By Our Political EditorView(s): Questions about how COVID-19 pandemic is being handled; controversy over Kegalle witchcraft doctor’s concoction and Health Minister’s conduct Mahara Prison catastrophe: Ministers talk in different tongues while official committee says prisoners made reasonable demand Though Shangri La , a name synonymous with an earthly paradise or a mythical Himalayan utopia, the event at the five-star luxury hotel in Colombo last Wednesday, with all movers and shakers of the government, was less grandiose. To the glitter of crystal chandeliers and music from a group that played traditional music with a Violin, Tabla, flute and Seraphina at the Grand Ballroom, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, entertained members of the government parliamentary group to dinner. As one of his aides explained, it was a traditional event last Wednesday, as Finance Minister, to thank the MPs for taking part in the 21-day budget debate. Though the opposition was not there, the privileged invitees were the six MPs from the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) led by Rauff Hakeem and the All-Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) led by Rishad Bathiuddin.