Be a sport — it’s all they need to keep the hearths burning!

By Rypvanwinkle

“Thaaththa,” Bindu Udagedara asked, “what is all this fuss about elections?”
“I think everyone is excited about the elections in the east…” Bindu’s father Percy said.
“What is so exciting about the elections in the east, thaaththa?” Bindu wanted to know.
“Why, local government elections were held first and now they are having provincial council elections…” Percy explained.
“But why are these elections so terribly important, thaaththa?” Bindu asked.

“Why, Bindu, remember how the north and east were merged so many years ago under that Accord JR signed…”
“Yes,” Bindu said, “but wasn’t that merger supposed to be temporary?”
“It was supposed to be temporary,” Percy agreed, “but it nearly became permanent until the courts recently decided that the north and east should be separate once more…”
“So, that is why they began having elections all of a sudden there…” Bindu said.

“But that is not the only reason why the elections are so crucial…” Percy pointed out.
“Why is it so important, then?” Bindu wanted to know.
“These elections are important because Mahinda maama won the last local government elections they held there…” Percy said.
“But thaaththa,” Bindu asked, “were those elections free and fair?”
“I suppose they were,” Percy recalled, “there were no complaints about any incidents…”

“But thaaththa,” Bindu pointed out, “there was hardly any opposition…”
“Why do you say that?” Percy queried.
“Why, the greens didn’t contest and even Uncle Rauf kept away, didn’t he?”
“But Mahinda maama can hardly be blamed for other people keeping away from the contest, can he?” Percy countered.
“But thaaththa,” Bindu said, “I thought they must have kept away with good reason…”

“And what reason is that?” Percy inquired.
“Why, didn’t they all keep away because that splinter group of the Tigers was operating with Mahinda maama and carrying weapons?” Bindu asked.
“They may have done that,” Percy agreed, “but we must see the other side of that too…”
“And what would that be?” Bindu wondered.
“Why, if a group which earlier carried arms and threatened to disrupt normal life is now being part and parcel of democracy and contesting elections, shouldn’t we be happy about it?” Percy demanded.

“I am not so sure about that, thaaththa,” Bindu said, “because even though they are contesting elections they haven’t given up their weapons yet…”
“There is a problem there,” Percy conceded, “but this is at least a step in the right direction…”
“So, thaaththa,” Bindu asked, “who do you think will win these provincial council elections in the east?”
“Well,” Percy observed, “the greens are contesting this time and so is Uncle Rauf, so Mahinda maama won’t have it very easy…”
“But he still has those chaps who broke away from the Tigers supporting him…” Bindu pointed out.
“That is true but it will be harder for them too, with several parties contesting…” Percy declared.

“But thaaththa,” Bindu queried, “how is it that Mahinda maama is still able to win elections with everyone so badly affected by the rising cost of living?”
“Oh, that is simple…” Percy said.
“Why is that?” Bindu wanted to know.
“There are two things that make people forget about the rising cost of living…” Percy explained.
“And what are they?” Bindu demanded.
“One is of course the war for which we are supposed to sacrifice everything and grin and bear it…” Percy said.
“And what is the other?” Bindu inquired.

“Why, that is our performances in cricket of course,” Percy said, “whenever we win a match or tournament, we are willing to forget everything and focus on cricket…”
“Thaaththa” Bindu said, alarmed, “didn’t we win a match in the West Indies recently?”
“Yes, we did,” Percy recalled.

“So, does that mean there will be more price hikes in the near future?” Bindu wanted to know.
“Well, why else would you have an MP as the head of the Cricket Board and the Chief Selector as the head of the Petroleum Corporation?” Percy asked.
Suddenly, Bindu couldn’t help hoping that the cricket team wouldn’t perform very well in the near future…