The owner of the bus in which Black Tiger guerrillas travelled from Negombo to attack the SLAF airbase and the adjoining Banda-ranaike International Airport, reportedly was Victor Dominic from Trincomalee. 

The Isuzu Elf bearing number 62-4920 has been seized by CID detectives at a garage in Kochchikade where repairs were being carried out to spring blades.

Detectives have taken into custody the driver, Selliah, for interrogation. The bus is said to be black with silver lining around its body. 

The guerrillas arrived for the attack reportedly in this bus which displayed the name board 'Matara' in the front window. 

Deceptive uniforms

Uniforms which are look alikes of security forces uniforms, particularly of specialised units, have forced the Ministry of Defence to set down standards to local security firms. 

They have been told private security personnel could only wear brown trousers and beige shirts. 

One security firm, deploying men at a leading social club near Borella, is said to have issued uniforms identical to those worn by Army commandos to their personnel. Another deployed in a leading group of companies dealing with housing and insurance, among other things, had issued Air Force style uniforms to their men. 

Visit cut short

Reports of a height ened Tiger guerrilla build up to attack security forces targets have prompted Defence Secretary Chandrananda de Silva and Navy Commander Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri, to cut short their official visits to Malaysia and return to Colombo They returned on Friday evening.

Among other engagements, the duo were there for a maritime exhibition in Kuala Lumpur.

Visa racket busted

CID detectives have cracked a racket in the issue of visas by a Sri Lankan diplomatic mission in an Asian capital where two offices are located.

Some High Commission officials who were allegedly involved in the racket are to face disciplinary action from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

What a cost!

A security force com mander who found the curtains soiled at his stately official residence, wanted them dry cleaned.

A quotation was sought from the regular firm that undertook dry cleaning jobs. The cost? A cool Rs. 300,000.

It turned out that previous bosses got the job done at this price, though it is not clear how much went into the coffers of the firm itself.

The commander was heard remarking 'you can build a house for a soldier for Rs. 300.000'.