In Confidence
Posted on January 1st, 2011
Dr Bandula Kothalawala
MaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢am,
Oh, I must tell you what happened the other day. I was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs. It was most hilarious. The learned Professor gave me a lecture or a sermon or a homily whatever -all rolled into one in Oxford prose! I could not bear it. No, no, not the accent. The accent was OK; it is the style, the vocabulary, gesticulations etc. He was really getting on my nervesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦..
I must say I felt a bit embarrassed. I could not make out half of what he was saying.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is his vocabulary, frankly. By the way, what does ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-mendaciousƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ mean? (I had forgotten to take the pocket dictionary with me. Anyway, when I looked it up later, it was not in it.) I wonder if someone in the Office could mail a copy of the Oxford Dictionary to me, no, not to me, to the Embassy, I mean. It is going to be quite handy in dealing with the learned Professor! ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Of course, there are on-line dictionaries, but, I am scared to look at the internet, these days. Do you have any news about our demarches on Julian? I canƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t bother to spell his surname.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ I have no doubt. Scans will oblige us. They were very good on rendition flights, werenƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t they? The tricky bit is to get the guy out of London, I suppose.
It was so different with the other fellow (Bogolla), at least, I had no problem in understanding what he was saying. GL is an entirely different of kettle of fish. He goes on and on. Oh, my God! You canƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t put in a wordƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ And the overbearing manner of almost talking down to people! You know, in Dacca, they, at least, show some respect for you, for your personality, for your country etc whatever they may say behind your back. To be honest, I was treated like a viceroy there. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ I wonder how Rob tolerated all this here. It is totally different. They do not know what diplomacy means or do not seem to care to knowƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦.
What was it like when you met GL? You did see him, didnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t you?
A very Happy New Year (without any leaks, I mean)!
Yours
Pat
PSƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Did you know that Dr Hayes had to leave Colombo without a farewell call on the President? It seems the President did not want to see him again. It was odious. There you are!
Dr Bandula Kothalawala
December 31st, 2010 at 12:54 pm
I’m suprised GLP summoned Butenis at this early stage. Is he going to summon her every time Wikileaks releases more cables?
In that case Butenis might as well have a permanent office at the Ministry of External Affairs.
We have yet to witness GLP submissions to the LLRC, especially the role he played during the Peace negotiations and the CFA.
January 1st, 2011 at 1:15 am
Cannot understand head or tail of what this article is about, but in answer to Dr Kotalawela’s question as to what “Mendacious” means, it is “lying’ or “untruthful”, according to my Oxford Dictionery.
The pocket dictionery may not cover all the words in the English Language.
January 1st, 2011 at 3:07 am
I am a bit surprised this article was written by Bandula. This is not a match to what you normally write Bandula (Dr).
January 1st, 2011 at 8:25 am
Dear Dr. (I do not know what Dr. you are) Even Minister Mervin is a Dr. Ha.. Ha. Haa. Leave along the Oxford Big edition, the Penguin dictionary gives the meaning of “Mendacious” as deception or falsehood. So you know it now.
Please do not remind us the name “Bogolla”. This was the man who brought disgrace to the entire Foreign and External Affairs of Sri Lanka. However, the people of S/L – the voters of Colombo kicked him out of politics and let him be like that for ever. This does not in anyway suggest that everything in External Affairs have been put to right. Not at all.The Prof. is struggling with an army of incompetent stooges who haven been placed in-charge of foreign affairs by this very man called “Bogolla”.
Dear Dr. you too are in the same boat. What are you talking about?
January 1st, 2011 at 9:11 am
GL is an asset
He is an extremly brilliant man . I like the way he present himself
not sure why you say this
January 2nd, 2011 at 5:32 am
If GL is a brilliant man and a great asset, why is the likes of Sajin Vaas G “Monitoring” him and the Ministry of External Affairs?
January 4th, 2011 at 7:30 pm
GL is a brilliant minister. He is one of the few well spoken in English we can be proud about, although I didn’t like him much as a student under him.