Miss Sri Lanka Jacqueline Fernandez is hitting the headlines these days with her acting talent and beauty in the Bollywood film Aladin.

This will be Jacqueline Fernandez’s first stint in acting and Aladin seems to be a really good debut for her. Jacqueline was working as an anchorwoman in a business programme called Lanka Business Report and also wrote a weekly column for a popular newspaper.

A leading film magazine recently carried reports of Jacqueline Fernandez dating actor Viveik Oberoi. However, that seemed to have died down.

Aladin stars Amitabh Bachchan playing the genie while Riteish Deshmukh essays the title role. Sanjay Dutt is also a part of this film. Vishal and Shekhar are doing the music.

Sri Lankan Bollywood actress Jackie Fernandez, one of the more celebrated models is a striking example of a great beauty and brains example.

Charming, charismatic and breathtakingly beautiful, Jackie Fernandez takes a breath of fresh air with her wherever she goes. With the current Bollywood mega hit Aladin, Jackie Fernandez has not only rekindled love and good relations between India and Sri Lanka but has shown the world, as an ambassador of Sri Lanka, the talent, capability, beauty and brains of a Sri Lankan woman. It was her ability that won her a scholarship at the University of Sydney.

With great compassion towards all beings, Fernandez once wanted to become a nun and get closer to God. With a passion for investigative reporting and television, Fernandez strode on towards success, with a great quality in her heart — compassion. That coupled with her beauty, brains and striking personality is Jackie Fernandez

"The noblest kind of beauty is one that slowly filters into the mind. Beauty is something that comes from within," is her definition of beauty.

Ravi meets Liam Fox Shadow Minister of the Conservative Party, Liam Fox and Adam Werritty met UNP MP, Ravi Karunanayake on their recent visit to Sri Lanka. They also called on the President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.

Bridal creations A bridal creation by Ramzi Rahaman showcased at the Bride and Groom Fair held at the BMICH recently. The outfits were created using chiffons, georgettes and lace.

The Revelations will be performing at the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel (Transasia) tomorrow, September 7. The Revelations will present their repertoire together with well known hits. Enjoy the sounds of the world’s 6^th ranked all-male choir in the exquisite settings of the Cinnamon Lakeside at the lobby at 7 p.m.

Lift Up Your Eyes, a musical of hope, will be presented by the Choir of St. Francis of Assisi, Mount Lavinia on Sunday, September 13 at 6 p.m. at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, 80, Hotel Road, Mount Lavinia and on Saturday, September 26 at 5.30 p.m. at the Trinity Chapel, Trinity College, Kandy.

The theme of Psalm 121 which begins, "I will lift up mine eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord" is threaded throughout this powerful musical of promise and hope.

It speaks to those of us who are hurting, fearful and in need of comfort. It directs us to lift our eyes to the One who powerfully saves, heals, guides and delivers.

It speaks to a nation and a world of people in chaos, and very simply turns our eyes to the Prince of Peace. ‘God is faithful and true! His loving kindness extends to all generations! He’s our refuge and strength, a strong tower, our keeper and shade, our rock and our salvation!’

This musical is for everyone, but especially for those who are hurting and in the midst of difficult circumstances. As you listen to the musical, it will lift up your eyes to the Lord in proclaiming, "My help… all of my help cometh from the Lord!"

As an ex policeman of over 25 years service I was extremely saddened to read the outrageous condemnation of the head of the country’s primary law enforcement; IGP Mr. Jayantha Wickremaratne who has been called an Idiot no less in an editorial of a weekend journal of 23 August. It is such irresponsible and mediocre journalism that has provoked animosity towards the media in recent times which is also a grim reminder of the dreaded "White Van" syndrome.

In the editorial under review the IGP has been the subject of a savage and a merciless battering under cover of media freedom. One need not overemphasize the obvious that the impact of this broad brush assertion even without an iota of evidence to justify the damning comments can have far reaching consequences and serious repercussions on the morale of an otherwise hardworking police outfit which comprise a majority of honourable, committed and hardworking men and women.

The content of the editorial is totally out of character of an otherwise responsible and a popular weekend journal as it only portrays reckless and irresponsible journalism and worse written in poor taste; it is disgusting, reprehensive and despicable and does not advance or remedy the existing malaise in the force or augur well for balanced journalism.

There is no gainsaying that the police force is infallible for in the recent two months alone the public have witnessed a litany of police atrocities and grave misdemenours that have damaged the police image and provoked public outrage. It accounts for the erosion of public confidence. The most recent are the deaths of two youths at Angulana whilst in police custody and at its heels the IT student abduction allegedly at the behest of the CCD chief and his wife. Both incidents are dreadful and contemptible but cannot be commented upon it is sub judice.

The two incidents gave rise to a public outcry that provoked the censure of the IGP by the media. However, to subject the entire police outfit to public ignominy and the scoffing multitude may seem cruel, perverse and unkind. In this context it is well to remind the author of the strictures against the IGP of the oft quoted legal axiom that "one swallow does not make a summer or one prostitute a brothel." Two isolated incidents grave as they may appear cannot justify the broad brush condemnation of the entire police force which especially in recent times have played a significant role in the demanding challenges of terrorism and the war that plagued our country over the past three decades.

