5th Column

My dear Mahinda maama,

I thought I must write to you because you too have an important role to play in this coronavirus pandemic. I hope you are not too annoyed by most people – such as Maco and young Sajith – writing to Gota maama instead. What they get in return is, of course, a rather rude reply written by PB!

You had summoned a meeting of former MPs at Temple Trees. Some of them attended. Some didn’t. The Greens, who initially said they will attend, eventually didn’t because you invited those from past Parliaments as well. That is not surprising – the Greens don’t know whether they are coming or going!

Anyway, Mahinda maama, it was a bit difficult to understand the reason you had invited persons who were Members of Parliament many years ago. Did you really think that they had something to contribute – or was it, in these days of isolation, to have a chat about the good old days?

Whatever it was, we didn’t hear any major decisions emerge from that meeting, so it must be politics as usual even during this coronavirus pandemic: the government proposes, the opposition opposes. Then, both sides get into a big argument about what to do next while the people continue to suffer.

That is what is happening about the general election right now, isn’t it? Gota maama and you want to hold it as soon as possible. The opposition wants to postpone it for as long as possible, citing the coronavirus pandemic. We are not certain that either of you have the interests of the people at heart.

Gota maama, you and the pohottuwa chaps want the election as soon as possible. You know this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get that elusive two-thirds majority. If you do get that, it allows you to discard the 19th Amendment and its independent commissions, allowing you to do as you please.

On the other hand, the opposition – or more specifically, the Greens – are divided as never before. Only a handful of the Greens remain with the Green Man. They include those who are identified with the big bank bond scam, which you will no doubt refer to during the campaign. Surely, they are doomed.

Sajith’s outfit may have more numbers in their ranks, but their party was born just yesterday and are an unknown entity. They need a long, rousing campaign to get them off the ground – like you did with the pohottuwa party – but they won’t get that now, what with the coronavirus lingering around.

Therefore, Mahinda mama, if I were you, I wouldn’t worry too much about the outcome of the next election. I feel it is a foregone conclusion. By trying to rush through an election that the people don’t want at the cost of catching a virus, you are only laying yourselves open to various accusations.

The two-thirds majority is a different issue. The argument that you want to repeal the 19th Amendment to strengthen Gota maama’s hand and weaken the PM isn’t convincing. Right now, does it matter whether you or Gota maama wields more power? Whoever does, it is all within the family, right?

Besides, do you really need a two-thirds majority at the election to secure that majority? Remember 2010, Mahinda mama? You fell a few seats short of the 150-mark and then Basil maama went to work and hey, presto, suddenly you had a two-thirds majority – and Basil maama can do it again, can’t he?

Just imagine: the Greens are hopelessly divided and those elected from one Green camp or the other will yearn for greater rewards – especially those who have tasted the pleasures of ministerial office. It will then be child’s play for Basil maama to weave his magic wand and win some of their MPs over.

So, Mahinda maama, that is how you should go about it if you want the 19th Amendment – and all the safeguards to our democracy that go with it – scrapped after the election. That is better than having retired Professor GL – who is way past his ‘use by’ date anyway – to trot out pathetic legal arguments.

Of course, you could also do none of that, let the pandemic subside to some extent, and then allow a free and fair election after a decent period of campaigning. That way, you may not get the two-thirds majority you want, but you would be hailed as a great democrat. Ah, but that is not quite your style, is it?

Yours truly,

Punchi Putha

PS: After writing a few rude replies on behalf of Gota maama, PB has asked us to donate our salaries or part of it to fight the virus, when most people are trying desperately to make ends meet. It is no wonder that your friend Sarath said this chap should never hold public office again. Mahinda maama, with friends like him, you don’t need enemies – and now they say PB stands for ‘Padi Baagey’!