Abbott hops like a kangaroo, Namal keeps pace

CHOGM which ended last week was not all work and no play for its leaders.

The man who stole the show was Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, who is a fitness fanatic.

From the Cinnamon Lakeside overlooking the Sri Lanka Air Force grounds, he walked to the Galle Face Green. He jogged on the Green and moved towards Chaithiya Road. He climbed the tower which houses a stupa.

He was accompanied by Hambantota District Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa and Army Commander Daya Ratnayake.

Lt. Gen. Ratnayake politely withdrew at one point. He later turned up with a bandaged leg. He was to tell Prime Minister Abbott that it was a wound he suffered during the separatist war and was still causing discomfort. Young Rajapaksa, the national rugby captain, kept pace with Mr. Abbott. As the jogging ended where it began, he had run for some 12 kilometres, said a panting Sri Lankan security official assigned to the Australian Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister David Cameron managed four deliveries from Sri Lanka's ace spin bowler Muttiah Muralitharan. Later, they ended up talking. However, Mr. Muralitharan was to later get into a spin with the Tamil Diaspora over remarks he made to Britain's Channel 4. He said there was no killing of Tamils when the war ended. Protests prompted Mr. Muralitharan to say that the Channel 4 had misquoted him.

Brunei's Sultan Hassen al Bolkiah wanted his security staff to locate a good badminton court. The king who arrived in a special aircraft wanted to play with his two children who accompanied him.

MRS. JEANNE DEEN - We the family members of the late Mrs. Jeanne Deen wish to express our sincere thanks and deep gratitude to Dr. Channa D. Ranasinha and Dr. S. Mithrakumar, Parish Priest, St. Mary's Church, Dehiwela, Sodality of the Sacred Heart, Dehiwela, relatives, friends, colleagues, neighbours and all who attended the funeral, sent floral tributes, messages of condolences in Sri Lanka and from overseas and all those who helped us in numerous ways during our time of grief. We sincerely regret our inability to thank you all individually. Roshan & Eroma, Laurie & Carlo Murcott, Ricky & Tania and their families. No: 14, 2nd Lane, Dehiwela. STM 859485