Montessori incident: Reply and rejoinder

Last week's story headlined 'President's armed guards play havoc at Montessori' has drawn a response from Brigadier H.D.G. Ranasinghe, USP for Commander, the President's Guard. He said; "Your kind attention is drawn to the above story in your newspaper of 16 Nov, 2014, in which a minor altercation has been exaggerated with factually wrong information".

"Considering the serious nature of its contents, an inquiry was held by the President's Guard into the alleged incident in cooperation with the Principal, Trinity College, responsible for management of the Trinity Montessori'.

"However, it was found that a reported threatening as such or entering of President's Guard members with weapons into the Trinity Montessori or for that matter, any such search into the premises, had not at all taken place on that day, as claimed in the report.

"What really occurred in front of the said Montessori premises on the very narrow Thapowanaya Road, leading to the President's House in Kandy, was as follows:

"On Thursday (13), two buses carrying troops of President's Guard were proceeding to the President's House to attend their duties in connection with the President's arrival there.

"As the front bus was closing in on the President's House at about 9.00 a.m., it was observed that a car with the driver's door open to the middle of the road, was blocking the passage for the buses, right in front of the Trinity Montessori.

"The driver in the front bus sounded his horn repeatedly but the said car was not moved out, compelling the uniformed officer aboard, to alight from the bus and request the car be moved, allowing the two buses to proceed as planned.

"However, the driver of the car who had apparently brought his child to the Montessori, suddenly burst out shouting at the said officer using abusive language.

"It is stressed that except for one officer, one Military Police officer and a Senior Non Commissioned Officer, rest of the members of the President's Guard aboard both buses, were in civvies at the time of the incident. Therefore, the question of carrying weapons by uniformed staff does not arise."

Jamis Banda adds: Firstly, the letter confirms the incident. The report published on this page last week was based on eyewitness accounts. In this instance the car driver was told that his car would be rammed with one of the buses if it was not moved away.

KNIGHT DUNSTAN - Darling husband of Golin, precious father of Mark, the late Luke, and Sarah, precious father- in- law of Sophie, devoted grandfather of Christina, loving brother of Sydney and Ruth ( Rani), expired in London. His mortal remains have been cremated on 12th November. All Australian papers please copy. Thank you. Informant: Sydney Knight, 34 1/ 1 Dabare Mw., Colombo 5. 2055170. STM 758605

PERERA, AELIAN HEWLET HILARIAN - Husband of late Audrey, passed away peacefully on November 21st 2014. Loving father of Lian, Yoshini, Gayathrie, Prasanna & Euthica and Walter, much loved grandfather of Roshan, Iroshana, Ornella, Niroshana, Samantha, Charmaine, John and Sheehan, adored great-grandfather of Lily and Hannah. You are always in our hearts. Remains lie at A. F. Raymond's Funeral Parlour, Borella. Cortege leaves the Parlour at 3.00 p. m. on Sunday 23rd November. Cremation at the General Cemetery, Kanatte at 3.30 p.m. STM 775254

DICK C. PERERA ( Retired Air Chief Marshal) - Beloved husband of Nora, loving father of Silvana, Mario, Novella (Pinky), loving father-in-law of Vernon, Dilani & late Ranil, loving grandfather of Shahnaz, Sacha, Shehan, Michiko, Tehani & Tehan, loving brother of late Eric, late Harry, Herby ( UK), Violet ( UK), Rose, Merle & Lily. Cortege leaves residence No. 410/ 103, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 07, on Monday 24th November at 3.30 p. m. for Cremation at the General Cemetery, Borella. STM 775256

MR. S.M. RAJARATNAM ( Auditor & Partner Sivanathen Associates Colombo) - S/ O late Mr. S. Muthusivan ( Medical Officer) & late Sinnammal, husband of late Mrs. Terencia Anandappa, father of Sherna, Grishkumar, Ranjan, Wasantha, fatherin- law of Chaminda ( Roney) Shoba, grandfather of Oshane, brother of late Mrs. Navamani, Mr. S. Vengadasalam ( Station Master), Mr. S. Selvaratnam. ( Station Master), late Dr. Nagaratnem, Mrs. Dharmalingam, late Mr. S. Durairatnem ( Medical Officer Kandapola), Mr. Sivaratnam ( Nawalapitiya), Miss. Balamani, Mrs. Thushyanthy ( Asst. Director of Education, Gampola), brother-in-law of late Mr. Dharmalingam ( Vet Surgeon), Mr. P. Periyasamy ( Retired Asst. Director of Education), expired on 2014.11.20. Cortege leaves residence 135/10, Dekinda Road, Nawalapitiya on 21st November 2014 at 4 p. m. for cremation at Bawwagama Cemetery, Nawalapitiya. 0757666776, 0542223292. STM 773160

MRS. PRINCIE WEERASOORIYA - Wife of late T.B. Weerasooriya, beloved mother of Anoma, Gitanjali, Isramali and Ranjula, mother-in-law of Anil, late Sidath, Methsiri and Sanath, grandmother of Shamika, Chaminda, late Naomi, Natasha, Dimitri, Nishan and Sharina, great-grandmother of Jahan, Loren & Mika, sister of Srima, Ira, Esme, Malini and late Milton. Friends and family can pay their respects at No. 3, Park Drive, Colombo 5 on Saturday November 22 from 10 a.m. onwards. Cortege leaves residence at 3.15 p.m. on Sunday November 23. Cremation at 4 p.m. at General Cemetery, Kanatte, Borella. No flowers by request. STM 773000