5th Column

My dear Vraie,

I thought of writing to you to congratulate you on becoming only the second lady to assume the mayoralty of Colombo, and that too succeeding the first, Rosy. However, after watching what is going on in other councils throughout the country, I think you can count yourself lucky to be where you are!

It was obvious the ‘telephone’ chaps weren’t giving up without a fight. They have lost every election they have contested so far. With their trophy cupboard empty, they needed to show something to those who voted for them, if they wanted to retain their support. So, what better prize than Colombo?

Here was a stronghold held by the Greens for nearly 70 years. Even when the Greens had their nomination list rejected and supported an independent group, that group won. Besides, Colombo is Sajith’s home turf. It is from the CMC that Sajith’s late father began his journey to the very top.

Although Sajith said he would never form alliances with the ‘hora pohottuwa’ or even the Greens for political expediency, he did just that, conveniently forgetting all those promises. That left your party, the ‘maalimaawa’ in a similar situation: they too branded everyone else as ‘horu’ before the polls.

Let’s be honest, Vraie. Faced with the prospect of not gaining control of the CMC despite winning 32 of its 47 wards, confronted with the possibility that the ‘telephone’ chaps could walk away with the mayoralty after winning just 11 wards and only a quarter of the votes, you had to do something.

So, the powers-that-be at Pelawatte decided to throw caution – and their election promises – to the wind. They began ‘negotiating’ with individuals and even parties, not only in Colombo but elsewhere too.   This is what has led to the war-like situation when local councils meet now to elect their chief.

The sahodarayas at Pelawatte will argue that they were compelled to do so because they had the most votes in the vast majority of local councils and couldn’t allow the runners-up to claim the first prize. That is true, but then, you can’t also claim that you practise principled politics above everything else.

Your ‘maalimaawa’ comrades should ask themselves why they are in this mess, having to get support from unscrupulous elements. They amended the elections laws for this election. If they made changes to the way members are allocated, they could have avoided all this – but they weren’t clever enough!

The true calibre of our elected representatives has been exposed in these council meetings. Several sessions were adjourned. Some members were kidnapped, it is alleged.  It is no wonder Parliament is what it is because it is these same people who eventually ‘graduate’ from these councils to Parliament.

This is why you should count yourself lucky. Had the ‘telephone’ chaps been wise to the trick of walking out before a vote, depriving the council of a quorum, you may not be mayor today. In true ‘telephone’ party style this wisdom dawned on them too late, after Colombo slipped from their grasp.

I am not sure whether you are aware, Vraie, but you are the first leftist mayor Colombo has had since NM. He was called the ‘golden brain’  and went on to greater heights, becoming Finance Minister in Sirima’s government although the reforms he ushered would lead to the downfall of that government.

As Mayor of Colombo, NM did try to clean up the CMC. This made him many enemies and the Green government of the day headed by Sir John wanted him out. Two years into his term, the Greens  moved a vote of no confidence against him and clinching that vote was none other than Sajith’s father.

History, they say, repeats itself and that is what you should be careful about. You may have been elected mayor by a comfortable 7-vote majority but you can be sure that the ‘telephone’ party is licking its wounds and plotting its next move to try and re-enact what happened 70 years ago.

You have an opportunity to let the country see what you and your team are capable of. Since the ‘maalimaawa’ took office, we heard a lot of talk about the change they promised. Precious little has in fact happened except maybe in catching thieves – which seems to have picked up pace recently.

We want you to succeed, not because we support you more or because we care less about your rivals but because we want Colombo to improve as a city regardless of who runs it. You will need all the luck you can get – and maybe the support of an opposition councillor or two. So, best of luck, Vraie!

Yours truly,

Punchi Putha

PS: Your first meeting didn’t get off to the start you expected because you hadn’t circulated the agenda with sufficient notice. We heard Anura sahodaraya tell us all of you are ‘learning on the job’. You won’t be allowed to do so, Vraie, and we hope you are not following in Rosy’s footsteps either!