By Dushy Ranetunge –
Dushy Ranetunge
Guests and staff at the top London Grill restaurant at Cinnamon Grand experienced swearing and being shouted at on Friday, as the head of a leading biscuit company celebrated his birthday.
The dinner was carefully organised with a photographer from a well known magazine standing by.
Among the guests was a former Sri Lankan General/Diplomat who served in New York, who’s diplomatic qualities were like no other.
As the Moet Chandon popped and the bubbly flowed, it became obvious that a particular guest at the biscuit table was having difficulty managing his behaviour. Soon there were arguments with the General, shouting at the pianist to stop playing and then forcing the pianist to play baila.
The London Grill Restaurant, the flagship fine dining restaurant of the cinnamon brand and Sri Lanka, soon saw guests leaving, as they were clearly not enjoying the baila, clapping, and shouting as the place went crackers.
Dharmadasa who wanted a fine dining experience left the restaurant after a baila experience.
A quiet word with the ex-General/diplomat was to no avail, other than him blaming and threatening the staff for not telling them how to conduct themselves in a fine dining restaurant. He had obviously learnt nothing in New York and expected staff at the London Grill to educate him and his dining companions.
Staff had complained previously as to the ex-General/Diplomats threatening behaviour towards them. Mercifully, the ex-General/Diplomat did not swear at anyone, but his dining companion intoxicated with alcohol was busy practicing his vocabulary of the guttar.
One waiter complained that he had been pushed, and as the London Grill went into melt down the Director was called. Words were spoken.
The old gentleman’s birthday party will be memorable for the wrong reasons. He might review his guest list for his next dinner. London Grill will lose customers to Shangri-La, for a more peaceful dining experience.
K.Pillai / January 28, 2018
This sort of behaviour is common in birthday parties of the filthy rich.
As to the ex-General/Dipolmat. He probably rose up the ranks using Army language. Diplomats of his ilk let the country down but does it matter?
Why did CT bother publish this?
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Thanos / January 28, 2018
Name and Shame. Otherwiese pointless.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / January 28, 2018
It is very simple to guess who this person is. Srilanka USA embassy is in Washington and not in New York, where the Srilanka UN agency is situated. There is only one who fits into the description, the well known war criminal who was rewarded by this post by past government, who cannot visit any country in the world valuing human rights.
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T Sundaralingam / January 28, 2018
So nice to see an article by Dushy after a very long time. I used to enjoy reading his articles. Please keep writing.
Regarding the incident at London Grill, such incidents are very common when Sri Lankans gather (in any part of the world) irrespective of whether they are educated or not. In some countries, when you do advance booking, they don’t prefer if they know that the guests are Sri Lankans. Sri Lankans are well known for such incidents.
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Jim softy / January 28, 2018
Dushy Ranatunga. I remember you were too sympathetic to LTTE and you were writing from London ?. So, after a drink people are a bit different. So, you expected this general to behave like a little kitty or poodle even after the drink. What is the grudge you have ?. Will this commotion as you want to imply be reported to UNHCR in MArch ?. did the guests leave after their find dining experience was over or just scared to the General who talked loud. Was that Waitor hand handled, he did not talk to the General that you pushed or why did you push. IT looks very fishy. Army or forces people should never go to that restaurent here after, Is that what you say ?
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Silva / January 28, 2018
Jim Softy, being a former Sri Lankan General/Diplomat one should know how to conduct himself with some decorum in such places. One can consume alcohol and still behave in a respectable manner…
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Jim softy / January 28, 2018
The question is who watched this in order to describe every event this good.
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Native Vedda / January 28, 2018
Jim softy the dimwit
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Were you typing with your willy while sitting on your brain as usual as yesterday and the previous days?
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maalumiris / January 28, 2018
Jim, we expect them to behave appropriately, to location and situation, regardless of their state of intoxication.
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Jim softy / January 28, 2018
Ban the Liquor License to that restaurant.
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Thanos / January 29, 2018
People go to places like restaurants to have good and pleasant time. When some drunken idiot ruins that experience people get angry. And thing get worse in terms of the country’s image when the drunken idiot is a high-profile person. What is so hard to understand here?
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ThanthaiChelva / January 30, 2018
Is this how all former Lankan generals behave?
