• Expert group says situation like "an accident waiting to happen"
• Politics an extension of war, President and Ranil to meet Indian PM next week

Thursday's budget overshadowed other events to become the focal point of attention for Sri Lankans in all lifestyles. This is notwithstanding the remarkable victory of Barack Hussein Obama at US presidential elections on Tuesday. The Democratic Party president-elect has won the hearts of millions in not only the US but also the world over.

Last week, Basil Rajapaksa MP was in New Delhi and he successfully managed to difuse the simmering tensions and concerns of the Indian Government by presenting the Sri Lanka’s case convincingly to the Indian authorities. Even Pranab Mukerjee, India’s External Affairs Minister openly expressed satisfaction on his recent talks with Sri Lankan special envoy Basil Rajapaksa.

When the UNP’s seniors committee appointed to look into party reforms met last week, they at last finalized the criteria for appointing a deputy leader and an assistant leader. The criteria have not been put to the working committee yet for approval.

The assassination of Janaka Perera, shook the nation last week. The LTTE, which in recent times had not been able to do anything that really could make people stand up and take notice, was able to do so by killing Janaka Perera who had become a soft target after taking to politics. There was one story that the late general used to tell his friends – that if your time had come, you had to go and nothing could prevent it. The example he gave was that of his own father, who while out on a walk, had been run over by a vehicle but had survived. Years later, he had died of complications resulting from a fall in the bathroom.