Embarrassing
Guests at a five star hotel in Singapore were nonplussedwhen the
baggy trousers of a politico fell on the floor.
Embarrassing moments came when friends and escorts wanted to pull
it up and found he was standing on the waist of the trouser. Making
matters worse was what a Sri Lankan onlooker did. He rang a friend
in the Government and gave a running commentary on the incident.
Only
soft drinks
Sri Lankans and heads of diplomatic missions were invited to the
Independence Day party on February 6 (instead of February 4) at
the residence of the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Thailand.Only soft
drinks were served. There were no Sri Lankan sweetmeats or other
fare. Some said it was part of a cost cutting exercise.
Others
asked whether it had anything to do with last year's part that led
to an audit query. Although 160 bottles of wine had been ordered,
a good part had reportedly gone missing. Inquiries are continuing.
Making
hay
A military top runger who had to quit recently after the
new government came in, was allowed to purchase an Intercooler Pajero
assigned to his force. Within weeks of his acquiring this duty reduced
vehicle it was no longer in his possession. They say he had sold
it at a handsome profit. Now he is learning to do the lambada while
travelling by van with his escort. What a way to go!
Blue
elephants!
The Chairman of the Puttlam Urban Council Quentin Appuhamy was among
members of local bodies who met President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple
Trees last week. The man came clad in a suit wearing a tie with
blue elephants on it. An amused President took one look at the tie
and quipped that ‘even elephants were turning blue now.’
Fair
exchange
On the subject of elephants, Cabinet has approved a proposal
by the Minister in charge of Promotion of Botanical and Zoological
Gardens Bandula Basnayake to obtain two black rhinoceros from Japan,
in exchange for a pair of baby elephants. The elephants are to go
to the Nagoya Higashiyama zoo in Japan.
No different
When the workshop on creating a knowledge base for the
peace negotiations was held with the participation of senior Cabinet
ministers, and politicians of other parties, also present was Minister
Douglas Devananda. President Rajapakse queried from Mr. Devananda
whether there was a chance the LTTE leadership would change its
attitude during this round of talks. Mr. Devananda was not very
optimistic. He said people like Hitler, Mussolini and Pol Pot never
changed their thinking till their end and so it was likely the LTTE
leader would be no different.
As they say a tiger never changes its stripes.
|
