Pal had spilt the beans!
It is public knowledge now that a secret meeting between the former strongman and Number One did take place despite an immediate denial by the peace-maker who played the host.
Both parties to this powwow, which was expected to remain a top secret, had got a jolt when the media reported the story the following day itself.
Number One on his part had used his intelligence arm to track down the person who had leaked the news to the media and he had found that an NGO man with a moniker meaning ‘new-gem’– incidentally a close pal of the peace-maker had done the damage.
An irate Number One had sent for the peace-maker and given him a tonguelashing. Chastised, the man had lost no time in rushing to the media to deny there had been such a meeting at his residence, they say.
Ascion of an upcountry political dynasty has been caught red-handed accepting a big kickback while being the occupant of the main chair of a statutory body.
The offspring of this character is connected by marriage to a family whose ancestors are said to have had close ties to some Kandyan kings and his brother in law is a bigwig in a main political party.
Highly perturbed over the stigma staring the entire dynasty in the face, family members have reportedly appealed to some members of the foreign diplomatic community here to use their influence with the powers that be on behalf of their kinsman in hot water.
However, the law enforcement authorities at all levels are said to be determined to proceed with the case to its logical conclusion without giving in to the pressures coming from any quarter, they say.