Even the freezing temperatures of Islamabad did not cool the fraying tempers of some bureaucrats, both from the host country and the visitors.
It was not merely a routine state visit but one meant to usher in greater goodwill. Hence, a wide array of appointments were laid down for the lady boss.
Alas, things went awry, much to the chagrin of officials.
Appointments were delayed by as much as an hour setting off a chain reaction of delays, delays and more delays! !
Consternation reigned supreme at a cosy little dinner party at Havelock Town on Friday night.
A well-known shipping magnate was hosting the new Indian High Commissioner, his deputy and some friends including a former State Minister of Gulliverian proportions.
There was a pin drop silence when a High Commission's safari-suited sentry burst into the living room and insisted His Excellency leave immediately as shooting had been heard in the immediate vicinity.
The Tigers could be in town what with recent BJP pronouncements.
The Indian delegation he thought should make a speedy exit.
The cause of the shooting? The Police were trying to apprehend a well-known Kasippu mudalali who had driven through a checkpoint.
The learned Attorney General is not only giving advice to the State on law and jurisprudence.
It seems that he has arrogated to himself newer tasks. One such unsolicited one is to advice the Foreign Ministry through the head of state not to invite national newspaper Editors hostile to the Government for official dinners and how embarrassed he was to be at one of them. What legal snag he saw in that is not clear.
But the learned man seems to be unaware that the persons whom he wants kept away were honoured invitees by none other than the Minister of Justice, Professor G.L. Peiris and even the Media Minister, Mangala Samaraweera, chose it fit to invite them.
No wonder the Head of State is complaining the AG is not doing his job.
Even if he extolled the virtues of the bird of paradise, the big man who headed it, was in high altitude heading for swinging Singapore on Christmas eve. This time it was on board Emirates flight EK076, the airline trying to take his organisation over.
It was year end and the cute hostess was handing down a neatly bound diary to every first class passenger. Our man took the first one but wanted another. Perhaps a passion for dates, or had he had far too many engagements to keep and just one diary was not good enough.
If that was amusing, there was more to come during meal time. The cute hostess handed down his meal tray. Of course, he did not ask for a second one. Instead he remarked, rather tersely, "there is not enough spice in the food..."
Not to be outdone, retorted the Emirates girl "Yes, Sir! catering on the Colombo-Singapore route is by the AirLanka flight kitchen.
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