Jig is up for them!

This is an office that mints money for the Government. The turnover of this office known by a three- letter name, runs into many millions of rupees a day, they say.

A gift from paramour!

A panjandrum who is said to be close to the governing one has reportedly taken advantage of his position to place his ladylove in charge of the schools in an area in the upcountry hills.

He is treated as an outcaste!

A ‘lovable’ Pohottuwa politico in Matale area is being given the cold shoulder by the party’s big guns in the district, they say.

Whitewashing a black sheep!

A story coming from a farmer settlement area says that a white-collar high-up ruling the roost there has begun collecting bribes brazenly from the illegal sand miners, emboldened by his close connection to a provincial political bigwig and a chief of a meditation program fame, they say.

His latest acquisition!

This prominent government politico had recently purchased a mansion in a city suburb from a wealthy fishery businessman for a whopping Rs. 270 million.

They feared his big mouth!

The security personnel of a certain Diyawanna deputy despite been officially apprised of the impending suicide bomb attacks on churches well in advance had deliberately withheld the information from the politico.

Political clout holds sway!

The national aluth sahal mangalya (new rice festival) was held at the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi precincts under the patronage of Number One the other day.

Family member in shady deal!

The son-in-law of a very high political authority had reportedly solicited a bribe of Rs. 100 million to clinch a sale of machinery of a factory that had been producing a sweet product to a company of a neighbouring country.

A security conference sans security chiefs

All government Diyawanna politicos met in Colombo in the wake of the Easter Sunday tragedy. And they decided they should take stock of the grave situation with the participation of the chiefs of all security services.

Planned to hit below the belt?

A top white-collar high-up of a key statutory body involved in major constructions like high-rises, had recently received an unusual confidential request from a top team member. The requester was not the top team member in charge of the subject.

He is a prisoner at home

There is a purohita who has been advised by intelligence sources to remain confined to his residence for his own safety.

He didn’t want to sit with his detractor

A high-level conference on the country’s security situation was held the other day. However, Number One had informed the white-collar high-ups in advance that he would attend this conference only on condition that a certain top team member would not participate in it.

He got an earful for his interpretation of the law

This Green party Diyawanna member is looked on as a legal eagle and an expert on Constitutional Law. He started his political career as a leftist.

Failed to pay his customary courtesy call

The former strongman spent a brief holiday in Nuwara-eliya recently. Whenever, the former strongman visits Nuwara-eliya for whatever purpose, there is a prominent politico in the upcountry estate sector, who would make it a point to pay a courtesy call on him. This politico is none other than King Rooster.

Envy doesn’t acknowledge party bonds

This local politico was recently appointed as an organizer of the party in the bud for a ‘Kandiya’ area in Digamadulla.

He said “No!” to President’s request!

This is a story that revolves around the late President J.R. Jayewardene who was responsible for introducing the all-powerful Executive Presidency to the country. J.R was also a President who used his executive powers with a unique thoroughness. He also inspired fear and respect in others in a great measure.

He used to borrow money from PM!

Believe it or not! There was a time when a certain MP had made it a habit to borrow a few rupees from the Prime Minister at the time for an alcoholic drink! This story comes from no lesser a person than a prominent star in the political firmament at that time.

He wanted to become a tea taster!

There was a typical young radical in a political family in the deep South. The family was so close to the national politics, the young man attended school from Sravasti, the Parliament members’ hostel itself. On completing his secondary education, the young man wanted to secure a highly paid job. Finding that tea-tasting carried good pay, the young man wanted to become a tea taster.

How he silenced the hecklers! The main character in this story is a Red comrade!

Sarath Muttettuwegama, Comrade Sarath to his political buddies and foes alike, who turned Parliamentary proceedings quite lively with his fiery speeches was, in fact, a revolutionary with a difference.

Free cement goes into the construction of his own House!

A powerful politico has entrusted to an aide of his, the job of distributing free cement among his poor constituents to enable them to put up a ‘roof over their heads’ and the latter is said to be misusing part of the cement stock to construct his own house now coming up by a lakeside.

He detests their body odour!

A provincial secretary has prohibited the council employees from riding the elevator he personally uses.

She had an axe to grind!

This newly appointed electorate organizer of the political party in the bud at the periphery got soon embroiled in a dispute with the local body members of the same party.

Three royal weddings in a row!

Three royal weddings due to take place this year is the talk in the town these days. They have already begun sending out invitations to the wedding of Number One’s only male offspring -the first of the three due to be held early May at Colombo Shangri -La.

Newcomer is getting the cold shoulder!

This member of black-coated gentry who threw in his lot with Pohottuwa was recently appointed as the organizer of an electorate in a distant district.

A shocking name change!

Once there was a school in close proximity to the Diyawanna council which had been named after Shri Rahula Thera, the celebrated Buddhist monk, who was an erudite scholar and an author of several classic poetry works.

The successor has undone what predecessor left half-done!

Once there was a widespread belief that the main place responsible for distributing the precious oil to the country was a hotbed of corruption.

Face to face with Appochchi!

Uwe Soysa would often lash out at the former strongman both in the council and outside. He had hit hard at the former strongman even at a foundation stone-laying ceremony held in Hambantota the other day.

Fault-finding for blackmailing!

Some Green party backbenchers are said to be in an ugly mood these days for having to suffer various forms of harassment at the hands of some ‘upstarts’ in the party.

A short-lived expectation!

There is a politico representing a constituency in Uva who once stood tall in the Green party. He later threw in his lot with the Betel leaf and held high office in that alliance. Quite recently he returned to the Green fold and began working for the party with much vigour. However, he was not lucky enough to get a place in the top team.

Made a fortune out of it!

When the existing building of a school (named after an ancient king who is said to have caused the death of his father by entombing him alive inside a wall,) could be renovated at a comparatively low cost, a leading political authority had reportedly taken the initiative to construct a three-storey building for this school at a cost of Rs.350 million!