5th Column

My dear Vijitha sahodaraya,

I know am writing to you at a time when you have to keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you. It is, of course, about your ‘performance’ at that summit in India when you were quizzed by a lady journalist on the sinking of a ship and you had to answer tough questions.

Needless to say, clips of what you said went viral. We saw you, looking dapper in a suit, sitting rather confidently but speaking haltingly, choosing your words very slowly and then repeating them several times. To be honest, Vijitha sahodaraya, it did appear as if you were struggling to express yourself.

What most people, even those sympathetic to the ‘maalimaawa’, found unacceptable was not so much what you said. It was the way you said it. In fact, India’s Jaishankar, when he was asked the same question, said the same thing. I think it was the manner in which you said it that upset many.

Your body language conveyed a sense of unease. It was as if you did not want to be there, answering those questions. Trying to get out of that situation by grinning while giving your answers made it worse because you were talking about a tragedy that cost lives and you came across as insensitive.

After those few minutes of cringeworthy television, critics of the ‘maalimaawa’ naturally went on the offensive. How could you belittle the honour of a nation with such a feeble performance as its Foreign Minister, they asked.

Since then, Vijitha sahodaraya, there has been so much ‘analysis’ of those few minutes. Sociological and political explanations have been offered. Some want you replaced. Others say the ‘rathu sahodarayas’ ‘five classes’ or ‘panthi paha’ should now be expanded to 6 to include English!

Comparisons have been made with your predecessors such as Kadir, ACS (or ‘All Countries Seen’ as he was known) and Mangala. That is so unfair. Besides, that list of predecessors is not the best. It also includes dubious people like Ravi and Boggles and constant ‘cross-overs’ like GL and Wasantha!

We always knew you were not another Kadir. He was a product of his day and age and one of a kind which we will probably not see again. Similarly, you are product of a different day and age. The question is not why you were not like Kadir but why the ‘maalimaawa’ got their priorities mixed up.

Then, some ask why Harini couldn’t have been given Foreign Affairs. That is a valid question. With her command of the English language, she could have done a better job that day. Besides, there was a tradition of the PM holding the Defence and Foreign Affairs portfolios until JR appointed ACS.

What is sad is, all this may have been avoided, if the powers that be who decided on your attendance, be it at the palace or at Pelawatte, were sensible. Then, the country wouldn’t be ridiculed. There is also a sense of déjà vu about this.  Remember Handun at that economic forum? Who can forget that?

This year, they quietly sent Harini sahodariya to that economic forum and there was no drama. They could have done the same for this. Or, they could have sent a high official from your ministry. The easiest and obvious solution was of course for you to attend but use the services of a translator.

That is what Anura sahodaraya does, doesn’t he? There is no shame in doing that. As a result, he doesn’t get tied down in knots trying not only to answer questions but also think of how to phrase them. Then, you can be both eloquent and forceful and get your point across to the audience.

Being fluent in your language is also no guarantee that you can emerge on top at these discussions. Remember when Uncle Ranil was ambushed in London by an Al Jazeera chap and others who asked him about the end of the war, hoping he would rise to the bait and implicate Mahinda maama?

Similarly, we got the impression that this lady journalist, well-known for her nationalist sentiments, was trying to save her country from the embarrassment of Uncle Sam sinking a ship that was a guest of her country. It looked as if she wanted to put you in a spot to get over that and save Modi’s blushes.

Meanwhile, people here in Paradise blame you for botching a golden opportunity to showcase the country’s humanitarian work and neutral stance after Anura sahodaraya did all the hard work. So, they are annoyed. What Anura sahodaraya brought together, let no Vijitha put asunder, they say.

It is true that people did not vote for the ‘maalimaawa’ based on their competency in English. Still, I think the message people are trying to convey is that, for some jobs such as yours, being fluent in English is essential. If not, then you must acknowledge that and, for God’s sake, use a translator!

Yours truly,

Punchi Putha

PS: You owe Sajith big time, Vijitha sahodaraya. He showed off his knowledge of submarines and asked some questions around the same time as your ‘performance’. He became an obvious target on social media and elsewhere, even more than you did. If not for him, you would have been toast!