Non-roadworthy container carriers, Police said yesterday, were posing a serious security problem besides causing inconvenience to traffic.
Yesterday, one of them broke down in the middle of High Level Road near the Wijerama Junction at Nugegoda. The result -- Colombo-bound vehicles had to be diverted through other narrow roads.
It was hours before the road was cleared. Motorists complain that Police should conduct stricter checks to ascertain whether some of the container carriers were roadworthy. Such breakdowns could halt movement of VIPs and endanger their security, one of them pointed out.
Fox quits over Werrity link; but who will
do what over Lankan Werrity?
Britain's Defence Minister Liam Fox, was forced to resign rather ignominiously on Friday.
All because Adam Werrity, bestman at Fox's wedding posed off as advisor although he had no official authority to do so. At first, Fox had insisted that he would not resign. However, as investigations bared more embarrassing facts about his conduct violating the code for ministers, he had no choice.
The news has made tongues wag at the External Affairs Ministry about a local Werrity -- one who accompanies Minister G.L. Peiris on all his official trips abroad.
It has come to light that the local Werrity is a rich businessman who uses the trips abroad to canvass business for his group of companies. Perhaps one would not grudge that, one may argue, because he was paying for his ticket and other expenses.
However, there are embarrassing details that raise questions on whether Peiris is not violating the unwritten code for ministers. That is not to allow businessmen to use their good offices to make millions.
In the case of the local Werrity, it has come to light that the External Affairs Ministry has been in the habit of issuing third person notes to diplomatic missions in Colombo to obtain visas for him. Is this not an abuse of official authority that warrants investigation? That is not all. The man whom EAM official dreads, also sits at official events both in Sri Lanka and abroad.
In one instance, during a visit to a West Asian country with Peiris, the local Werrity had approached leading business houses to set up projects in Sri Lanka. He has introduced himself as a part of External Affairs Minister Peiris' delegation.
In the diplomatic community in Colombo as well as the External Affairs Ministry, the local Werrity's identity is known. EAM officials say his conduct merits a detailed investigation.
Will Peiris make a statement in Parliament like what Fox did in Britian's House of Commons is the billion-dollar question.
CR show for
groundless Army
The Sri Lanka Army is yet to commission its new playground after the existing one was given over for the construction of the new Shangri La Hotel.
As a result, the parade to mark the 62nd anniversary was held at the CR & FC grounds at Maitland Crescent. An Army Headquarters complex together with other defence establishments is now under construction at Pelawatte in Kotte-Sri Jayawardhanapura.
News travels faster than ministers
The beach festival was under way in Hambantota the previous Saturday. Ministers Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Dilan Perera sat for a late lunch on the ground floor restaurant of the Peacock Beach Hotel.
Then Perera's mobile phone rang. It was news that Presidential Advisor Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra had died. The duo rushed upstairs to give President Mahinda Rajapaksa the news.
Just then Colonel Mahendra Fernando of his security detail was handing over a mobile phone to Rajapaksa. He received the same news.
No visitors for Duminda
Visitors to Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital thought that former Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake and Power and Energy Minister Champika Ranawaka had arrived there to visit Deshamanya Duminda Silva who was badly injured during last Saturday's shoot out.
It turned out later that the two ministers had come to see different patients at the hospital. Moreover, visitors are not being encouraged to see Silva since he is at the Intensive Care Unit. Senior hospital officials yesterday denied reports that Silva was operated on Friday by US surgeons who had arrived from Singapore. "No such surgery took place. There is a US doctor here to advise on the medical rehabilitation of Duminda Silva," a senior official familiar with the injured politician's case said yesterday
President recalls offers to Premachandra
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has told his Cabinet ministers that he made several offers to the late Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, who was shot dead on polls day last week.
One was to become organiser for Ratmalana electorate. Another was to be the UPFA's mayoral candidate. He had turned down the offers.
He said that only Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa had an office at the Presidential Secretariat. However, the President said, he had set up an office there for Premachandra to function as Advisor on Trade Union Affairs.
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