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Outside Politics29th March 1998 |
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Mel and yellsThe home and home battle took a new turn last week. That was during a United National Party public rally at Kegalle. The amiable Anura Bandaranaike did not want to go for the meeting. Not after the man from Devinuwara, Ronnie de Mel, took digs at him at a press conference chaired by the leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe. He thought the response he gave was quite enough for Mr. de Mel and did not feel good to be on the same stage with him. But there was a lot of pressure. Among those calling him on the telephone at his Rosmead Place residence was Mr. Wickremesinghe. He wanted him to forget the episode and attend the meeting. That he did. Mr. Bandaranaike was received with a cheery response by the crowd. Not to be outdone, Mr. de Mel who stood up to speak took a few jibes at Mr. Bandaranaike. This time the response did not come from Mr. Bandaranaike. It came from the crowd with some vociforous boos. A simple case of taking the issue to the people !! Epicurean guardsPoliticos who wish to choose their body guards better ensure they are not men with a penchant for epicurean delights. Consul Generals in Sri Lanka were holding a party after Col.A.M. Fareed representing Jordan had become its President. Among those gracing the occasion was Deputy Foreign Minister Lakshman Kiriella. The 26 Consuls and their guests were busy as the party began. Oblivious to what was going on, a group of security men in their ubiquitous white shirts, were busy enjoying the food and drinks. At first they thought it was Mr. Kiriella's bodyguards. The men were there even after Mr. Kiriella had left. Col. Fareed moved into ask who they were only to be told "bodyguards of Mr. Kiriella" He declared that Mr. Kiriella had alredy left. It turned out that the men were part of Minister C.V. Gooneratne's security detail. Their Minister was taking part in a seminar on "infrastructure development" in the first floor of Taj Samudra. On the ground floor the bodyguards were developing their capacity for culinary delights.
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