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / February 1, 2018
Yes that is the way they behave. Members of Srilankan ex-servicemen’s association in the UK have behaved similarly and have been reported to the Police.
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Justice & fairplay / January 30, 2018
Jim you are seriously off the mark. How could you miss the underlying message?
Ever heard of what behaviour in public means for ambassadorial types? Or for that matter any decent type let alone retired service types?
Sri Lanka you are sinking really fast and you don’t know it ?
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Prithiv / January 28, 2018
Publish articles that is worthy of reading .. does this warrant a headline on a business page
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Percy / January 28, 2018
This article is not worthy of publication. The writer has some issue with the General and wants to tip a bucket over him. Leave that aside,there was a party, people had drinks, there was some boisterous behaviour. So what? Do you really have to reach for the keyboard on that.?Seems silly!
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Native Vedda / January 28, 2018
Percy the dated disturbed pathetic
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” The writer has some issue with the General and wants to tip a bucket over him.”
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Thanks for witnessing the incident and being in the know about relationship between General/Diplomats and the writer.
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You are versatile for the wrong reasons.
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Percy / January 29, 2018
Stupid Tamil Vedda
I don’t know who o earth the writer is, it seemed pretty obvious from his description of the dinner party written in Ananda/NalandaEnglisg which is in a genre of its own that he is settling some score here.
That said if Stupid Tamil Vedda is getting worked up on my comments then I have scored a bull’s eye. If Vedda is displeased over criticism over any writing, you can bet your bottom dollar the writer is a Tiger sympathiser.After all Vedda is self appointed guardian of all things EELAM.
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Native Vedda / January 29, 2018
Percy the dated disturbed and pathetic
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“I don’t know who o earth the writer is, it seemed pretty obvious from his description of the dinner party written in Ananda/NalandaEnglisg which is in a genre of its own that he is settling some score here.”
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He is a honest liberal commentator and rare a commodity in this island. That is the reason you didn’t know who he was. Does it matter? Not knowing him does not make much difference to your pathos, insanity and paranoia. Carry on with your rant.
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Percy / January 30, 2018
Stupid Tamil Vedda
If you describe someone as an honest liberal commentator, that qualifies that person to be (a)anti Sinhala,(b)pro LTTE (c) a non entity striving for recognition!
I would rather not know of such people who are ever ready to sell their birthright to some spittle licking sycophants such as yourself.
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Justice & fairplay / January 31, 2018
And I take objection to the snobbish reference to Ananda- Nalanda English. They speak and write far better than any of the other types.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / February 1, 2018
Dushey Ranetunge is an old Royalist unlike the gamaya Percy.
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Percy / February 1, 2018
So the man is among the mob that is looting the country?
His English is of the “tryhard”genre like a bus going up a steep road full of pot holes.
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Havelock Town Neigbour / January 28, 2018
Yes Dushy Bushy Rane used to write well in the old days on important matters.Lately that skill and his sources seem to have dried up.
Nowadays one would see him write occasionally on one waliya or another and that too in a dry sort of way.Atleast by naming the culprit he would have spiced things up.But when the brain’s suppleness drys up , it is surely excusable,
Meanwhile his more distinguished and brilliant fellow London scribe,Neville de Silva, seems to be firing on all cylinders with his witty,juicy, highly educating “Thoughts from London”.But then it’s wrong to compare chalk with cheese isn’t it!
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / February 1, 2018
You mean Neville is chalk and Dushy is Cheese.
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Fantastic / February 1, 2018
Sankaralingam,if you have the ability to read Havelock Town Neigbour’s comment with elementary intelligence then you will find out who is chalk and who is cheese! Incidentally,do you know what chalk and cheese are ?
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Kalu Albert / January 28, 2018
Jimmy jogged my memory.. This Dushy dude used to barrack for Pirahaparan , while bagging Rajapaksas and the Sinhales big time…
First I thought he was a relative of Cameron with a Sinhala name.
Anyway why would one want to go to a Grill to do Fine Dinning, even if it is called London Grill. when their National Dish is Mutton Vindaloo…
Dushy cold buy Charcoal Chciken in East London. for a couple of Quid, I guess…
Shangrila La. I am sure know a bit about Fine Dinning…
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Percy / January 29, 2018
You are spot on Kalu Albert. The writer is obviously a stranger to fine dining! What fine dining can you expect ina grill? Perhaps bangers and mash, or a steak ! Some fine dining that! These guys lack a civilised upbringing so try hard to show that they are really cultured but they fall flat on their faces more often than not. Just like their English expression which is also a very evident “try hard” effort.
