“Two-timing Minister’s wife on the warpath”

Another article from The Island, which appeared on the front page on Friday 19^th January. This one gives an interesting insight into Sri Lankan politics and the status of women in this society. The majority of readers must know who the minister is, as he is not named in the article. My guess is he has recently fallen out with the editor…

A ruling party politico, well-known for his lavish lifestyle, is in a fresh fight with his wife over an affair he is having with a senior employee, attached to an institution under his purview.  

The hot-tempered wife of the minister, who is currently away on an overseas visit, had recently stormed the office of her estranged husband’s latest love.  Well informed sources said that there had been a fight.  The minister in a bid to soothe the furious girl had taken her on an overseas visit.  She had been given the opportunity to go in the cockpit, the sources said.  The Island learns that the minister had not visited his official or private residences recently.  “The wife seems to be in charge,” the sources said.  The minister had been forced to park his two luxury vehicles at the residences of two of his close associates who had worked at institutions coming under his purview.

The trouble on the home front preceded a COPE report which targeted the main institution under his ministry.  The politico’s latest love is the number two in a key section in this institution which is under fire for brazen acts of waste, corruption and irregularities.

“Shooting below the knee for destroying the environment”

The following article by Cyril Wimalasurendra appeared on page 3 of The Island, a major Sri Lankan newspaper, on Monday 15^th January. There is no obvious indication that it is be taken ironically. Unfortunately I missed the event itself.

Kandy – Those responsible for destroying the environment should be shot below the knee, Agriculture, Mahaweli Development and Environment Minister Maithripala Sirisena told a media briefing at Hotel Swiss Residence, Kandy yesterday.

The minister addressed the media after attending a certificate distribution ceremony at the end of a seminar on Environment conservation organised by the University of Peradeniya.

Destruction of the environment he said was a severe crime and laws to punish those responsible for the destruction of the environment by shooting them below the knee would be introduced shortly.

Wanton destruction of resources and the environment, the Minister said has risen so much that not only rural areas but also urban areas are subject to landslides and earthslips. Floods are frequent causing loss of life and property.

Some unscrupulous traders are also responsible for causing destruction to natural resources, he said adding that laws would be brought to curb such activities.

Perhaps Miliband should look into it?