5th Column

Law! What law? It’s all got to do with whether you’re Green or Blue
“Thaaththa,” Bindu Udagedera asked, “is it 2005 or 2006?”
“What do you mean?” Percy said, “of course we are still in 2005…”
“No, thaaththa,” Bindu explained, “is the next presidential election in 2005 or 2006?”

“That depends on whether you are green or blue…” Percy said.
“But shouldn’t the law say what the correct date should be?” Bindu wanted to know.

“Apparently the law is not very clear…” Percy said, “which is why different people are voicing different opinions…”
“But that is a sign of a healthy democracy, isn’t it?” Bindu asked.
“Yes, but it begins to become unhealthy when people start planning to postpone elections…”

“But thaaththa, Satellite says she has won two elections and can therefore rule for twelve years…”
“Bindu,” Percy pointed out, “the second election was held one year earlier that it should have been held…”
“But thaaththa,” Bindu countered, “she says she took her oaths only one year later…”

“But we all saw her taking oaths, just after the election that followed the bomb explosion…”
“But she says she took her oaths one year later too…” Bindu argued.
“Yes, but the greens are saying there is no evidence to say that such a ceremony was held because there is no gazette to that effect…”

“But thaaththa, surely the lady wouldn’t lie, would she?”
“No one is suggesting that she is lying, Bindu,” Percy said, “it is just that they find this situation of a head of state taking oaths in secret very curious…”
“So, what do they plan to do about it?”

“Well, the greens have already held their ‘janabala meheyuma’ in protest…”
“You would expect them to do that,” Bindu said, “but what about the others?”
“Well, now even the Buddhist monks are saying that the elections should be held this year…”

“Buddhist monks are also not supposed to lie, are they?” Bindu asked.
“But the Rathu Sahodarayas haven’t given a word one way or the other…”
“Why is that, thaaththa?”

“They must be feeling that their popularity will increase, as long as Satellite stays in power because everybody is talking about this and no work seems to get done…”

“But who will have the last word on this matter?” Bindu wanted to know.
“They say it is the elections commissioner…” Percy said.
“Ah, then we should stop all this unnecessary debating and just ask him…” Bindu suggested.

“But, Bindu,” Percy pointed out, “even if he gives his decision, someone is likely to contest that decision in Court…”
“What will happen then?”

“I am not sure what will happen then,” Percy said, “although there is an old saying about it being ‘naduth hamuduruwange, baduth hamuduruwange’…”
“I don’t think anyone should worry about that…” Bindu said.
“Why do you say that?” Percy wanted to know.

“Why, thaaththa, they don’t give verdicts that are partial to the ruling party…” Bindu observed.
“No one has suggested that they do that…” Percy said.

“And there is enough proof of their independence,” Bindu said, “because they have already decided against the Joint Mechanism and last week they even discharged Seeni Bola from bribery charges…”
“Then, Satellite should start preparing for elections…” Percy suggested.
Bindu didn’t want to argue with that.

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