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Native Vedda / January 29, 2018
Kalu KASmaalam K A Sumanasekere Albert,
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Jimmy must have jogged KASmaalam’s memory.
Stupid man revert back to your old avatar and pseudonym. As usual and wrongly you believe you are outsmarting the rest of the readers.
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Rajash / January 28, 2018
He had obviously learnt nothing in New York or Washington…….well do you think he was mingling with the cream of the New York/Washington diplomatic or social circle. …not at all was living in Sinhala ghetto mixing with with fellow thugs & war criminals…..drinking arrack and eating poll sambol and paan.
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Jim softy / January 29, 2018
Pol Sambol, Paan ………… Rajash… WOW, You people eat all imported food now..
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sinhalese buddhist / January 28, 2018
Dushy
My heart bleeds for you.
Please don’t waste our time with complaints of the idle rich. If you want London’s cuisine – go there. If you want Sri Lankan music, come to Colombo.
However, in neither place should a belligerent customer be allowed to make the calls!
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Katul Eshap / January 28, 2018
Profanity is used by military everywhere. 5 times draft dodger, pathetic liar, corrupt to the core narcissitic Bone Spur Cadet Donald Trump uses profanity and insults daily. So what is the big deal? The staff should have had the balls to kick them out Biscuit in hand.
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ramona therese fernando / January 29, 2018
Time for JVP to teach cultural cohesion that needs to come from the bosom of Lankan race, and not from elite old-school colonial revelry. Shameful indeed!
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Native Vedda / January 29, 2018
ramona grandma therese fernando
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“Time for JVP to teach cultural cohesion that needs to come from the bosom of Lankan race, and not from elite old-school colonial revelry. Shameful indeed!”
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Who is going to teach culture to JVP? Perhap you are persuading JVP to attempt at another Maoist cultural revolution before even capturing power.
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Good idea. However what will be the human cost?
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ramona therese fernando / January 30, 2018
Only hope that capturing power will be only too easy for them this time…..so they won’t need to torture and killed by the UNP, as always.
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Get ready Native Veda, to join the ranks of Goviyas with a sorong and mumeti. Organic agriculture is most essential for the country’s health.
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ramona therese fernando / January 30, 2018
…..so they won’t need to be tortured and killed by the UNP, as always.
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Nosey Parker / January 29, 2018
The owner of the un-named biscuit company is a respected industrialist who has created thousands of jobs and his company is well known for its philanthropy and its CSR projects . Obviously the writer has an axe to grind with such persons .
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ramona therese fernando / January 30, 2018
…..so they won’t need to be tortured and killed by the UNP, as always.
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Chandrika / January 30, 2018
Concerned /January 29, 2018
From what I hear what happened at the London Grill has been significantly exaggerated and distorted and belongs in the realm of “Fake News”.
It is sad that reporters stoop to much as low levels to attempt to disgrace good people who is helping and serving many people of Sri Lanka.
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Percy / January 30, 2018
See the writer’s cheer squad, notorious anti Sinhala commentators on CT such as Sakkaralingam,Stupid Tamil Vedda. Even Prabakaran is munching on a vadai somewhere between here and eternity and contemplating his next suicide mission.. JVP is not the answer it is a stepping stone for upstarts. Eg Bopage, Victor Ivan, Deshapriya and other assorted but best forgotten characters.
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Kalu Albert / January 30, 2018
Percy,
Has the JVP Prince Anura crawled out of Dr Ranil.s pocket, before he was forced to join the best forgotten List that you have mentioned…..
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Kalu Albert / January 30, 2018
Percy,
Has the JVP Prince Anura crawled out of Dr Ranil.s pocket, before he was forced to join the best forgotten List that you have mentioned…..
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Native Vedda / January 31, 2018
KASmaalam Kalu Albert K A Sumanasekere
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Percy the pathetic is dying to carry Dr Mahinda’s (LLD PhD x 3) b***s. When are you going to retire? Please give him a chance.
