Columns - Talk at the Cafe Spectator

Mixed messages on massacre

The Government’s decision to commemorate the killing of 600 unarmed policemen by the LTTE with two minutes silence at all police stations has not been welcomed by everyone.

National List UNP MP R. Yogarajan is one of them. He feels that commemorating victories or such sad events only leads to arousing people’s passions and causing dissensions among communities. Besides, those involved in the killings are now with the government,” he added.

He’s hitting political sixes

Cricket’s grand old man who made a surprise return to the Sri Lanka team does not seem to have a problem flexing his political muscle once in a way.

He had recently boasted to a past cricketer of his influence in deciding who the next selectors would be. “When the selectors were being picked I called up three of the prospects and told them I will have your names endorsed, but they need to listen to what I say. If you do not believe what I say just confront them in front of me and if they lie I will look after the rest”.

The past cricketer had met the grand old man while he was at practices before the final ODI squad was picked. Even some other cricketers say that the veteran had boasted about this to them too.

DIGs disturbed over promotions

Last weeks promotion of ten senior police officers to the rank of Deputy Inspector Generals (DIGs) has left many unhappy.

The promotion process has been on hold for the past one year when the applications were called but out of the 50 who applied only ten were promoted.

Some of those overlooked include those who were appointed field DIGs but have now been denied the permanent position.

Somebody stole the court fish

Kandy Police were investigating the loss of gold fish and carp from the court complex pond. A complaint had been lodged with the Police by an attorney.

After about three weeks of investigation they have now found that the fish had apparently gone missing on the day the pond was cleaned and it is suspected the fish was stolen.

The suspicion has arisen because the fish were too heavy to be carried off by birds as is the case frequently with smaller fish that were in the pond.

To tell or not to tell lies

Buddhist envoys, who are to receive the Samadhi statues the Presidential Secretariat is sending, are in a quandary. Should they abide by the five precepts or disregard the fourth and lie for the country?

In the corridors of the MEA, diplonuts were whispering the ill logic of uttering lies to save the country’s good name. They say the last thing an envoy would like to lose is credibility. How could an envoy save the nation’s good name if he or she has no credibility?

Tamil classes for MPs

It’s back to a classroom, at least, for some MPs. A six month Tamil language course was inaugurated at the Parliament complex last Friday under the patronage of Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa.

Among those who signed up for lessons were Minister Wimal Weerawansa and MP Ven. Aturaliye Ratana Thero.

The classes will be held for two hours on Wednesday when Parliament meets. There will be 30 members in the first batch of MPs.

Pig in the poke

Former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka who is currently serving a 30-month jail term this week likened government MP Duminda Silva to that of a ‘sukaraya’ or pig in response to comments made by that parliamentarian at a public protest in Colombo Fort on Thursday.

The MP who has been in the forefront of leading pro-government demonstrations in favour of the controversial Private Pension Scheme, sometimes with the assistance of club-wielding thugs, had called the former army commander a corrupt official, among other names and went on to challenge him for a street fight.

The MP, who was elected from the Colombo District at the last elections, went on to say that this was not immediately possible since Fonseka has to stay longer behind bars, but he was ready to take him on whenever he is released.

In response, Fonseka said, during an appearance in courts on Friday. “I led a force that destroyed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the world’s most ruthless terrorist organisation. Therefore it is not worth commenting on such a sukaraya (pig).

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