Striking the iron while it is hot!

A political party leader has come under heavy pressure from an unsuccessful party candidate at the last general poll to take necessary steps towards removing a young Diyawanna member who is now at the centre of a raging controversy.

‘Tooth- extracting’ film stars!

Dathak galawanawa (extracting a tooth) is a phrase that has entered the popular Sinhala idiom of late. This phrase means getting some undue benefit from someone by guile or deceit. 

He believes that money can talk!

This prominent politico now being quizzed by the CID regarding his involvement in shady deals in the past is said to be distributing gift-wrapped bags stuffed with greenbacks to certain heavyweights in the government in a bid to buy his way out of his present predicament. 

Double game that made way for bank strike

Government decided to obtain an injunction from courts against the recent general strike by bank employees and instructed an official of a leading state bank to take steps to obtain the court order.

More the merrier

A story that has gone viral in political circles says that three leading lights from the ‘joint opposition’ and a senior government member are to be raised to high office in the yahapalanaya government next week

A son who has become a law unto himself

This meddlesome son interfering in all affairs in his father’s key Ministry has become a veritable pain in the neck of all employees, they say.

They expect the suspect to spill the beans!

Findings of the Police investigations into the re-opened case of the ruggerite’s death which were made known from time to time sent shock waves through the country. 

A happy ending to a heated exchange!

The second in command in yahapalanaya created ripples of amusement in the House the other day when he referred to the presence of a ‘Suhada Koka’ (good-hearted stork) among them.

They plan to unfold an unknown story at Alutkade

?The liquor industry that spins a massive revenue in terms of billions for the government is currently in the throes of a crisis, they say. 

Two are to get the chop at the re-shuffle in the offing

A possible Cabinet re-shuffle after January is the subject of widespread speculation in political circles these days. 

They have fun over others’ fun!

A group of Diyawanna members were having their usual fun time in the House lobby the other day.  They were swapping anecdotes, most of them woven around romantic escapades of certain purohitas.

Getting ready for the pole vault?

The hero of this story was a popular purohita of the previous regime and a loyalist of the former strongman to boot.  This one was not fortunate enough to get a portfolio in yahapalanaya like some of his close associates. 

He wanted to give her a big thrill, but she got a big chill

A comely girl has received a Rs.15 million worth TOYOTA Harrier motor car from a prominent politician as a present on her birthday.

Why did they go easy on bribe taker?

An instance where authorities had soft-pedalled an open and shut case of bribery has been reported from a key state corporation recently.

Holidaying in Down Under at taxpayers’ expense

This fair one, a high official in the state service was the most prominent among a group that left for Down Under to follow a special course of study.

Together in adversity

‘‘Thieves dining at the same table” The above phrase which reminds one of the oft-used English saying ‘Birds of the feather flock together’ is really a coinage by some of our Diyawanna members. 

Difference between then and now!

People from various walks of life jogging on the ‘workouts lane’ at the Independence Square is a common sight. VIPs from Diyawanna are also often found among these regular joggers. 

Story behind two crocodile figures!

The Nilwala gate at the southernmost entry point to the Southern Super-highway is, no doubt, a familiar sight for the users of this highway. 

Their precious vote produces the second ship owner

A rumour abuzz in political circles says that a yahapalanaya purohita has floated a shipping company from foreign shores. He is a party leader who is clever at boosting his political fortunes by allying with whatever government in power at the opportune moment.

A stickler for yahapalanaya principles, but he had to go

The Customs got a new chief last week. Incidentally, he was the third to be appointed in quick succession to this key post under the Yahapalanaya.

His plan draws support from an unexpected quarter

A Senior Banda from the hills contested the last general poll on the Betel leaf ticket but lost mainly because the former strongman did not pull his weight in his favour, they say.  However, his new mentor raised him to Purohita status after offering him a gratis seat in Diyawanna.

He stands up to his political boss to keep his chair!

When the yahapalanaya purohitas got new portfolios with new subjects at the last reshuffle, they asked the chairmen and directors (of statutory bodies) appointed by their predecessors to quit office. 

Two family regiments turn yahapalanaya upside down

People in the Kandy area have nowadays made it habit to refer to two family regiments ruling the roost in the Central Province. One regiment is described as the ‘Elle’ regiment and the other as the ‘Wardana’ regiment. 

Once bitten, twice shy

A very high post at secretarial level is due to fall vacant in a few weeks, they say.

“She is upset over the court case…”

The former strongman hosted all Diyawanna members, who did not vote for the 2016 Budget at its second reading, to a grand dinner in the city.

Political games and the gentlemen’s game!

With two Goliaths entering the arena exercising equally strong political muscle, the battle for the chair of the national body for the gentlemen’s game has now become a real ding-dong.

Drunken kinsmen are bullies!

There is a certain yahapalanaya purohita who has appointed several family members to high posts in his Ministry.  

He declines high post to mark his protest!

This Diyawanna member who presided over education in the previous regime has got a knack for taking people by surprise. Quite recently he sprang a surprise on his colleagues from both sides of the divide when he declined to accept the prestigious chair of the council’s accounts committee. 

A recurring craze for importing coconuts

A certain purohita has presented a proposal to the highest decision- making body to import coconuts to meet the prevailing short supply in the local market.

Another case of two appointees to the same post

Here is another classic case in yahapalanaya where two appointees to the same high post are embroiled in a dog fight.