A move by the authori ties to import 60 MI6 rifles from the United States for a security arm of the Government has come a cropper. Even pleas that they were to be used for only defensive roles have been of no avail.
The would-be US exporter of the military hardware received a terse letter from the Director, Office of Defence Trade Controls, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, United States Department of Defence.
It said: "The proposed export would not be in the best interests of U.S. foreign policy given restrictions on the export of certain categories of lethal commodities to end users where human rights concerns have been raised."
Needless to say the move irked a local business official involved in the transaction.
He spoke to a senior US Embassy official in Colombo to ascertain what went wrong, particularly from his point of view, since Washington had already listed the LTTE as a terrorist organisation.
The official, one among handful to whom public relations did not matter unlike his polite predecessors (or is it the new form of haughty uni-polar diplomacy for us in the third world ?) did not hide his feelings.
"Yes, we have listed the LTTE as a terrorist organisation. They are one among thirty odd. That is all. The rest of the talk about military help etc. is propaganda by your Government. Go ask them," he exhorted.
Seems even the War College had not taught him the art of good relations. Hope Alia will not end up with a call for a written explanation this time. This notwithstanding the fact that we are celebrating our 50th anniversary of independence on February 4.
As the old year re ceded, the top brass gathered for a ceremony at the headquarters to commission a state-of-the-art telecommunication system.
They dialed from Colombo to operational areas in far corners of the country. It was loud and clear. They exchanged compliments of the season.
When the ceremony was over, and the invitees in their starched uniforms were leaving, there were more compliments for them. They were extra sized golf umbrellas courtesy the people who installed the system.
What better way to advertise your company than to ask all top brass to carry umbrellas bearing their name. Come rain or sun, the international name is there for all and sundry to see.
This is not the story of new maths or new procedures for tenders. Yet, it can happen only in Sri Lanka and the story can qualify for a place in Ripley's Believe it or Not.
They called for tenders for nearly 20,000 jackets, not the ones you wear for winter but for war.
It has been given to the third lowest bidder, who they say, has better access to those who matter.
The difference in cost - a cool US dollars 92,225 over the first bidder. Even if one loses money, we can proudly boast of tender systems in Sri Lanka where the lowest bidder does not necessarily win tenders. It may be ones who have the highest clout.
Why not !!
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