Lot
to learn
The two Brits smartly clad in camouflage looked as if they were
ready for battle when they drove in past the gates of Army Headquarters
last Friday morning in a Mitsubishi Montero.
The
silver grey luxury vehicle itself looked like a battle tank with
its tall communications antenna swaying in the air, side by side
with the radio aerial.
One
man in fatigues was the outgoing Defence Advisor of the British
High Commission Lt. Col. Mark Weldon who was saying his farewell
and the other was the new incumbent, Lt. Col. C.P.G. (Colin) Martin.
That
was how they made calls on some top men at AHQ - Director Operations
Brigadier Nimal Jayasuriya, Director Training Brigadier Srinath
Rajapakse and Director, Military Intelligence Brigadier Kapila Hendavitharana,
among others.
Having
concluded a three year stint and due for a posting in Germany, his
last, Mark and his wife Cathie seem to have become very much Sri
Lankan. So much so, they have decided to settle down here upon retirement.
Lt.
Col. Weldon has already purchased a property on the banks of the
Bolgoda Lake and is making preparations to develop it. He is set
for a peaceful stay in Lanka after retirement next year. So much
for his love of the people and what Sri Lanka offers
His
successor, Lt. Col. Martin from the Royal Welsh Fusiliers has arrived
in Colombo after a stint as New College Commander at Royal Military
Academy in Sandhurst and a five week tour in Iraq to help set up
a Military Academy in one time Saddam Hussein's land.
Unlike
his predecessors, Col. Martin, despite his Sandhurst reputation,
seems not well prepared for his Colombo posting. Into his first
week in the job he began his calls on some personalities with rude
and haughty outbursts unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman.
Needless
to say he has a lot to learn in the three years to come and should
keep reminding himself that Sri Lanka, unlike Ceylon 56 years ago,
is no more a British colony. Otherwise he will, with his boorish
behaviour, tread on many boots and end up as a colossal embarrassment.
That is not only to the British Ministry of Defence or the Royal
Welsh Fusiliers but also to the amiable Steven Evans, the British
High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, a one time soldier himself.
Sri
Lanka being neither a one large Sandhurst nor a war torn occupied
Iraq are two things Lt. Col. Martin will soon learn.
Pain
but no gain
Remember the previous United National Front Government's ambitious
and controversial defence reforms?
One
of the principal architects of these reforms, which among other
matters, sought to deprive the President of powers conferred under
the Constitution to deal with matters defence, was a one time Army
Commander, retired Lt. Gen. Denis Perera.
He
declared publicly that he was serving in the Defence Reforms Committee
(DRC) without receiving any remuneration because this was a national
effort. Understandably he claimed expenses including foreign travel.
The
reports on defence reforms have gone to the dustbin after President
Kumaratunga, who took over the defence portfolio, chose to order
a halt to the Committee's activities.
Now
there is a post script to the episode. Lt. Gen. Perera, the director
of a number of blue chip companies in Sri Lanka, has written to
Defence Secretary Cyril Herath demanding that he be remunerated.
That is for the work he did in the name of defence reforms.
Defence
Ministry insiders say Lt. Gen. Perera's bill runs into a few lakhs
of rupees. They ask how what was termed a national sacrifice is
now accompanied by the demand for payment. Is it because the reforms
did not become a reality and all the efforts were in vain?
Talking
of defence reforms, another one time soldier, a high flying type,
who played the unpaid hack to argue all was well with the reforms,
is now in the news.
A
few weeks ago, he drove into the Army's holiday resort at Wadduwa,
checked into a room and enjoyed all the comforts offered - the best
of food and drinks. The problems for the staff came only when the
visitor chose to check out.
A
one time chief himself, the visitor told the management to give
him a cut rate bill - that is on cheap terms. He told the staff
to check with the Commander who would allow him that privilege.
But the boss was not happy.
The
boss was not aware that the flyer had invited himself and expected
the Army to foot the bill. He told his staff "nothing doing".
Little wonder they call such types dirty….who?
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