The day when dog trainers will train airline pilots or attendants will train doctors is not far off. This is judging by the number of unqualified personnel being assigned to train those in specialised areas.
The latest is in the field of diplomacy. One would have thought that future diplomats from Sri Lanka would have to be geared to both promote and defend the country. That is the way to create a breed of career diplomats as against carriers of bags of politicians.
Recently a new batch of 15 recruits was enlisted to the Foreign Service. This was after an examination and an interview.
Who should the External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris assign to train this new batch? A clerk who has been promoted to the SLAS cadre.
His job at the Ministry has more to do with housekeeping, looking after Ministry vehicles and supervising peons. Three different Additional Secretaries in the Ministry, all of them senior officers, have been bypassed.
Minister Peiris perhaps wants to get these would-be diplomats to look after buildings and cars in Sri Lanka's missions when the new recruits are trained. Little wonder the External Affairs Ministry is in a chaotic mess.
US Congressman wants LLRC plus
Congressman Howard Berman, Ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who wanted US aid suspended to Sri Lanka only last year, has spoken again on the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission Report. In a statement issued last week, he says:
"I welcome the public release of the report of Sri Lanka's Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), and I urge the Government of Sri Lanka to expeditiously implement the Commission's recommendations on a wide range of issues, including on devolution of power, language policy, rule of law and governance, and media freedom.
Such steps would help foster reconciliation and strengthen democracy in Sri Lanka.
"At the same time, I remain concerned that credible allegations against the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE, as described by the UN Panel of Experts report, continue to go uninvestigated, and I call upon the Sri Lankan government to allow for an independent international mechanism to investigate alleged war crimes and violations of international human rights law during the nearly 30 year conflict," continued Rep. Berman.
"Only a credible investigation and process that holds those guilty accountable for their crimes can ensure that reconciliation in Sri Lanka is long lasting."
Dankotuwa special and Jaela chicken at JSS party
It was a party organized by the United National Party's trade union arm, the Jathika Sevaka Sanagamaya (JSS) at a popular hotel in Mount Lavinia. The master of ceremonies was Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena, the UNP Parliamentarian in charge of trade unions. Among those who attended were a sizeable number of journalists.
One of the drinks that was being served at the event was 'Dankotuwa Special," a liquor produced by moon lighters in the coastal belt north of Colombo. A delicacy that was also touted was 'Ja-Ela Chicken.' The party went on till midnight.
Surprise cake for the media
Parliamentary correspondents had a sweet surprise of sorts last Thursday when a cake was delivered to the Media Room located on the third floor.
It had apparently been sent by UNP MP Sajith Premadasa who celebrated his birthday a few days earlier. And no one was looking this gift horse in the mouth, instead choosing to eat it.
US warning on travel to Maldives
The United States Embassy in Sri Lanka on Friday put out an advisory to its citizens on the prevailing situation in the Maldives.
This is what it said: "The Embassy received reports of possible politically-motivated demonstrations tonight in Malé, the capital of the Maldives. Crowds numbering about 300 have protested the past few nights with the police dispersing the crowds when they turned confrontational.
"While the recent protests have been confined to Malé, other islands could experience protests as well. Protests may occur throughout the weekend. We remind U.S. citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn violent.
"In anticipation of continued protests, U.S. citizens traveling to Malé, especially during hours of darkness, should avoid large crowds and monitor media coverage of local events. If you find yourself in a large crowd, please extricate yourself immediately."
Top post but no big pay packet
When he was a top man in a statutory authority, one that did not come within the ambit of a state organisation, the man drew a salary of more than Rs. 200,000 a month.
When the promotion came to the rank of a Ministry Secretary, he found to his dismay that his pay in addition to perks was in the region of Rs. 60,000.
The man, known to be very familiar with the art of manipulation, thought he could have his salary raised to the former level. He formulated a Cabinet Paper and it did the rounds.
When it came to the Treasury, it was hurriedly shot down. There was no provision to pay him the large sum demanded. Moreover, approving them would have led to other Secretaries demanding a similar raise.
President reprimands minister on pay issue
Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha received a reprimand from President Mahinda Rajapaksa last week.