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Alright you wanted a fresh start you could have one. However you still haven’t change your stupid style of typing. What is the purpose of changing your avatar and pseudonym?
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Has AKD surrendered all his old collections of weapons including country guns (තුවක්කු)?
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Percy / January 31, 2018
Hey Stupid Tamil Vedda
Percy won’t retire in a hurry. He’s got many more years to go before retirement and mind you he’s got plenty of lead in hid pencil too. So beware you fricking demalas I will be your nemesis.it is a forlorn hope if you think there’s gonna be a cease fire.
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Native Vedda / January 31, 2018
Percy the dated, disturbed and pathetic
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“Percy won’t retire in a hurry.”
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Who ask you to retire, and from what?
Stupid, unemployed and unemployable need not to retire.
The stupids do not retire, there is nothing for them to retire from, one day they drop dead.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / February 1, 2018
Percy the stupid fellow cannot retire as he is wanted in the middle east to clean their toilets and sweep their roads.
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Percy / February 1, 2018
Sakkili
It is your traditional caste occupation to clean toilets and scavenge. Remember the old Municipal Council sakkiliyas Who took away the night soil from Col9mbo homes. Well their descendants are now in trousers and some have even got medical degrees, but have forgotten their lowly past.How ungrateful Stupid Tamil Vedda and Sakkilingam.
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Percy / February 1, 2018
Sakkara
I can’t understand your obsession with toilets. Of course I do clean my own toilet ever since the Sakkiliyas got emancipated. Some even got into medical school and migrated to England.So I have to clean my own toilet even though at times some shit comes in the way as long as it is my own shit. Mind you I don’t look down on other occupations as every occupation is honourable. Tamils however havean untouchable class and that includes toilet cleaners.Modernisation has emancipated those unfortunate creatures but some forget their past and what was their traditional occupation viz carrying other people’s shit. They are the most vociferous in denouncing and insulting a one time necessary occupation. Even today public toilets are cleaned not by sakkiliyas but by normal wage earners but the ex sakkiliyas have become rather snooty!
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Jamis Panda / February 1, 2018
The British brought untouchables from the South Indian state of Andhra (Telugu Nadu – Andara Demala from Andra Pradesh) as sanitary laborers for them to clean the cities. Since the Tamils of North-East followed a very strict caste system, they called these people by the lowest caste of Tamil Nadu (Sakkiliar caste).
However, the British settled the majority of them in the Southern parts of Sri Lanka. By living with the Sinhalese, a large part of them got converted to Sinhala. People like Percy who talk a lot about the Sinhala race should check their ancestors without believing in their surnames because he also may descend from those converted families (brought by the British).
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Jamis Panda / February 1, 2018
What makes Pathetic Percy’s ethnicity special is that it is a culture that sells their women as slaves to work as janitors for the Arabs. You find almost a million (90% Sinhalese) in Saudi Arabia. I feel sorry for Percy’s women folk (wife, mother, sisters, daughters, aunties and so on). If you go to any Thosay kade in Colombo, most of their customers are people like Percy happily munching the Vaddai and Thosay, spending the few hard earned petro-dollars that they receive from their women folk who get exploited, abused, raped and humiliated in order to earn it.
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Percy / February 2, 2018
Jamis Panda it is sad to say that as a para Demala you can’t at least use a Tamil name to describe yourself.Your fairy tale about scavenging labourers in the South are good for your fellow sakkiliyas. The fact is that the entire conservancy labour force in the zColombo Municipality remain as Tamilto this day. I know para Demalas will die too take on a Sinhalese name but the law does not permit it. What flows in your veins Jamis is shit blood.i have never stepped into a smelly stinking thosai Kadai ever in my life.
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Percy / January 31, 2018
Now that we are on the subject of fine dining could we take another look at the Ranil dance which I have not taken much notice of. My first impression was that he had dropped a 50 cts coin and was going round looking for it without being too conspicuous lest people say “look at that kuna” searching for his 50 cts! After another look at the clip, I noticed that the man was not looking at the floor so can’t be searching for money. What was he doing then,bent low, almost on all fours? To me it seemed that he was looking for dangly bits hanging out. After all the man is known for certain practices.My observations appear to have been confirmed because in the next frame the man is erect looking relieved, and appears to have climaxed. Now wasn’t that a brilliant observation!
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