Columns

Here is food for thought for promoters of the Economic and Technology Co-operation Agreement (ETCA) between India and Sri Lanka.  A Sri Lankan businessman was invited by an Indian outfit to talk about the settlement of a claim he has made. A committee of four was appointed to go into the matter.

After hours of small talk, with no settlement in sight, and in sheer disgust, the local chappie told his counterparts that they should be ‘ashamed’, having used his services to obtain the said contracts for the outfit, they were still holding payment despite an arbitration award in his favour.

Did the word ‘ashamed’ touch a raw nerve of the legal head of the outfit -PSU. He who let off a verbal barrage at the local man, much to the bewilderment of those present?

Talk of non-tariff barriers, one has now to contend with obnoxious officials too! ÉTCA lovers beware, a contract in big brother land is just a piece of paper of no value nor is an arbitration award settled by their own judges.

The message to Sri Lankan businessmen and the Government is clear. “Go with your eyes open and expect the worst in big brother land where bullying mandarins do not respect executed contracts. ETCA, here we go!!”

The leopard was not on spot for VIP
A VIP in the south, a shutterbug among many other things, is in the usual habit of ignoring “one way” rules in a wildlife park.
In the Yala National Park, when he was driving on a widely used track, to his dismay he found others were speeding in the opposite direction or the right way. They had spotted a leopard.
As our photograph shows, the VIP missed the shot though he had a powerful close up lens. His vehicle just could not turn and the leopard was right behind.

High-level media gang wheels in deal after deal
A newly emerged media gang has taken the advertising world by storm raking in one top deal after another.
The latest is how they are set to win a Rs. 800 million deal for a specialised engagement which requires digital expertise.
Insiders say that five local bidders who vied for the deal and were shortlisted have now been knocked off unceremoniously much the same way, lines are disconnected for non-payment of bills.

They say the road is now being paved for new connections with a powerful albeit influential member of the gang and an even more influential boss who decides on deals.

Minister blasts CEB engineers
Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka has hit out at the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) engineers for the recent power shortages.  “It’s a robbery,” he charged at Wednesday’s weekly ministerial meeting.
A former Power and Energy Minister and an electrical engineer by profession, Mr. Ranawaka said steps should be taken to ensure nothing went wrong.

The ministers decided that as a temporary measure the Government should buy electricity from private power producers. It was, however, decided that a long-term plan would have to be formulated. The CEB had proposed to introduce power cuts. However, the Ministry of Power overruled the move.

Envoy clarifies position
Karunasena Kodituwakku, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to China, has sent in what he calls a “clarification regarding PM’s visit to China.” He states:

“Please refer to your news item that appeared on 27th March 2016 under the caption, ‘Former Envoy to Prepare Way for PM’, creating the impression that the said former envoy was sent to Beijing to make arrangements for the PM’s upcoming visit, and implying that this was done since the present envoy, who is a political appointee, is incapable of doing so.
“As the said present envoy, I would like to clarify that all the necessary arrangements were finalized before the said former envoy arrived in Beijing. The factual position is as follows:

“The first discussion regarding the schedule was held in early March with the participation of Chinese Foreign Ministry representatives, including the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, and two visiting Ministers, Hon. Malik Samarawickrama and Hon. Sagala Ratnayake and myself.

“The second discussion was held few days later between senior members of the Embassy staff including myself and the senior officials of the Asia Department in the Foreign Ministry of China to finalize the PM’s programme, including the agreements to be signed. This programme was sent to Colombo on following day itself.
“Reservations for accommodation including inspection on par with the dignitaries, was also finalized.

“Therefore, you can see that all the necessary arrangements were finalized before the former envoy arrived in Beijing.
“When a senior leader of any country visits a foreign country, it is a standard practice for this visit to be preceded by the arrival of senior officers from the relevant dignitary’s office and the Foreign Ministry, including security personnel. Therefore, the former envoy, who is an Additional Secretary to the Foreign Ministry, arrived in Beijing ahead of the PM, not to organize the visit, but to assist the Embassy, which welcomes such cooperation…..”

MPs called to the bar
Ministers at their weekly meeting on Wednesday decided that a list containing parliamentarians who held liquor licences should be publicised.
The list is being prepared by the Ministry of Finance.