Talking Point

Proxies and pressmen

When the President spoke to media heads, one leading media head (self-proclaimed) sent a proxy.

Said the President: "It's respectable if you would kindly present yourself rather than present yourself through proxies. That's what I expect when I send out an invitation.''

So, for an outfit which has been long dodging these sessions completely -- this last artful dodge also came a cropper...

Saarcastic

When the SAARC games got underway, the masters of ceremonies used English. Hardly becoming, for a new Sri Lanka which decidedly left colonial hangovers behind. Besides, at all SAARC games, local languages have been the medium for proceedings.

The Head of State delivered his speech in Sinhala translated into two languages. It's natural therefore that on his return from the opening ceremonies, he initiated an inquiry into how somebody else's language became the medium of communication for regional games hosted by this independent country?