I do not know IGP Wickremaratne nor have I had the privilege to work with or under him but I certainly know of the fact that he is man of honour and proven integrity who has served the country with distinction. In his brief tenure as the incumbent head of the police service he has brought decency to the system and his vast experience in terms of professionalism and academic brilliance appear his forte. His persona reflects dignity and decorum in office a commodity sorely lacking at the high echelons of public office in the recent decades. He assumed office at a time when the country was in the grips of a ruthless terror outfit in the LTTE but he led by sheer example laying emphasis to command, control and discipline of 83,000 odd cadres.

It is unfortunate that in berating the police service the author has gone for the spleen of the IGP and some of his deputies and in doing so he seems oblivious to the fact that it was under Wickremaratne’s command the police played a significant role in the lead up to the annihilation of terrorism in the country.

The police service was a significant shareholder of every facet of the offensive launched against the enemy in terms of logistic support, intelligence and even loss of life and limb of many a policeman who served in the warring theatre. Yes, they were the silent partners in the overall setting of the final assault and the attendant victory.

The victory without a shadow of doubt belongs to the Commander in Chief the President who provided direction, leadership and the all important resources a feat which could not be achieved by any repeat any of his predecessors or incumbent in office including the great JRJ, Premadasa and Ms CBK.

Whilst the three service commanders were rightfully and richly rewarded for their efforts it was distressing to note that the role and efforts of the IGP and his men were eclipsed in the euphoria that took a sleeping Sri Lanka by storm but hardly any significant mention of the monumental sacrifices of policemen of all ranks. But the professional that he is, Wickremaratne continues to serve with unquestionable loyalty and dedication. Such is the man that the media has referred to as an idiot; yes it hurts.

The prevailing malady in existence within the police is due to numerous reasons. The first is the fact that the IGP in successive terms of office has been stifled or restrained due to outside pressure which tends to a total breakdown of command, control and discipline. If only one had read the Daily Mirror (26 August) he would have seen just one instance of how the police are bullied into submission by the boorish conduct of a politico with his goons who has had the impunity to barge into a police station holding a suspect and forcibly taken the suspect away. Similar loutish or uncouth conduct has taken centre stage in the recent years during successive governments but the police have continued to suffer public ignominy without complaint. Yes sir, they are the convenient whipping boys of the public, the politicians and now the media.

Secondly, that the police have been politicised to unimaginable levels is manifest. Every successive government is responsible for the prevailing apathy of the police. It is also true that despite excellent DIG material available we have also seen a fair share of square pegs in round holes who though supposed to solve problems for the IGP they create them. This malady is again due to political patronage. It is hoped that with the impending retirements of some DIGs the IGP will also initiate action to remove the deadwood and replace them with dynamic men waiting in the wings to take their places.

There is good reason to want police and politicians to be separate. One would not want politicians directing police in operational affairs, for fear that one day, politicians will use that power to direct police to act against their (politicians) opponents. The task of the politician is to dictate policy – period.

That is far too much power to hand to politicians. At the same time, however, we want police to be subject to parliament. They hold a monopoly on the use of force within the country, and that power must be constrained. The National Police Commission holds a constitutional role, which includes supporting police. However this too is defunct and so we didn’t hear a word of support from whoever is responsible for the affairs of the police.

Was the IGP abandoned? His men must have felt at least somewhat abandoned, especially given the government mandated goal for police of reducing the spiralling trends of crime in terms of murder, drugs, underworld activities, gang robberies, druggies, thieves, drunks, violent offenders etc. On top of that, police work with the scum, the hard core criminal, the prostitute, the pimp, the mafia. Police officers seldom see pleasant homes, and pleasant families.

They spend their days trying to deal with crime, terrorists, terror, and criminals. If they aren’t scraping bodies off the road, all while being shouted at for daring to pull over speeding drivers, they are putting their own bodies and sometimes lives, on the line trying to stop nasty, vicious people from spreading their poison through yet more lives. It’s horrible work.

Sometimes they get it badly wrong, so badly that heads ought to roll. Nevertheless, they work in difficult circumstances, which must surely jaundice their view of human beings. It could be really hard for police officers to maintain any sense that there are any decent people out there.

Even so, it’s hard to think that we are getting the policing we want at the moment, and given the problem with recruiting police, it’s hard to see that things are going to improve any time soon. People who are scarcely literate may not have the mental flexibility to deal with the demands of modern day policing, and I’m not sure that seeking recruits on sports fields or via political intervention will improve matters.

There is a case to pay police more. Indeed it is long overdue. The going salary and the perks for senior men aren’t too bad today, but the great majority of frontline policemen earn far less than their counterpart in the private sector or even the armed services. In contrast theirs is a measly salary for a job that carries such high responsibilities along with anti-social and anti-family shift work at tremendous risks. If we want to get smart people into police work, then we might need to pay them enough to make it a worthwhile job financially, so that they are prepared to forgo the salaries they could earn elsewhere, in jobs where they don’t need to risk their bodies, and subject their families to stress and anxiety or succumb to the evils of corruption. They say you pay peanuts and you get monkeys. It may sound hard but true.

In the context of the recent events the police have been put on notice, and that they need to regain the trust of the public. I still think that, and I think that the events of the last few days have further eroded their standing with the public. Nevertheless, if we want better policing, then we need to attract better people into the police. And to do that, we need to pay them properly but laying the entire blame on the IGP will not help even though the buck eventually must stop with him.

So Sir IGP, when you took office you pledged to trek the high and the lower road come what may and so remember the Police Caravan must move despite the incessant chorus of the barking of dogs.