The Fifth Column

12th January 1997

Always running late

"Thaaththa," Bindu Udagedara asked, "why is everybody on strike?"

"I think they are asking for better salaries, Bindu," Percy, Bindu's father said.

"But thaaththa," Bindu said, "didn't Satellite promise them all a salary increase in January?"

"But now they are saying the increase will be from February...."

"Satellite, as usual is late," Bindu observed.

"But remember, it's better late than never...."

"Then thaaththa, will the referendum they are talking about also be late....?"

"We will have to wait and see...."

"But what will we vote for in the referendum?"

"I'm sure the professor will think of something," Percy said.

"Whatever it is, I think dear departed Seeya is having the last laugh...."

"Why do you say that, Bindu?"

"Why, they used his proportional representation system to get themselves into the last Parliament; now they are using the executive presidency to remain in this parliament"

"And?"

"And, now they are using his Referendum tactics to push their package through...."

"And they haven't abandoned his economic policies either...."

"It's no wonder, then, that some five per cent still voted for Seeya as their Man of the Year...." Bindu said.

"But it was Sanath who won that title, not Seeya or Satellite," Satellite got only twenty per cent of the votes...."

"That's much less than the sixty two per cent she boasts about," Percy said.

"Then," Bindu suggested, "we'll make Sanath our President and ask Satellite to open the batting in the cricket team...."

"Oh, no," Percy protested.

"Why not?" Bindu wanted to know.

"Why, Satellite will be run out, even without calling for the Third Umpire...."

"Why do you say that?"

"Why, Bindu," Percy said, "because she's always late.... "

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