"Mata Qatar epo! ... I'm resigning!!"

"Mata Qatar epo!  ... I'm resigning!!"  

House and property businessman ASP Liyanage in order to reveal his suffering has called for a media briefing today (5) bringing out his grievances saying that what he wants is a position of governor and not a position of ambassador in a foreign country.

During the last regime Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed him as the ambassador to Nigeria and had later Mr. Liyanage came forward to contest as a candidate for the position of President; but even though Mahinda was defeated he did not leave him aside and went to the extent of taking steps to

offer Mahinda the Peacock Mansion belonging to him down Koswatta Road, Nawala for him to reside in Colombo. Whatever it is, on suspicion that Mahinda had acquired the place after paying him money, he was subjected to interrogation by the FCID but managed to scrape his way through those involvements after a short time by making his way to the stage and garlanding President Maithri at a meeting held in Galle.

Sometime later he was appointed as ambassador to the Kingdom of Qatar and he wholeheartedly accepted that post and even invited and got down MPs and Ministers and prominent politicians after organising a party to rejoice in his happiness. In any case as a result of the taboos and impediments issued by Arab countries some months ago during his period of service in Qatar he found it a difficult task to carry out his work in the capacity of ambassador there.

As Mr. Austin Fernando was appointed to the position of President's Secretary the post of governor of East which was upto then handled by Mr. Austin falling vacant as a result and ASP Liyanage had been keeping his fingers crossed to grab that position from Qatar. As he was gripped with faith that he could receive that post because someone had confirmed it to be so, he had arrived in Sri Lanka day-before-yesterday. However, dashing all his hopes most unexpectedly it was Maithri-comrade Rohitha Bogollagama, a former Minister who in fact took his oaths for that post. As a consequence, ASP Liyanage who was utterly disappointed because of such a decision hastened to summon a media meeting to present his woes.

"What I want is to remain in Sri Lanka ... I don't want ambassadorship in Qatar ... I'm resigning!" he had aired his sorrow like a small child. House and property businessman ASP Liyanage who was instrumental in presenting "Kavuluva' through the cinema, Othello on stage and 'Himi Ahimi' via Rupavahini went on to present 'Peduru Sajjaya' across TNL Channel and for a period of time was someone who brought entertainment to the public.