A recent announcement by the Ministry of Defence declared that 96 percent of the next of kin of Army personnel who were either killed or Missing in Action (MIA) had collected their salaries. According to official figures there were 1,268 officers and men.
The Ministry called upon the rest who had not reported to do so, at two designated Regimental Headquarters.
Quite understandably there were emotional scenes when the next of kin met with officials attending on them. Many did not hide their emotions and wept loudly.
To their credit, the officers handled them very tactfully, with utmost care and concern.
That is not to say they did not have their share of knotty problems. One lady presented herself and established her credentials (including the marriage certificate) to claim her husband’s salary. The formalities were cleared and she was paid pronto.
But the matter did not end there. Another young lady turned up and claimed the same salary of the same man. The officials challenged her to produce the marriage certificate which she did.
They do not have the heart to tell the young lady that the pay had already been given to a wife.
Whilst they have put the matter on hold saying things will have to be verified, officials are wondering what to say when two wives come for the same pay packet this month.
Gone are the days when the German built Uher telephone tapping equipment monitored calls from a room in the fifth floor of CID headquarters building.
With Subscriber Trunk Dialling (STD) exchanges dotting almost all parts of the country, state-of-the-art telephone surveillance equipment has been coupled to the French-built E10 exchange. From a plush two storeyed building in Colombo 7, sleuths can now tune into those threatening national security or engaging in simple love talk.
Juicy bits of conversations between those who matter (and even those who do not) are whispered by some sleuths. So much so there were demands in Parliament last week to incorporate into law, a ban on telephone tapping. Ban or no ban, there are clearly laid out procedures. Those indulging in the exercise are required to obtain permission in writing from the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence. Gone are those days.
Last week, in one heavily-guarded institution, technicians were busy in their own Test Room. They were wiring to track down those responsible for leaks to the media.
Even the usually calm and affable boss of this institution has lost his cool. Last week he declared the media as a set of “cheap b....” (The last word is unprintable). It was very unlike of him and certainly not in keeping with his tender ways.
In a tiny village on the outskirts of the ruined cities of Anuradhapura, uncle Sam’s boys were training the local junior warriors to hunt Tigers.
Return to the Editorial/Opinion contents page