Jungle Telegraph

29th August 1999

New job for ex-IGP

One of Sri Lanka’s most controversial Inspectors General of Police, W.B. Rajaguru, on whom the nation’s highest judicial body, the Supreme Court made severe strictures for human rights violations, pernicious conduct and fined him personally, is to now become a diplomat.

That track record has not deterred him from receiving a posting in South Africa as Sri Lanka’s Deputy High Commissioner.

Since no prior sanction (agremot) is required from Pretoria, Mr Rajaguru, who retired last year, will soon take up post. The agremot applies only to those posted abroad as heads of missions. They require the concurrence of the receiving Government. Even the services of a Police driver has now been obtained for Mr. Rajaguru.

Holy man

A team from the Kandy Police rushed to arrrest a holy man in Trincomalee last week.

He is said to have toured Kandy and its environs in the past weeks, living in places of worship and taking part in religious activities. It now transpires that the man had been tasked by the LTTE to mount surveillance on a leading politician in the hill capital. The man is now being interrogated.

Unsavory incident

An unsavory incident nearly marred the Gajaba Regiment dinner in Anuradhapura last week attended by Army top brass including Commander, Lt. Gen. Srilal Weerasooriya.

An angry Colonel nearly came into blows with a Major General. The ugly scene was avoided by the intervention of some top brass who warned the Colonel of the serious consequences that would follow. He promptly apologised to the Major General. Even if most participants were unaware of the incident, the dinner ended on a peaceful note. Next day, the Motorcross rally also went off without a hitch.

Military hardware

Did the LTTE succeed in unloading a consignment of military hardware on the night of August 20 in the seas off Mullaitivu ? Was this a consignment that originated from an eastern European country?

Intelligence circles are investigating the matter. Reports received by them speak of the shipment being unloaded around midnight. They are also checking to ascertain whether there was Naval gunfire directed at the LTTE vessel and whether it was missed. Navy officials remained tight lipped about the incident.

To be blacklisted

A European firm now involved in a controversial deal with a security arm of the Government is likely to be blacklisted.

The move is being viewed as a counter strike to threats by the firm concerned to take the security arm in question to Courts.

Editorial/Opinion Contents