12th March 2000

By Alia

Singapore Air Show

Last week's exposure in these columns about the Singapore Air Show (Asian Aerospace 2000) and top officers drawing Unattached Allowances for a whole year has had its sequel.

Referring to the Singapore Air Show, Alia reported how a private commericial entrprise sent in a letter to Army Chief, Lt. Gen. Srilal Weerasooriya, requesting him to send two named officers to take part. He declined that request and urged for an additional invitation. Both were granted and he nominated a three member team. The team went in uniform and found one of those invited by the firm visiting the show in civvies.

The other was about Unattached Allowance - a per diem senior officers are entitled to on days when they are not attached during training stints or courses. The fee of $ 150 was for a maximum of 90 days has been drawn by some for a whole year or for 365 days.

Defence Ministry officials are now trying to acertain more details on the two matters, perhaps as a prelude to taking corrective action in the future. Needless to say how these events occurred is also being gone into.

Whilst this went on, one top soldier has also launched his own probe. This is to ascertain how Alia received the information and who gave it.

Not surprisingly the same man has launched many similar operations in the past too.

Hornet's nest

A top cop now assigned to the City has raised a hornet's net by spearheading the campaign of a candidate for an august religious body, one that is grand and revered.

What has irked most is not his backing but the use of Police methods, which, to say the least is not through prayer and meditation.

They are now trying to appeal to higher ups to persuade him to stick to Police work and leave religion alone. Some have even placed a vow at the Sacred Maha Bodhi.

Missing

Police in Valachenai have arrested a constable after a Grenade Launcher and six rounds of ammunition issued to him went missing.

Police officials say he was on duty in a forward area and had left the weapon behind when he was off duty. When he reported next day, it was missing.

A top level probe is now under way.

Underworld links

A top level probe is now under way into the underworld links of bodyguards assigned to the son of a leading politico.

The operation has been cloaked in top secrecy and the sleuths are under orders to keep mum.

According to one source, the bodyguards maintained closed links with some notorious characters. The latter, it has come to light, had in turn helped Tiger guerrilla groups to find safe houses.

This again is said to be for payment of large sums of money

Rajpal Abeynayake's Column

Editorial/ Opinion Contents