Jungle Telegraph

27th September 1998

Growing anxiety

There is growing anxiety at Army Headquarters over the fate of four Majors General who will reach maximum in the rank on December 1.

Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Rohan de S. Daluwatte, has recommended extended terms to them but the Ministry of Defence is yet to respond.

If the answer from the Ministry is a firm "no", insiders say, that will add more to the anxiety.

This is particularly in view of a number of other top level postings that are due in the coming weeks.

How they have come about and what they are will have to remain a secret in view of the ongoing censorship.

But one thing can be said – Three top rungers will wing their way to military institutions abroad in the coming year, one in Europe and two closer home.

"Talking nonsense"

It happened at one of the City's leading shopping malls.

The retired big boss met a serving colleague, a bold and outspoken Major General and began exchanging pleasantries.

It was the Major General who felt the encounter was becoming unpleasant.

The retired man was waxing eloquent, not in pleasant terms, about his one time Commander-in-Chief.

Some of the words used were not the best to describe personalities in decent terms.

The Major General hit back.

"I don't want to hear this nonsense.

Remember I am still serving.

Why didn't you say these things before. You are talking nonsense," he retorted as he walked away hurriedly.

Like Oliver Twist, the big boss, did not ask for more.

Perhaps the Major General gave him enough !!

Firm "no"

The new Police Chief, Lucky Kodituwakku, has said a firm "no" to his two former senior colleagues, DIGs Kingsley Wickremasuriya and Gamini Gunawardena.

The duo who quit over Mr. Kodituwakku's appointment as IGP, had wanted approval to purchase two vehicles at a depreciated value from the Police Garage.

This was because they could not afford over a million rupees for the Honda Accords, their official vehicles, which they were entitled to purchase.

The new Police Chief has held that such approval would be against laid down procedure.

However, the controversial Police Chief, W.B. Rajaguru, who retired earlier than he expected, insiders say, allowed at least three retiring DIGs to buy Pajeros belonging to the Police Department.Mr. Rajaguru, however, has not only purchased his Honda Accord but has converted it to run on liquified petroleum Gas (LPG).

Special Assignment

Editorial/Opinion Contents