The move followed an incident where a Russian built Mig - 23 trainer aircraft flew right over the Colombo Port and adjoining President's House - air space marked out as a "no fly zone." The sortie angered the Presidential Security Division after fears that it was some form of an aerial assault on the President's House.

Soon after the Mig 23, with two cockpits, was airborne from the Air Force runway at Katunayake, it has transpired that a Ukrainian Air Traffic Controller advised the Mig 23 pilot, also a fellow Ukrainian, to do a left turn.

"Since such a manoeuvre involved a high radius of turn, the Mig 23 intruded on the "no go zone," an SLAF source said.

The Ukrainian pilot of the Mig 23 had been training a Sri Lankan Air Force pilot when the directions were given. It is routine practice for a Ukrainian to be at the SLAF Air Traffic Control Tower when a fellow countryman is in control of a flight. This is to give him instructions in their own language. They are not very proficient in English.

The Ukrainian at the SLAF Air Traffic Control Tower has been relieved of his duties and sent back to Ukraine. A replacement has already arrived.

Flaw in Sri Lanka flag
If sloppy arrangements for the 14th Asian Athletics Championships in Colombo, an international event with more than 35 countries taking part, were embarrassing enough to the organisers, what happened to VIP guests compounded the issue.

These guests including UNF politicians, heads of diplomatic missions, security forces commanders, military top brass, government bureaucrats among them, were watching the cultural performances on Thursday, the opening day, when they received a colourful souvenir - a glossy publication of the celebrated event at the Sugathadasa Stadium.

Even before they could turn the pages, those who distributed it to the distinguished visitors, began collecting them back, one after another. The reason? There was a flaw in the Sri Lankan flag that was printed. What a national disaster!!

When one Ambassador asked, "will we get them back now?" one of the collectors said, "we don't know." When it came to refreshments, some VIPs did not receive them. It had reached only one section of the enclosure.

Sequel to the chutzpah
Last week's reference in these columns to the chutzpah, or the shameless audacity of a two star man, has had its sequel.

Key figures in the defence establishment received a formal complaint about the man's misdemeanours. It came from a very close relative of the fair lady, who flew in from an Asian capital, on hearing of the family crisis, not to mention the family property.

Did the two star man order some in uniform to seize a car? Though it is said to belong to the fair lady, the "use of force" (or forces) to take the car over from family members is the question raised. Another is whether the car was later sold and in whose bank account the proceeds were placed.

Meanwhile the man's effort to station his new companion in an official chalet has failed. He has been advised that would court him a dishonourable discharge. However, he has not given up. He is also consulting legal opinion on this and other important matters.

Army's team for pams
Major General Anton Wijendra, Chief of Staff and Major General Chula Seneviratne, General Officer Commanding the Wanni, are Sri Lanka's Army's nominees for the US Army sponsored annual Pacific Army Management Seminar (PAMS). This year, the five-day seminar is being held in Calgary, Canada, beginning August 26

Major General Sarath Fonseka, Security Forces Commander, Jaffna, who was invited as a guest lecturer, this week, declined the invitation due to "operational commitments."

The organisers, who had made arrangements for the seminar, turned to Maj. Gen. Wijendra. He also politely declined the request in view of other commitments before his departure. Now, Maj. Gen. Seneviratne will not only be a participant but also guest lecturer. He has agreed to lecture on the crisis in Sri Lanka and the quest for peace.

New spokesman to be named
The Government will pick a new Military Spokesman (or Director Media) from among a list of names to be submitted by Army Headquarters.

This is to replace Military Spokesman, Brigadier Sanath Karunaratne, who has been posted as Deputy General Officer Commanding the Army's Weli Oya sector. He was easily the most successful among military spokesmen and is credited, among many other matters, with re-establishing the Army's new website - www.Army.lk

Earlier, Colonel Daya Ratnayake, presently Commandant of the Regimental Centre at Panagoda, was tipped to succeed Brig. Karunaratne.

According to a Ministry of Defence source, his name is also likely to be placed in the list together with other Army officers for Government's consideration.

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