Minister Mervyn Silva was busy acting in a Sinhala film this week. The minister has been selected to act as King Dutugemunu in the film 'Surangana Lovin Awilla' produced by Suneth Malinga Lokuhewa.
The shooting of the film took place in the Sigiriya area this week.
 |
| Pic by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa |
No more chit visas
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has directed ministers not to write letters to Colombo-based diplomatic missions recommending visas for any one.
He told them that there were several complaints from the diplomatic community that they were being inundated with requests from ministers. In one instance, a ruling party MP had written to a diplomatic mission recommending a visa for his private secretary. It turned out that the person holding the office was none other than the MP's wife.
In the past, it has come to light that some of those who obtained visas from ministers to travel to European countries have sought asylum there.
Some years ago, the Swiss ambassador in Colombo complained that none other than the then President of the country would telephone him and ask him for a visa for "a good friend of mine from my constituency". The President had forgotten that he was no longer an MP and that his constituency was Sri Lanka.
Gayoom loses libel case on luxury life
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, one time President of Sri Lanka's neighbour, the Republic of Maldives, has lost a libel case in his country over an article in The New York Times.
Gayoom sued Abdul Latheef over an article published on June 13, 2010. The article referred to allegations of corruption against the former President.
 |
That story was based on an audit report former Presidential palace Theemuge, published by Auditor General Ibrahim Naeem, a damning indictment of the former government's spending habits.
The Minivan news which reported the case states: "These, according to the NYT article, included an estimated "US$9.5 million spent buying and delivering a luxury yacht from Germany for the president, US$ 17 million on renovations of the presidential palace and family houses, a saltwater swimming pool, badminton court, gymnasium, 11 speed boats and 55 cars, including the country's only Mercedes-Benz."
"And the list goes on, from Loro Piana suits and trousers to watches and hefty bills for medical services in Singapore for 'important' people and their families.
There was a US$ 70,000 trip to Dubai by the first lady in 2007, a US$ 20,000 bill for a member of the family of the former president to stay a week at the Grand Hyatt in Singapore. On one occasion, diapers were sent to the islands by airfreight from Britain for Mr Gayoom's grandson.
"The Civil Court ruled that as both articles were based on a state audit report, the information made public by the country's first independent auditor general should be considered valid unless proven otherwise.
"The court judgment added that there was no legal basis for individuals or media outlets to be held responsible for proving the truth or falsehood of an official audit report."
"Delivering the verdict Judge Mariyam Nihayath said that while the court believed the articles in question could be damaging to Gayoom's reputation, information publicised in an audit report must be considered factual unless proven otherwise.
No call but Sajith wanted to be first
Now United National Party (UNP) Co- deputy leader Sajith Premadasa, who now has a coterie of media advisors, has sent us an e-mail.
This is what he says: "In the substance of the article it has been stated that I had made a telephone call to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to express my support and solidarity with the government over the UN panel report on alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka. I write to confirm to you that I have not contacted President Rajapaksa to express my support and solidarity with the government over the UN panel report."
This was a reference to last week's comment in these columns. I stand corrected.
However, I wish to add that notwithstanding that claim, Mr. Premadasa has nevertheless expressed his unequivocal support to President Rajapaksa and his government over the UN Panel's report.
He did so even before his own leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe or the party could make a public statement.
Of course, he wanted to be first even though there was no telephone call. Perhaps one was not necessary.
Kongahage: Our envoy in Berlin
The Minister of External Affairs has appointed former MP and one-time chairman of Lake House and later Rupavahini and Presidential candidate Sarath Kongahage as Sri Lanka's next Ambassador to Germany.
Mr. Kongahage is an attorney-at-law and long time politician. He cut his political teeth with actor turned politician Vijaya Kumaratunga and the Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya (SLMP) in the 1980s, but has supported President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his two campaigns for the Presidency.
He will have former President J.R. Jayewardene's grand-son Pradeep Jayewardene as his Counsellor in Frankfurt while he operates from Berlin.
Kshenuka to be recalled
The External Affairs Ministry is to recall Sri Lanka's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Kshenuka Seneviratne.
An EAM source said, "the move is intended to ensure that a senior foreign service officer is based in Colombo." This is particularly in the light of another lady career officer, Aruni Wijewardene, obtaining a two years leave of absence from her post.
The order to ask Ms. Seneviratne to return to Colombo, EAM sources said, would be made by External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris.
At present, Ms. Seneviratne is in Colombo for consultations regarding the findings of the United Nations Panel's report on alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka.
Youth to lead JVP
During a visit to London, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leader Somawansa Amerasinghe addressed a meeting of his party's London branch at a sports club in Wembley, a city with a large Asian population.
One of his party supporters asked him a question about future JVP leadership. Mr. Amerasinghe said that in time to come, a young person would become the new leader but did not identify who it would be.
|
E-mail