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In the limelight
JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva and JVP Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa were in the limelight after signing the Sandanaya MoU, not when they were captured on television, but when hordes of party supporters from the JVP and SLFP thronged the twosome for their autographs. The elated JVPers were seen obliging their supporters. They definitely outshone even Sri Lanka's former cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunge who was present at the ceremony. One wonders if this is a sign of shedding the Marxist ideals.

Faulty mikes
Much has been said about the microphone system in Parliament, specially when the electronic voting system was installed. It seems like little has been done to rectify the matter. Last Friday sittings came to a halt not because of the unruly behaviour of parliamentarians but because the mikes did not function. It was during the debate on amendments to the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance.

While MEP leader Dinesh Gunawardena was speaking vociferously on the Bill, the mikes refused to function. It took a good ten minutes or so for the mikes and the parliamentarians to come back to life.

No problem
The episode did not end there. A journalist attending the press conference of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reforms held in Parliament raised a question on the electronic voting system which the committee had recommended be adopted for future polls.

Minister Karu Jayasuirya explained the positive side of such a system, when a journalist asked what if it fails to function, just like the mikes in the Chambers. Minister Jayasuriya assured the journalist that the officials will not have a problem as the machine is battery operated unlike the mikes.

Ringside view for children
When Parliamentary sittings were adjourned for ten minutes on Friday after a heated clash between the Government and the Opposition over JVP leader Somawansa Amerasinghe's return to Sri Lanka, the members continued with the verbal abuse. Little did they realise that school children in the public gallery were getting a good view of the rowdy behaviour. The school children were not amused at the behaviour. However, embarrassed police officers were seen leading the children out of the public gallery. Love letter, not summons.

An Army deserter who was charged for stealing a motorcycle got off scot-free, but not by going into hiding. The Army deserter was charged by the Akkaraipattu police. However when the policeman went to issue summons on him, his wife who had been at home got the shock of her life. The policeman instead of issuing the summons had given her a love letter. The wife complained to the police and handed over the letter to her husband's lawyers. When the Army deserter was produced in court the lawyer informed the magistrate that his client be given bail as his wife was in danger with no security. The Army deserter was given bail, while the love-struck cop is to face an inquiry.

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