Clout succeeds where vote failed

A fair and lovely one who contested the recent mini-poll in an area where a kingdom once flourished had suffered defeat. However, a leading politico had intervened to offer her a ‘list seat’ to the chagrin of the other candidates including a woman candidate who made legitimate claims to the slots on the list, they say. 

A desperate bid to stage a comeback

While the various snags in the way of constituting the new local bodies being cleared, picking heads and deputies to the local bodies won with decisive majorities have become a big headache to the main political parties, they say.

A story about a stink

This is a very unusual story about a head of a statutory body. Employees in his main office hate to go near him. And it’s a nightmarish experience for the directors to sit with him at board meetings. It is not because this bigwig is fierce or menacing, bad-tempered and given to tantrums either. It is because the odor exuding from his body is so awful and nauseating!

A cop who refused to bend

The cremation of Ven. Daranagama Kusaladhamma Nayake Thera was held recently at the Independence Square with state honours. However, the organizers had initially planned to erect the funeral pyre in another section of the Square. 

Sports portfolio to change hands

A story doing rounds in political circles says that the sports portfolio is due to change hands soon.

Peeking into uncertain future

Two politically significant events said to be in the offing – moving a no confidence motion against Number Two and another reshuffle of the top team have become the subjects of much discourse in political circles these days. Meanwhile, government high-ups have begun breathing fire at their own bosses. Fast developing political instability and uncertainty about their own political future appear to have highly shaken almost all high authoriti

Motion back on the table

The much publicized no confidence motion put on hold for some time is back on the table, they say. 

A dark horse in the race

With the no confidence motion taking centre-stage again, a race for the Number Two office has begun, they say. 

There was provocation for their protest

Number One who on an official visit to Nippon, got a jolt when a group of Sri Lankan Muslims domiciled in that country staged a demonstration opposite the hotel where he and his entourage checked in. It soon transpired the Muslim community had organized this demonstration to register their protest against the anti-Muslim riots that broke out in and around Kandy.

Steering by stars

There is a lady occupying a high office in a certain province thanks to the fortuitous circumstance of being a reputed astrologer which appears to have taken precedence over any other credentials.

Mystery of a bungalow fire

While the communal fires were raging in the upcountry, someone had taken advantage of the chaotic situation to set fire to several government bungalows built on a hilly terrain, they say. 

A change in attitude after mini-polls

A leading purohita from the South has of late become rude and discourteous to his constituents. The queer behavior he has developed since the recent mini-polls has become a matter for both puzzlement and amusement of the people in the electorate, they say. 

He now runs the show

A highly privileged inmate of a state-run lodge has come to command such clout now that he has become the virtual authority deciding as to who should be admitted to the star class hospital ward he is currently occupying. 

A tuck-tuck to make an extra buck

There is a two star-rank cop working as a tuck-tuck driver to earn an additional income,  they say.

Looking for ‘comforts’ on circuit

A divisional head of a key Ministry had been recently transferred out following complaints about his immoral conduct.

Carrying gifts to curry favour

Some Diyawanna members, aspiring to receive a kick upstairs in the reshuffle said to be round the corner, are reportedly visiting the residence of a business tycoon in Wayamba carrying gift parcels these days.

Rs. 15 m limousine with love

Charming beauties adding colour, gaiety and a flavor of romance to the life of some of the political elite is no news. 

The elusive bond scam suspect

The yahapalanaya nerve centre had recently received a highly confidential intelligence report about the former chief of the bank of banks playing hide and seek overseas.

Were his bosses low in his estimation?

A senior purohita from the central hills, a heavyweight of a main political party to boot, had called the former strongman at the height of rioting that broke out in and around the sacred city to make an urgent request. “I want to make an earnest request to you, Sir!” he had begun. “Please make an appeal to the entire nation to remain calm and peaceful!”

Sure of one Green ‘aye’ for no-confidence

The JO members led by the former strongman had recently met behind locked doors to work out the nitty-gritties of the much publicized no confidence motion. 

His straight talk unnerved them

It is no longer news that there was a move afoot in the recent past to offer the law and order portfolio to the politico-turned-war hero. 

Forgetting the past

There is a prominent politico known to have taken the initiative to revoke the law barring the fragmentation of coconut estates in a gallant move to meet a business need of his ladylove. 

“Don’t hit your head against a rock”

A metal quarry located in an area of an ancient kingdom fame has become a veritable menace to the people living in the locality, reports say. 

Familial monopoly in the making

An elder of a prominent political family in the central province is reportedly pulling wires these days to ensconce a family member in the main chair of a major local body administering a historic city.

How this game is played

Many politicos had deliberately kept away from the district in the hills when it was hit by communal riots, but most of them were seen later in a long queue to show their face to a very high authority when the latter visited the hill capital in a damage control bid, they say.

Two bad eggs to cash in on egg imports

Two purohitas are in a race to import a shipment of about 3 million eggs in a purported bid to head off a possible egg shortage during the upcoming Sinhala/Hindu New year. 

She throws a spanner in the works

Electing a chair for a local body in an area of Digamadulla fame has reportedly run into an unexpected deadlock with a ladylove of an influential Diyawanna politico entering the fray. 

There’s a difference …

A onetime powerful lady turned her guns on a very high political authority during an informal discussion among heavyweights of a main political party, they say. 

Paying bills nobody’s baby

This holiday resort located in an ancient kingdom has for some time become the haunt of the lackeys of a leading politico. 

Waiting for the highest bid!

While the legal snags and other issues in the way of constituting newly elected local bodies are being resolved, the main political parties are reportedly in a race to buy members elected from minor political parties and independent groups in a bid to have their own nominee as the mayor or the chairperson.