My dear Anura,
I thought I must write a small note to you, when everybody is making a fuss about you completing twenty years in national politics.
Now, the most interesting fact is that the Daily Noise, faithfully reported this day after day last week, saying how UNP MPs were trying to "boycott" this ceremony and how Benazir was also avoiding the event. Mangala has surely got some good 'yes' men at the House by the Lake!
Anyway, Anura, twenty years in national politics are a good time to look back. It is true that Satellite has been luckier, because within twenty months of her return to the country she became President while your greatest achievement is that of becoming Leader of the Opposition.
But we have also got to remember that it was you who kept your Party together at a time when it was reduced to eight seats in Parliament. Amma was stripped of her civic rights and Satellite was running around the countryside with Vijaya and his United Socialist Alliance.
It is indeed funny to think of what might have been. Had Vijaya been alive, Amma would never have taken him back and Satellite's political career would have ended. Or, for that matter, had you remained with the Blues, you and Satellite would still be fighting for the Leadership and you would have remained in the Opposition!
Of course even among the Greens, there are those who still do not trust you. They think that you are merely marking time and the day Satellite leaves, you will return to the party founded by your father and still led by your mother. What do you say to that?
Apart from that, I think that your other problem is that you have so little to show the people in terms of achievements. This has been partly because most of your political life - except for a brief spell as Higher Education Minister under Dearly Beloved - has been spent in the Opposition. So, as far as the man on the street is concerned you are just the son of SWRD; most of them don't even know that you are arguably the best speaker and debator in Parliament! That is something you would have to think about seriously.
But what really is your status in the Green Party, Anura? Do you realise that apart from Ranil, you are probably the only other Leader of national standing in the UNP? I think you should think about that aspect as well.
Finally, I know Amma is attending the felicitation ceremony for you, but Satellite has quietly slipped out of the country, hasn't she? Did you send her an invitation?
So, Anura, best wishes to you on reaching this milestone. You have been described as the son of two Prime Ministers and the brother of a third but we know you deserve better than that. Let us hope we can celebrate something more substantial in the near future.
Yours truly,
Punchi Putha.
PS - You will do well to heed the words of Oscar Wilde in "The importance of being Earnest": "All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his...."
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