20th August 2000

5th Column

Sporting his way up

"Why, Bindu," Percy Udagedera said, "I thought the fuss about the constitution is over now."

"But thaaththa," Bindu said, "Satellite says she will somehow implement the constitution after the election."

"Yes," Percy agreed, "she has said that." "But thaaththa," Bindu argued, "doesn't she require a two-thirds majority for that even after the election?"

"According to the constitution, yes." Percy explained. "Then, what if she doesn't get that two-thirds majority in the next Parliament?" Bindu wanted to know.

"Then she says she will change the constitution with a simple majority." "But thaaththa, according to the constitution, that cannot be done."

"Bindu," Percy advised, "anything can be done by politicians." "Then that is why they are talking of converting the next Parliament into a constitutional council to change the constitution even without a two-thirds majority."

"And that is why Seeni Bola was talking of closing the courts and sending the judges home if they don't agree with what they want to do."

"That is quite possible now, isn't it, thaaththa?" Bindu asked. "Why do you say that?" "Why, Seeni Bola has now been elected as the general secretary of the blues."

"But that was after a close election, Bindu, where he couldn't get a two-thirds majority." "Are they sure that the election was not rigged?" Bindu asked.

"Why do you say that?"

"Why, thaaththa, Seeni Bola is in charge of sports and he must be knowing all about match-fixing."

"I don't think that election was rigged," Percy said, "but we cannot be so sure about elections that will be held in the future."

"But thaaththa," Bindu argued, "Satellite was so confident of getting a two-thirds majority for the new constitution when she presented it in Parliament."

"Yes," Percy agreed, "it appeared that there were enough people willing to cross over." "But the greens managed to stop all that." Bindu said.

"Yes, for once, the green leader took Satellite for a ride, by taking his MPs for a ride in Singapore." "So he is smarter than everybody thinks he is."

"That we will have to wait and see." "But the blues must be worried now."

"Why?" Percy wanted to know. "Why, thaaththa, they became unpopular by trying to rush this constitution through at the last minute."

"They certainly angered a lot of people by trying to do that." Percy agreed. "Maybe, they wanted to win back some of those people which is why they appointed a new Prime Minister also." Bindu observed.

"That," agreed Percy "was a sensible thing to do." "Now what will happen at the elections, thaaththa?"

"Now that Seeni Bola has been given a lot of responsibility I think we can all guess what will happen."

"Why do you say that?" "Why, Bindu, Seeni Bola was in charge of sports, wasn't he? So, he knows how to win matches. You have to prepare pitches favourable to the home side and you have to have your own umpires."

"But thaaththa," Bindu argued, "we all saw what happened in those matches recently." "What was that?" "Even with all that help, the home side couldn't win." Percy didn't disagree with that.

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