Elusive visitor

Parliament had adjourned at 4.30 p.m. on Wednesday and once all MPs had left the Chamber, the doors were closed. UNP Polonnaruwa district MP Chandrasiri Suriyaarachchi appeared a little while later looking for one of his visitors to the public gallery who he could not trace. He feared that the man may have got locked inside the House. The door was opened and a search was done but there was no sign of him. The MP called his visitor’s home in Polonnaruwa to inquire if the man had called only to be told that he had called from Borella to inform that he was boarding a bus to head home. The MP was angry that he had not been kept informed of his visitor’s departure and berated the family member for the inconvenience caused.

Five star kokis and plain tea

Kokis and plain tea are more expensive than most western food at pricey city hotels, officials organising a full day conference of financial industry specialists, recently discovered.

Preparing for the meeting this week, a hotel by the sea had quoted a total price of Rs 2,500 per head for morning/evening tea including some pastries and a lavish buffet lunch/salads/dessert with more than 20 items. The officials however requested local specialitieslike gotukola 'kenda', kavun, kokis, plain tea with ginger, etc., only for the morning break and was quoted a price of Rs 2,690 per head! There was a separate charge for lunch and evening tea which came to a total cost of over Rs 5,000. Reason - city hotels don't make local sweetmeats unlike other food and have to purchase them from outside.