Ebony beds and heart aches
In security circles in the north they have dubbed it "Purasanda Kaluwara,"
after the film that is now running in City theatres. But this story has
very little to do with "Purasanda," which is full moon though "Kaluwara,"
which is darkness, figures in a different way. Kaluwara is also the Sinhala
word for ebony and this story is all about an expensive antique ebony bed.
A Police officer serving in Jaffna had acquired this valuable intricately
carved antique bed whilst serving in the north years ago. He had used it
in Jaffna reportedly to overcome a backache.
Years later, even if the costly bed cured the backache, it has now begun
to raise eyebrows and heartaches. This is after the ebony bed arrived in
Colombo, this week, from the port of Kankesanturai in the cargo vessel
"MT Mercs Komari." The story began unfolding when a senior Police official
in the north received a call from a senior executive of Mercantile Shipping
Ltd., informing him that the goods sent on their vessel had arrived in
Colombo. He had wanted this Police official to send someone to collect
it.
Not knowing what it was all about, the senior police official made inquiries.
His finding – a constable from the Kankesanturai Police had signed a letter
on a Sri Lanka Navy letterhead and sent it to the Commanding Officer of
the Navy ship "Uththara." In that he had sought "permission" to transport
from KKS to Colombo a "wooden bench" (leli bankuwa in Sinhala) belonging
to the Police officer who served in Jaffna. A top official at Navy Headquarters
is said to have thereafter arranged to have the antique ebony bed, identified
only as a "wooden bench," transported to Colombo. It has been consigned
in his name.
As the story became public, the top Police officer in Jaffna had received
a telephone call to say the bed in question was not used by the police
officer in question. The anonymous caller had claimed it was marisi or
stolen property belonging to a Jaffna citizen.
The top cop, insiders say, has asked Police Chief Lucky Kodituwakku,
to conduct a full investigation. Needless to say one by Navy Commander,
Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri, too would be appropriate. After all, the bed
would not have sailed the troubled north eastern seas without Naval support
!!
PM was target
Leading state intelligence agencies received confirmation this week that
Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake was the target of the suicide bomber,
who exploded himself at Chitra Lane, Narahenpita, when cornered by the
Police on October 30.
New CPM
SLAF's controversial Chief Provost Marshal (CPM), Air Vice Marshal Vijith
Tennekoon, has been told to call it quits. Denied another extended term,
he retired from his post early this week. Wing Commander Saranath Rambukwella
has been appointed as the new CPM. With the new appointment, insiders say
more changes are also like. Among them is the disbanding of the now notorious
Special Air Borne Force (SABF), a unit which ran into several controversial
actions. |
