Outside Politics

15th March 1998

Tamil cops kicked out

Did it come on the orders of a politico or was the big man, known for his colossal blunders do it on his own ?

This is the talking point in Police circles barely a week after the Maradana bomb explosion that killed 40 civilians.

Tamil Policemen including gazetted officers serving in the City and suburbs have all got marching orders.

They are being transferred out to other stations.

Some conscientious senior officers are not very happy with the move.

He argued openly that not all Tamil officers are terrorist suspects or sympathisers.

"This kind of action only leaves a bad taste," he said.

But that has not moved things. The transfer orders will remain, they say.

Sorry, can't come

Foreign Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar, had to politely turn down a request to be the honoured guest at a function sponsored by the Ceylon Tobacco Company - the largest tax payer to the Government of Sri Lanka.

The reason ? The Cabinet has taken a policy decision that Cabinet Ministers should not take part in ceremonies which are sponsored by companies dealing in tobacco or liquor.

The move is the direct outcome of recommendations made by the Presidential Committee on Tobacco, Alcohol and Illicit Drugs.

The Committee said tobacco and alcohol were responsible for a far larger number of deaths than the ongoing armed conflict.

Would this mean Cabinet Ministers would boycott cocktail parties too ?

No one would provide an answer.

Trinco in trouble?

Tamil political parties fear the LTTE has plans to escalate violence in the Trincomalee district in the coming weeks.

A fortnight ago, LTTE Batticaloa leader Karuna, they say, summoned area leaders in Trincomalee for a meeting in the Wanni.

The subject has been about stepping up violence in the Trincomalee district.

They say that the Tigers were eyeing economic targets.

Jungle Telegraph

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