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Bribery allegations against ex-minister
A former Cabinet Minister in the previous United National Front (UNF) Government has come under probe by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.

Insiders say the probe centers around unlawful financial gains allegedly made by the ex-Minister from a series of procurements. For this purpose his assets are now being scrutinised.

Security cooperation with Thailand
Closer co-operation in defence and security related matters is likely to be one of the subjects President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga will discuss with Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Sinawatara when she pays an official visit to that country later this month.

This will be her first official visit to Thailand where a variety of other bi-lateral issues are to be discussed. President Kumaratunga is also due to visit Bangladesh next month for the summit of leaders of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC). Also later next month she is expected to pay a state visit to Pakistan on an invitation extended by President Pervez Musharaff.

Job offer
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri, has made a job offer to the Army's outgoing Chief of Staff, Major General Chula Seneviratne. He has asked whether Maj. Gen. Seneviratne would like to serve as Principal Staff Officer (PSO) in the Joint Operations Headquarters. This is on a pay and pension basis.

The Army's number two is due to retire on Tuesday on reaching 55 years. He will be succeeded by Major General Sarath Fonseka, now Deputy Chief of Staff.

'Courageous' to sail to Sri Lanka
The Sri Lanka Navy's latest acquisition, the US Coast Guard cutter "Courageous" will leave for Sri Lanka from the United States on January 9. Steering the vessel through the Pacific and Indian Oceans will be a Sri Lanka Navy crew trained in the United States.

Moves by the Navy to equip the vessel with Chinese made weapons before its voyage to Sri Lanka did not materialise. A request for importing into the US such weapons was turned down by the authorities there.

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