Valuable timber turn into Ipil-ipil and Gliricidia!

Two illicit loggers who happened to be buddies of an influential politico were recently caught red-handed transporting timber of two kinds of protected trees from a reserved forest in the “Kandiya” area in Digamadulla.

The secret behind order to hire stage and tent!

This white-collar one who was functioning as a district manager was suddenly elevated to the position of an Assistant General Manager thanks to his close connection to a high political authority.

His far-sighted plan to steal an ECG machine!

When the main city council had procured three ECG recorder-machines for the three medical centres being run by it, they had also received an extra-recorder-machine free as part of the bargain.

The fury of a scorned female politico!

A female politico who had taken offence for excluding her followers from an aid programme launched by a party heavyweight is said to have begun boycotting the public functions, which the party chief and the other party bigwigs are billed to attend as distinguished guests.

From meditation to Bodhi Poojas!

A top one tasked with maintaining law and order is reportedly taking time off his onerous duties these days to hold Bodhi poojas in a bid to ward off looming threats to his precious career.

A prospect that brings him happy tears!

There’s a top team member hailing from the deep South whom you can still call young and in fact, he is said to be set for a second marriage.

Between the devil and the deep blue sea!

A senior top team member had the other day summoned the district level high-ups of a leading State-Owned Financial Institution for a conference held to discuss a Ministry project. This political authority hailing from a remote area in the country also holds a top post in the Green Party.

A saga about two projects placed on the backburner!

A saga about how two political characters from the South had tried to strike gold from the proposed Gin and Nilwala River Projects is coming out bit by bit these days, they say.

They didn’t want to court trouble!

The Green party Diyawanna group met for the regular stock-taking at the party chief’s official residence the other day.

A coming event casting its shadow?

A senior Blue, this politico has been looked on over the years as the party’s Number One in Uva. In fact, the country’s Number Two position had been almost within his reach on many occasions though it had eluded him so far to his obvious disappointment.

He pockets part of their pay!

Believe it not! There is a purohita who coolly pockets part of his private staff’s pay every month.

Being liberal with the public purse!

There is the main city council that runs a monthly bill of over Rs. 1 million for outsourcing air-conditioning its assembly hall as well as providing audio amplifiers and chairs for it on the occasion of its monthly sittings, they say.

Hippie brings his visit to an abrupt end!

The head of a leading city council the other day paid a courtesy call on a top team member.

Grooming for the impending vacancy!

Following a strong rumour that has gone viral in political circles that a deputy purohita is now on the brink of forfeiting his Diyawanna seat, the candidate immediately next to the latter on the preference list has already placed an order for a VIP suit with a master tailor, they say.

Poised for the jump?

A Diyawanna Green from an electorate adjoining a sacred city-based constituency is poised for a political somersault, they say.

Enjoying at no expense!

This star-sporting khakied one ruling the roost in an area known for beautiful damsels has become a big headache to the lesser mortals of his tribe supposed to be serving under his guidance.

Bending the rule to suit the need!

A young doctor couple has reportedly complained to the authorities concerned that a leading city school has admitted to its feeder-primary a child of a powerful politico’s driver after rejecting the admission of their child despite it being better qualified for filling the available class vacancy.

Farmer gives the politico an earful!

A provincial politico had to receive an acid tongue-lashing from an irate farmer in public when he faulted the latter for making a complaint to a visiting top team member.

Shutterbug introduced to the first lady-in-waiting!

That much-talked-about ‘wedding of the year’ has come and gone but many anecdotes related to this gala event keep popping up in political circles providing much humour and laughter, they say.

Caught with his hand in the till?

A top executive of the oil corporation had suddenly stopped attending his office giving rise to much perplexity and speculation among the staff, they say.

Inadvertence or sheer cussedness?

This character now holding a high political office once occupied a bench in the country’s judiciary.  

Weeding out the unwanted!

The Green leader recently attended a meeting of the party’s electoral level organizers of the Kandy district held to review the progress of the party’s crash propaganda programme planned out in connection with the upcoming provincial and national polls.

Big Wig to meet party bigwigs?

There is no letup in the bitter feuding going on between the Northern alliance bigwigs and the big Wig in the North, but the peacemakers have not given up their hopes either, they say.

Yet another horse in the race!

There is a top team member busy these days seeking appointments to meet Colombo-based envoys from nations, which are key players in the world scene.

Craze for power blinds him to blaze at door!

A certain high-up in the public service, to be more precise, a head of a department much in the limelight these days, sent for a Pettah trader pal the other day.

Indulging siblings at taxpayers’ expense!

The political chief of the main province has reportedly placed two of his official vehicles at the disposal of his son and daughter.

Right connections assure the right comforts!

This onetime white- collar one currently detained in the State lodge on charges of corruption said to have committed while serving a political authority, is having a good time in a healthcare unit despite a medical consultant giving him a clean bill of health, they say.

Gold bracelet, his latest whim!

A central province politico known to be a close buddy of a high political authority is now being popularly referred to by the nickname, “Rattaran’, they say.

Threatened with the chop for spilling the beans!

Employees of a distillery belonging to a businessman involved in a major financial fraud are these days under a constant threat of being laid off at any moment, they say.

No letup in craze!

Two chandeliers costing Rs. 4 million had been purchased for the new assembly hall of a main provincial body in the country, they say.