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2nd August 1998

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Confusion

In the wake of threats from the LTTE and an alleged plot to assassinate President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, no one would have questioned the need for heightened security and greater vigilance.

That is not to say with the elaborate security plans everything works so smoothly that there are no complaints.

Perhaps due to over- cautiousness or sheer folly, some of the PSD (Presidential Security Division) and the MSD (Ministerial Security Division) boys took decisions that caused more confusion and chaos.

After President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga had adjourned the tenth SAARC summit, heads of States departed one after the other. An elated President who was also President of the SAARC now chose to stay behind to talk to a few officials. This she did for well over 20 minutes.

Whilst this went on, the PSD boys decided that the other invitees should not depart. So they were ordered to stay put. That included among others the Leader of the Opposition, Ranil Wickremesinghe and other UNP stalwarts. Interesting enough, it was these stalwarts who were agitated When they found their leader, Mr.Wickremesinghe, seated far behind whilst others who came down the line in terms of protocol were well ahead. They wanted to stage a walk out and told their leader about their plans. But he decided otherwise. He ordered his men not to do that.

At a dinner hosted by the affable Media Minister, Mangala Samaraweera at the Hotel Intercontinental, MSD boys carried out intense checks. Later uniformed Policemen did the rounds in the banquet hall holding sniffer dogs by their leash.

One MSD officer who was frisking the media men thoroughly kept switching on and off a scribe's cellphone. "Its okay, Sir. But please don't carry it. Keep it in your pocket," was his advice.

Was he worried of radiation or incoming calls? Only the MSD bosses will know !!


Conspicuous absence

One man who was conspicuous by his absence during the SAARC summit in Colombo was Deputy Defence Minister, General Anuruddha Ratwatte.

He was on a tour of China. According to PA sources this is the overseas tour of a longer duration undertaken by Sri Lanka's de facto Military boss.


Jungle Telegraph

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