Jungle Telegraph

6th September 1998

Who cares?

Outgoing IGP, W.B. Rajaguru, seemed to have been in a generous mood during the last days of his sojourn in office.

He promoted the men who worked closely with him. Giving promotions to personal staff upon retirement is nothing new. Even his predecessors have done it.

But our going, going, gone Police Chief even paid cash rewards. One man received Rs 100,000 for services rendered.

This has become the talking point in Police circles. They say cash rewards are not usually paid for normal services rendered.

Who cares ? As long as money is available, why not be generous !!

Naturally furious

If the incident shocked some in the intelligence community, it embarrassed most.

One senior man was elevated to the top position in the local intelligence arm. As is customary, he threw a dinner for his colleagues and even made a brief speech to set out his vision.

But the anti climax came when the order arrived from higher authority that he was not to hold that post.

He is naturally furious. Insiders say he may even throw in the towel.

Kicking the ladder

The new boss has now come down hard on the powerful so called " mafia" (also known as the no problem boys).

Like in the past, they can no longer knock at the door and barge into their boss' room. That open licence for many things has been withdrawn.

The new boss has decreed they should obtain prior appointments before meeting him.

Among those who are furious, they say, is the hush hush man. He whispered to a close friend "the new boss is kicking the ladder he used to climb. Now, he is not even talking to the guru."

'Maara Vedak'

This man in uniform is a jack of all trades but what he tries to master sometimes misfires.

A self acclaimed expert on cyber space, binoculars and bird watching (both the feathery and non feathery kind), was mad that a deal he was brokering had come to light.

He sought the support of those competent to punish the scribes. He wanted them to be taken to task.

That was done authoritatively. But after the event, it was discovered that the subject matter did not cover their action. Even the bosses got to know it.

"Maara Vedak" was how one young officer described the episode. He was of course speaking in Sinhala.

Horse or bull?

A luxury car with a four star plate (one that is meant for a General) drove Acting Defence Minister, General Anuruddha Ratwatte, for last Thursday's Police Day parade.

Later, he mounted a Police horse to inspect a guard of honour by the newly passed out women recruits of the Police Special Task Force.

The stately event made good pictures, particularly for the State media. But one privately owned newspaper, in an unrelated story, carried the picture of a bus driver who rode a bull to take him around.

At least for this week, it was a case of either horse power or bull power. What next ?

Special Assignment

Editorial/Opinion Contents