Of
ministers and those that think they are ministers
This is the era of the second Mahinda. He descended
not from Dambadiva but from Ruhuna. He was with his disciples, not
at Mihintale but somewhere in Colombo and he wanted to test their
knowledge…
"Who is this?" Mahinda asked, pointing at a minister.
"That is a cabinet minister, Your Excellency" said his
disciples.
"Are there other ministers apart from this minister?"
Mahinda asked.
"Yes, Your Excellency…" the disciples said.
"And who may they be?" Mahinda asked.
"There are other cabinet ministers, Your Excellency" the
disciples.
"Are there other ministers apart from cabinet ministers?"
Mahinda queried.
"Yes, Your Excellency…" the disciples replied.
"And who are they?" Mahinda wanted to know.
"Why, Your Excellency, there are the non-cabinet ministers…"
the disciples said.
"Then, are there other ministers apart from cabinet ministers
and non-cabinet ministers?" Mahinda asked.
"Yes, Your Excellency…" the disciples replied.
"And who are they?" Mahinda questioned.
"Why, Your Excellency, there are the deputy ministers…"
the disciples said.
"But, are there other ministers apart from cabinet ministers,
non-cabinet ministers and deputy ministers?" Mahinda asked.
"Yes, Your Excellency…" the disciples said.
"And who are they?" Mahinda inquired.
"Why, Your Excellency, there is the Prime Minister…"
the disciples declared.
"So, are there other ministers apart from cabinet ministers,
non-cabinet ministers, deputy ministers and the Prime Minister?"
Mahinda asked.
"Yes, Your Excellency…" the disciples said.
"And who are they?" Mahinda inquired.
"Why, Your Excellency, there are the Chief Ministers…."
the disciples answered.
"So, are there other ministers apart from cabinet ministers,
non-cabinet ministers, deputy ministers, the Prime Minister and
the Chief Ministers?" Mahinda asked.
"Yes, Your Excellency…" the disciples replied.
"And who may they be?" Mahinda wanted to know.
"Why, Your Excellency, there are the Provincial Ministers…."
the disciples said.
"Well, are there other ministers apart from cabinet ministers,
non-cabinet ministers, deputy ministers, the Prime Minister, Chief
Ministers and the Provincial Ministers?" Mahinda demanded.
"Yes, Your Excellency…" the disciples replied.
"And who is that?" Mahinda wanted to know.
The disciples were looking at each other and hesitating to answer
Mahinda's question. Mahinda thought they had forgotten about the
minister he had first pointed out.
"Your Excellency, there are those who think they are ministers…"
the disciples said finally.
"Who are they?" Mahinda asked, "are they those who
want to cross over from the Greens?"
"No, Your Excellency, there are those, like Thamilselvam who
think they are ministers because they say they will talk only to
ministers and will not talk to those who are not ministers…"
the disciples replied.
Mahinda didn't want to ask any more questions from his disciples.
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