The Fifth Column

28th July 1996

Floating down the Nile and all that


Monday - it's nice to be back after a short holiday, but it's so annoying when everyone asks where I was and what I was up to. "Where was she and what was she doing" ? Seems to be the question on everyone's mind. A lot of people are hurt that I didn't tell them where I was going, but how could I?

The next day all my plans would be in the papers including how many string hoppers I had for dinner. And Yaso tells me, the favourite Nursery Rhyme at International School these days is, "Satellite, Satellite, where have you been, I've been to London to visit the queen!" Anyway, Ranil seems to be hurt ever since I asked him where he was talking from because he has suggested that I was cruising on the Nile. I wonder why he doesn't take Maithri and do just that, because I heard she was spending her time watching boring videos rented from the British Council...........

Tuesday - Thought I should do something about this Mullaitivu disaster. Anu as usual has beaten me to it, visiting the battlefront, walking-stick and all. Very soon, I suppose, someone in the UNP - Azwer or Susil or even Mallo, perhaps - will demand my resignation over this. But, they should realise that I'm doing a better job than they did with this war but even I have limitations; for instance the only thing Chandananda knows about Mullaitivu is where it is on the map! Still, that is an improvement on some of his predecessors who used the military to make money, I feel..........

Wednesday - Attended a meeting for the tea producers. Gave them a piece of my mind. Told then I couldn't win a war and increase salaries at the same time. Of course, I know that we promised to give a loaf of bread at three-fifty. But I suppose the people are used to such things we say when we come to power. Amma told them that she will get rice from the moon and they believed her, didn't they? Now, I suppose they must be thinking it is all running in the family! Anyway I hope Thonda gets the message that he won't get anymore wage increases from me. Also told them that some businessmen would like to do away with me. That should keep them wondering "which of us was she referring to?" For a while, Huh! serves them right for attending that so-called seminar of Ranil and his cronies....

Thursday - Prabha has done it again, this time at Dehiwala. And, the silly fools have seen the bomb, taken it out and then waited for it to explode. I wonder whether I'll be asked to resign over this too. Huh, Srimani has denied that she was at the Olympics. Must be worried that someone would say, "She is watching the Olympics while bombs are exploding on our trains," just like "She's floating on the Nile, while our soldiers are dying. Who, .....must be thinking she is THAT important! Anyway, heard that the transport system at Atlanta was chaotic - so, who knows, she MIGHT have been there......

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