Spearheading the rescue effort after Deputy Defence Minister, General Anuruddha Ratwatte and his frontline military leaders in the offensive against the Tigers from the Operations Room of the Army Headquarters last month was by no means an easy task for the Commander-in-chief, President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.
When the episode ended, she made no attempt to hide her relief.
She declared that the incident seemed to have taken ten years off her life span. Of course that was one way of expressing how severe the shock the incident caused.
There are now shocks under way for those responsible for serious omissions. The Court of Inquiry has completed its report which raises some serious queries.
Insiders say a few heads are to roll after revelations that the instruments were much more sound than the human mind. It certainly does not speak of high quality standards!
How did several thousands of rupees meant for the institution end up in the private bank account of one in uniform, one of the calibre of an officer?
The man concerned has been placed under open arrest while a searching probe is underway.
Another in uniform, an officer of a higher rank, has been called upon to declare his assets.
The move follows allegations that he made personal gains over procurements of a variety of things. They are said to include houses and other assets.
On Christmas eve this week, the LTTE took time off to commemorate the death anniversary of a former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, late M.G. Ramachandran.
An LTTE press release said "Many speakers and public figures in Tamil Eelam gathered to commemorate the death of the late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran on the 24th of this month.
Described by guests as a committed friend of the Eelam Tamils and a great champion of the oppressed class he would be remembered with honour in the history of the Tamil freedom struggle.
Large crowds gathered in Puthukudiyiruppu Subramaniam school in memory of the revered man who passed away nine years ago."
Is this a message to present Chief Minister, Muthuvel Karunanidhi, "a one-time grand daddy" who is distancing himself now.
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