DII itself.

In the meantime a top spy who served in a key European capital and concluded his stint is a lucky man. With the influence he exerted and the friends he won, the man has cornered for himself an overseas scholarship. Procedural formalities are now being cleared.

The surprising thing about the schol is that the former spy will not be in his home country for four long years. That is the period of the schol. When he returns, it will soon be time for retirement.

All at sea!
Sri Lanka Navy has announced some top level changes effective from February. Rear Admiral Nandana Tuduwewatte, Commander, Northern Naval Area has been named the Commandant of the Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy at Ratmalana. He will be succeeded in the North by Rear Admiral Dayananda Dharmapriya.

Rear Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, Commander Eastern Naval Area will take over as Commander, Western Naval Area which is headquartered in Colombo. He will be succeeded in Trincomalee by Rear Admiral Sarath Rathnakeerthi the current COMWEST.

You lose some, but get to keep some
Former Defence Secretary, Austin Fernando, who is now an Adviser in the Prime Minister's office, is tasked with matters relating to re-construction, rehabilitation and re-settlement.

Last week he travelled to Jaffna accompanied by Prime Minister's Secretary, Bradman Weerakoon to oversee work related to his new job. From Jaffna, both Mr. Fernando and Mr. Weerakoon flew in a Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter all the way to Vavuniya, again for work connected with the same job.

Though he lost office on November 4, Mr. Fernando continues to have his contingent of Army officers for his personalsecurity.

Back to Columns