‘Bag-gate’ as minister spots spy camera

[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 July 2002, 17:37 GMT]
Acrimony between Sri Lanka’s President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Parliamentary government took a bizarre twist Thursday when a cabinet minister accused her of using a spy camera concealed in her handbag to tape a cabinet meeting.

Commerce Minister Ravi Karunanayake alleged that Kumaratunga had carried a special ladies' handbag fitted with microphones and a video camera capable of filming in low light at Wednesday's cabinet meeting.

"I saw the bag as I was tabling the documents at the meeting," Karunanyake was quoted by India Abroad News Service (IANS) as saying.

"I recognised it at once from the description and photographs I had. This will be the 'Bag-gate' of Sri Lanka," the Minister said.

Karunanayake had recognised the handbag from descriptions given in documents regarding its purchase by police intelligence officials, IANS reported.

The Daily Mirror reported Thursday that when the purchase of his arch rival’s handbag - reportedly at several million rupees - was raised, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said it should be referred to the Defence Ministry.

However, the president's spokesman, Harim Peiris, said he would not confirm the purchase of such a handbag.

"I am surprised that the minister has nothing more important to do than worry about handbags," Peiris was quoted by IANS as saying. "I am surprised that this is the extent of the government's political agenda.”

"If the minister wants details of the president's wardrobe and accessories, he can write to us and we will let him have it," he said.

 

Latest 15 Reports
24.04.22 05:44  
தீவின் நெருக்கடிச் சூழலில் ஈழத்தமிழர் தேசம் கடைப்பிடிக்கவேண்டிய நிலைப்பாடுகள்
09.04.22 14:44   Photo
குறிதவறும் ஈழத்தமிழர் தலைமைகளுக்கு வரலாறு தருகின்ற எச்சரிக்கை
21.01.22 07:24   Photo
ஈழத்தமிழர் தேசத்தின் தலைமைத்துவம் தேர்தல் அரசியற் கட்சிகளுக்கு அப்பாலானது
02.11.21 15:32   Photo
13 ஆம் சட்டத்திருத்தத்தால் கட்டமைக்கப்பட்ட இன அழிப்பை எதிர்கொள்ள முடியுமா?
15.09.21 08:19  
English version not available
17.05.21 19:23   Photo
Ananthi blames war criminal Silva for blocking collective memorial at Mu'l'livaaykkaal
09.04.21 14:46  
English version not available
23.03.21 12:41   Photo
No focus on Tamil genocide, geopolitics gets played out in Geneva in favour of QUAD formation
21.03.21 13:34   Photo
Navi Pillay explains ‘human rights’ limitations in Geneva on Tamil genocide
15.03.21 20:36   Photo
Deceived Tamil activists in UK falsely claimed ‘substantial changes’ to Zero draft
09.03.21 21:34   Photo
UK repeatedly wronged Tamils says hunger-striker, demands genocide justice
26.02.21 11:53   Photo
Tamils witness false dilemma in Geneva as geopolitical formations pit against each other
19.02.21 14:02   Photo
UK not prepared to push for ICC option in new UNHRC Resolution
07.02.21 23:16   Photo
Unprecedented P2P uprising paves the way for rights-oriented politics of Tamils and Muslims
22.01.21 08:01   Photo
Gotabaya sets up deceptive COI citing ‘sovereignty’ and ‘non-aligned’ foreign policy
 
Find this article at:
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=7200