The move came after a Cabinet decision on increasing wages for employees in the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB).
The decision was to raise the basic salary to 18 per cent, a performance-based increase of five per cent and Rs 2,500 increase for all. This would have amounted to a 23 per cent wage increase.
Premjayantha had added the 18 per cent increase in the basic salary and the five per cent performance allowance to tell CPC unions that their pay would go up by 23 per cent.
Days later, Rajapaksa met the trade union representatives and agreed to a 25 per cent increase. However, the unions are not in favour of the move. They want to continue their agitation for a 45 per cent increase.
UNP chairman as astrologer also
The United National Party's Working Committee met last Monday, for the first time since the election of new officials.
UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe who is punctual in attending meetings turned up on time. Party Chairman Gamini Jayawickrema Perera asked him, "Sir, shall we wait another ten minutes before we begin?" He said Honda nekatath thiyanava 10.40 yata or there is an auspicious time at 10.40 a.m.
Wickremesinghe turned to Tissa Attanayake, the General Secretary and remarked, "why don't we add the subject of astrology to Chairman Jayawickrama Perera's responsibilities?"
It was just the other day, during a heated discussion at the Working Committee with all kind of Mariakade language being flung about, that Chairman Jayawickrama Perera began chanting pirith loudly to cool things down.
Lake wedding for news anchor
The anchor of a talk show in a private TV channel chose to have her wedding in a novel way.
The signing ceremony was in a room in the Seemamalakaya built on a platform in the Beira Lake. President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gampaha District UNP Parliamentarian Karu Jayasuriya were the attesting witnesses.
Later, a wedding reception was held in the island on the Beira Lake to which access is through a suspension bridge. Meat or liquor was not served. There were only Harlmessa fish and prawns.
Many top personalities who were guests at the anchor's show turned up for the event. She married an environmentalist.
Reformists need to be controlled: Sajith
Barely a week after a mob attacked Siri Kotha, the United National Party (UNP) headquarters in Kotte, just after the election of new officials, newly elected Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa dropped a bombshell.
He summoned less than a handful of vocal and over-enthusiastic elements in the so called reformist group and strongly berated them.
"Hereafter, it is I who will make all the decisions. You will have to abide by them. You cannot take decisions on my behalf and disgrace me," he shouted.
Premadasa had been at the receiving end after the group had been either linked to the alleged attack or for an ugly smear campaign against the leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The matter has not ended there. Some of those who were given a verbal bellyful were not happy. They kept asking whether Premadasa has now cut a deal with Wickremesinghe. When it came to the ears of Premadasa, he told a confidante, "They are very good and loyal people. Their over enthusiasm, however, will not take us anywhere. They need to be controlled."
Trouble in DPF over Priyanganee
Trouble is brewing in the Democratic People's Front (DPF) after its leader Mano Ganeshan resigned his seat in the Colombo Municipal Council.
He is to become a UNP Parliamentarian on its National List - a quid pro quo for the DPF supporting the UNP in the Colombo Municipal Council. The party has six seats.
Nominated to succeed Ganeshan is Priyanganee Perera, a one-time employee of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation.
Some members of the DPF say she came 25th in the preferential list. However, DPF leaders say it is the party's politburo which made the selection. Others refuse to accept that explanation.
Their taxes are paid from public funds
This may qualify for inclusion in the Ripley's Believe it or Not.
There are a large number of employees in the Ceylon Electricity Board and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.
Who should pay their taxes? It is not the employees. It has come to light that these two State corporations are paying the taxes of their employees. A great privilege indeed!!
Living stamp for Malini
The Philatelic Bureau of the Department of Posts issued six new stamps yesterday to honour those who have contributed to the field of arts in the country.
The buzz was that while five of those featured in the stamps are now deceased, the inclusion of actress turned UPFA National List MP Malini Fonseka among the honorees did raise a few eyebrows. But sensibly speaking, people need to be honoured when they are alive and not after they are dead.
 |
|
| Malini Fonseka being handed over the fisrst day cover at yesterday’s ceremony |
|
E-mail