Deputy Defence Min ister, General Anuruddha Ratwatte, had an hour long meeting with the new military top brass who will run the rest of “Operation Jaya Sikurui” or Victory Assured, which will be six months old in the next nine days.
It is headed by Deputy Chief of Staff, Major General Srilal Weerasuriya.
General Ratwatte had a word of praise for Major General Asoka Jayawardena and other seniors who were tired and needed a break.
He told the new military top brass that he expects to have “Operation Jaya Sikurui” concluded before February, next year.
Although the good General did not say so, it was clear they wanted the Jaffna-Kandy highway fully functional when Sri Lanka celebrates the 50th independence anniversary in Kandy.
Posting orders sent out by Army Headquarters on Thursday had to be amended again on Friday due to some discrepancies.
One was the posting of Major General P.A. Karunatilleke as General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 55 Division. He was earlier Security Forces Commander, Jaffna, where he commanded some 40,000 troops. In his new posting, he was to lead only some 12,500 troops.
Hence he has been named Deputy Overall Operations Commander. Since the word had got around about the original changes, MOD’s Operational Headquarters issued an unusual news release setting out the changes.
Armed Policemen stormed into an apartment complex in the heart of Kollupitiya last week to issue a stern warning.
Occupants have been told not to look out of the windows facing Colombo Fort end, that is in the direction of “Temple
Trees.”
If they do so, they will be shot at, the cops warned the inmates. They were also told that the penthouse windows are being observed through binoculars.
The owners of the penthouse now wonder whether to close the windows and have a blank wall. That will of course restrict ventilation and violate building laws, they say.
One of the biggest shortcomings the Sri Lanka Army is now faced with is the shortage of ambulances to transport casualties in the separatist war.
Every now and then, well wishers have donated one or two. The Army has been forced to obtain a fleet from the Department of Health Services. Even that has not been sufficient.
But in a newly set up medical centre close to the battle area, an ambulance has been converted into a vehicle. Needless to say it cost several thousands of rupees for the conversion. Who did the conversion? Well, the same person who is now using it for travel in luxury.
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