Outside Politics

31st May 1998

Happy birthday Lalitha !!

It was unusual for lithesome Paddy to have declined to take the hand of stocky Tiru Nadesan for a dance. Yet she said a polite no. The reason - the large as ever and lively Razik Zarook, now making his political debut from the south for the UNP, overheard the conversation and declared "The Editor of The............. is here." No, the hostess , Lalitha, wife of the late Cabinet Minister, George Rajapakse, had not invited him for her birthday bash. But the others danced till the early hours.

One with dual citizenship

This is also a story from another birthday party, also on Friday night.

The brother of a former Cabinet Minister was celebrating his birthday. Like in the case of Lalitha Rajapakse, Epicurus would not want to give the age of the witty young man, one who loved company the same way the late Frank Sinatra loved singing.

ULF Parliamentarian, Ravi Karunanayake, much in the news after the televised AirLanka debate in Parliament, saw a journalist and walked upto to say hello. He began the conversation in his own inimitable style by asking how things were.

With the normal courtesies over, the journalist told Ravi. "This morning Ranil (the leader of the opposition) phoned me. He was really speaking for you, on your behalf....".The journalist asked whether Ravi had joined the UNP.

Ravi did not have the time to reply. A leading company director, a familiar figure in the commercial world and an ULFer himself interjected.:

"Ravi is the only MP who hasdual citizenship," he declared much to the laughter of those around. Ravi laughed the loudest.

T-56 recipient concealed

The discovery of an unlicensed T-56 rifle at the residence of a private security company owner has triggered off a storm.

The talk in private security circles is whether the son of a politico was in any way linked to the find.

The talk was sparked off by a report that the young man had handed over a Browning pistol to a friend. And that too had not been licensed. They are keeping the identity of the recipient a secret.

Jungle Telegraph

Editorial/Opinion Contents