Outside Politics

6th September 1998

Hotch-potch crowd

The "All Mads" were of diamond age and gathered, appropriately, in the faded grandeur of our very own Raffles facing Galle.

The souvenir set the scene, Knights of Siyane Korale, fiefdoms of rolling acres of our national palm. If the west had its WASPs, here was our native BASPs (Brown Anglo Sinhala Protestants!)

Attendance was of members and spouses, a representative lot, Ambassadors, up country, low country and a few cross country blooded and parachutist, corporation heads albeit professional and gentlemen, musicians of established international stature, comperes par excellence, anthropologists, pastors and well, a some (no) body from the Diyawanna Talk Shop. No freedom fighting appus here!

Then the group photograph-no mean task to focus on a hundred! Several stood on chairs under the anxious eye of Oxonian barrister turned hotelier. Enter the sole representative of the first family. No, not from outer space, nor the portly one, detained on business in Lion City. But SHE, often endorsed as the cleverest. most say the cutest, of the dynasty. As always, impeccably coiffured, in saffron and burgundy shalwar, with a daring, defiant, slash of crimson on forehead.

Supper taken and on with the dance. First to trip the light fantastic was Ceylon's only owner flier soon after his light blue years, partnering the Club President away from Katana woes. Oldies gave way to Auld Lang Syne and so they stood, C of E and honourable.

Jungle Telegraph

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