Hulugalle came in Benz without security

Lakshman Hulugalle, former Director General of the Media Centre for National Security and now Sri Lanka's Deputy High Commissioner in Australia, has responded to a report headlined "Hulugalle: His high-flown days are over". The report which appeared on August 3 in this column, said his security was withdrawn when he went to Australia on May 30.

Sent through his lawyer, the letter points out "….My client came to Sri Lanka on July 27 and left on July 30 where he did not have any bodyguards or escort vehicles as he came to Sri Lanka for two days for the specific purpose of attending the Board meeting of the Commercial Bank of Sri Lanka PLC."

The letter notes, "I am further instructed that my client always uses his personal car which is a Mercedes Benz 220 bearing No. CAA 0006 when he comes to Sri Lanka and that he did not use a Land Rover as it has been stated in your newspaper."

It adds "…..my client never visited Temple Trees to meet His Excellency the President during his visit …."

Mr. Hulugalle is correct when he says he did not meet President Rajapaksa. The inadvertent error is regretted. However, he did make efforts to seek a meeting. The letter confirms my report that he came to Sri Lanka to take part in the board meeting of the Commercial Bank.

Of course, he moved around without security since it had been withdrawn and was not restored upon his return.