5th Column

Effect of CoL rise on common man
"Thaaththa," Bindu Udagedera said, "I think I know the reason for the rising cost of living…"
"That is fairly easy to figure out, isn't it?" Bindu's father Percy said, "with gas, petrol and electricity going up in price almost every week…"
"No, thaaththa," Bindu said, "I think I know the real reason…"
"And what reason is that?" Percy asked, puzzled.

"I think it is a conspiracy by the Greens…"
"How could you say that?" Percy wanted to know.
"Why thaaththa, isn't it true that we have to pay more for gas and petrol now because the value of the dollar is rising against the rupee?"
"Yes," Percy agreed, "but what has that got to do with a conspiracy by the Greens?"

"Why, thaaththa, Wimal and Mangala both say that the value of the dollar is fixed by two Central Bank officials who are Green supporters…"
"So, what is their argument?" Percy asked.
"What they are saying is that these officials are raising the value of the dollar, so that the cost of living will rise and the Blues will become unpopular, so that the Greens can return to power…" Bindu explained.

"But surely, Bindu," Percy protested, "if these are mere officials of the Central Bank the Blues can remove them and appoint whoever they want to these positions, like they did with the Police Chief…"
"I don't think they can do that, thaaththa…" Bindu said.
"Why not?" Percy queried.

"Why, thaaththa, if we are to believe what Wimal and Mangala say, these two officials who are Green supporters are so powerful that they control the country by manipulating the value of the dollar…"
"If they are indeed doing that, they should be removed…" Percy argued.

"But, thaaththa, if they are powerful enough to manipulate the value of the dollar I'm sure even the American government must be asking for their help…"
"But surely, Bindu, we must put the interest of our country first…"
"Yes, thaaththa," Bindu argued, "but if these two Green supporters are so powerful, I'm sure they can't be removed that easily…"

"So, what you are suggesting is that the Greens who can't now win even a Pradeshiya Sabha election, whose ministers and councillors are being arrested for various offences, are still so powerful that they decide the price of the dollar and the cost of what we eat…"
"That is what Wimal and Mangala want us to believe, thaaththa…" Bindu said.
"But surely, Bindu, if these two chaps who do this are in the Central Bank, Satellite can remove them by one stroke of her pen…"

"I am sure there is a conspiracy theory about that too, thaaththa…" Bindu suggested, "and I am sure Wimal will tell us about that too in the near future…"
"What theory is that?"
"I am sure the Greens plan to keep Satellite in office for a little bit longer, thaaththa…"

"Why would they do that?" Percy was puzzled, "I thought they wanted to get rid of her as soon as possible…"
"No, thaaththa, it is part of the Green conspiracy to keep her in office just a little more. Then the masses will be so disgusted with the Blues and the Reds that they will not vote for them for the next dozen and a half years, just like it happened in Seventy Seven…"
Percy didn't quite know what to say to that.

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