An
earful
President Chandrika Kumaratunga's barrage of accusations against
the police and judiciary is quite well publicised by now. But what
many don't know is that the President was late by two hours for
the ceremony, which was to launch a new Police hotline in an attempt
to tackle crimes. So while all the top brass in the Police, the
armed forces commanders as well as religious dignitaries waited
for the President to show up, they were treated to some cartoons
showing how ants live and work in harmony as well as recordings
of the "sarisara" - a travel programme. However what followed
was not so fanciful but more of an earful.
No
duel at all
The duel between Agriculture Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake
and some top UNPers over the 1000 tanks programme has been much
talked about. Last week the Minister challenged UNPer Hemakumara
Nanayakkara and Gamini Jayawickrema to come for a television debate
and prove that there were financial malpractices in the "wewa"
programme. The UNP MP took up the challenge and a state-run TV station
agreed to host the debate but come Thursday night when the debate
began there were no UNP MPs present but only Mr. Dissanayake and
Deputy Sports Minister Sripathi Sooriyarachchi.
Mr.Perera
had informed that he was overseas and unable to be present while
Mr. Nanayakkara and another UNPer Kabir Hashim had said they were
out of Colombo. So it was an all-Alliance show but who can blame
them for basking in the limelight. After all those who gave the
challenge seem to have backed out.
Speaker’s
way!
The presence of stray dogs in the gardens of the Parliamentary
Complex at Kotte had grown to be a menace in recent months but the
Speaker wanted a humane way of getting rid of them instead of the
usually method of extermination.
So
he asked the relevant authorities who caught the dogs to transport
them to another area. So the Parliament area is now rid of the stray
canines but their new neighbours may be having sleepless nights
Political
breakfast?
Eastern province Infrastructure Development Minister A.L.M.
Athaullah hosted the Ifthar or breakfast ceremony at his Keppitipola
Mawatha residence in Colombo recently. Over 2,000 guests including
the Prime Minister, Ministers, Deputy Ministers and MPs were among
the invitees. Insiders say the total cost of the feast was Rs 1.2
million and over 75 per cent of the attendees were non-Muslims.
Some of Mr. Athaullah's supporters who were present were wondering
if other Muslim leaders could spend so lavishly on an Ifthar ceremony
and where so much money came from. They were also wondering if there
was more of politics and less of religion in this generous gesture.
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