The weather gods have not been kind to the UPFA Government in the recent weeks. So much so, the Victory Parade to mark the first anniversary of the military defeat of Tiger guerrillas had to be put off last month. It is now scheduled for Friday.
There were no such bad weather problems for those at Police Headquarters last Friday. All ranks were present to watch a parade to honour Police Chief, Mahinda Balasuriya. Among those taking part in the parade were two platoons of the Special Task Force commandos.
The reason for the special parade? Well, Mr. Balasuriya has received a doctorate from the University of St Petersburg in Russia. He had been an external student. After he completed the course, he was told by the University authorities that he could come to St Petersburg whenever he was in Russia to collect his doctorate. According to senior staffers at Police Headquarters, this is the first time a Police Chief had won a University doctorate whilst serving the Department.
He found time when he was in Moscow last week to take part in a conference of Police Chiefs around the world.
After the parade was over on Friday morning, Dr. Balasuriya entertained his senior officers to tea. That was at his own expense. He thanked units coming under the Police Department, including intelligence services, for the help they gave him to prepare his thesis - Terrorism and National Security. Naturally, none of the units would have refused such material to their boss.
On Friday night, officers had to host their chief at dinner at the Senior Officers’ Mess in Bambalapitiya. The event was open to families of officers too. However, all of them had to pay to honour Dr. Balasuriya.
Last evening, Dr. Balasuriya was felicitated at a ceremony held at the Sailabimbaramaya temple at Kiribathgoda. A special Bodhi pooja followed.
Spotlight on them,
twilight for our stars
Malini Fonseka, one of Sri Lanka's leading and award-winning actresses, did not accept an invitation to take part in the Indian International Film Academy Awards ceremony on June 6. She had returned her invitation card to the organisers.
Like some of her colleagues, she politely said she was indisposed. The reason - the stepmotherly treatment for local stars, while second-rate Indian actors and actresses were treated like visiting royalty.
The local nalu nili fraternity had been told to arrive at a five-star hotel, park their cars and board CTB buses to be taken to the venue.
This is whilst their Indian counterparts were driven in luxury coaches and sleek limos escorted by armed policemen and flashing pilot vehicles through the traffic. Each of the visiting stars was even given an IP (Inspector of Police) for his or her personal protection right through their stay. Aney apoi - apita giya kala.
CEPA epa
Last Monday, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, addressed MPs of the UPFA.
This was ahead of his three-day official visit to India. Minister Dinesh Gunawardena asked him whether he would sign the CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Arrangement) with India.
"There is no decision on when we will sign this. Negotiations over CEPA have been going on since the late Jeyaraj Fernandopulle was in charge of Trade," replied President Rajapaksa. He said he had not been pressured and nor would he sign the CEPA during his New Delhi visit. "It was all media hype," Rajapaksa said.
Mystery of missing VIP chairs
The IIFA was over last week and the Indian stars have gone back, but the worries for at least three of those who supplied cushioned chairs for the ceremony have not ended.
The Kompannaveediya suppliers who rented out 900 chairs for VVIPs at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium have been going around looking for the chairs, but had not been able to trace at least half of them.
Though the organizers know the Indian stars have left, they are not sure where the chairs have gone.
For old politics sake
Retired General Sarath Fonseka's Co-ordinating Secretary and Presidential election campaign manager, Senaka (or Sha) De Silva had a visitor at the Welikade Prison this week.
It was SLFP-M leader Mangala Samaraweera who supported the retired General during the January polls.
De Silva is now in remand custody awaiting trial on alleged conspiracy charges.
The meeting with De Silva came after Samaraweera and Colombo District Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake visited the Welikade Prison to meet Susil Kindelpitiya, a former staffer in the MTV channel and a defeated UNP candidate. Kindelpitiya was released on bail on Friday.
What's in the laughter?
Ahead of his departure to India on a state visit, President Mahinda Rajapaksa had a meeting with a delegation from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).
Mr. Rajapaksa began his introductory remarks with a note of caution. "Don't ask what the LTTE has been asking for. I have a mandate from the people. I have to keep to that."
"We don't want what the LTTE asked. However, we will ask what the late S.J.V. Chelvanayakam asked for," retorted TNA's Suresh Premachandran. The remarks drew loud laughter from the President.
Editor for chief minister
Tamil media groups are engaging leaders of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on a different encounter. They want one of their colleagues to be the alliance's nominee for Chief Minister when the Northern Provincial Council elections are held.
He is N. Vithyatharan, who recently resigned as Editor of the Tamil newspaper Sudar Oli.
The decision to seek his nomination was made at a meeting of Tamil media groups last week.
Sudar Oli publisher P. Saravanapavan contested the April 8 Parliamentary elections and is now an MP for the Jaffna district.
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