A
lesson in addition and subtraction
"Thaaththa," Bindu Udagedera asked, "how much is
thirty five plus two?"
"Thirty seven" Percy, Bindu's father replied.
"Then, how much is thirty seven minus two?"
"Thirty five again…" Percy said, somewhat puzzled,
"but why are you suddenly finding it difficult to count?"
"It's not me, thaaththa," Bindu said, "Our rathu
sahodarayas are finding it difficult to count…"
"Why
is that, Bindu?" Percy wanted to know.
"Why thaaththa, they are protesting that the number of ministers
have exceeded the agreed number…"
"And how much is that?" Percy asked.
"Apparently
they have agreed on thirty five ministers and no more before the
election and now Satellite has sworn in two more ministers…"
"But," Percy asked, "didn't two ministers also resign?"
"Yes, they did," Bindu explained "but there are still
thirty seven ministers…"
"But Bindu," Percy queried, "how could that be if
they originally had only thirty five ministers…"
"That
is where the problem lies…" Bindu said.
"And what problem is that?"
"Why, thaaththa, initially they agreed on thirty five ministers…"
"I see no problem with that…"
"But Satellite is now saying that what she agreed was for thirty
five ministers apart from the President and the Prime Minister…"
"And
what are the rathu sahodarayas saying to that?"
"They are arguing that what they agreed for was for thirty
five ministers including the President and the Prime Minister…"
"Trust the lady to change her mind," Percy said, "but
that shouldn't surprise the rathu sahodarayas any more…"
"So, thaaththa," Bindu pointed out, "what Satellite
is now saying is that she in fact initially appointed only thirty
three ministers and that therefore she is entitled to appoint two
more…"
"But
Bindu," Percy said, "I don't think she should worry too
much about this problem…"
"Why not, thaaththa?" Bindu asked, "the rathu sahodarayas
are protesting publicly and embarrassing Satellite saying she is
breaking her promises…"
"That is nothing new, Bindu," Percy said, "besides,
there are other ways of dealing with the problem…"
"And
how is that?" Bindu wanted to know.
"Why, she could have a secret swearing in ceremony for any
amount of ministers like she did for herself and then announce that
to the country maybe a year or so later…"
"But thaaththa," Bindu argued, "if they do that,
the new ministers won't be able to appear publicly and tell the
rest of the country that they are ministers of the new government…"
"Yes,"
Percy agreed, "but some of the most important matters attended
to by ministers are done in secret, aren't they?"
"Is there any other way Satellite could avoid this problem,
thaaththa?" Bindu asked.
"Why, if she has too many ministers she could video tape the
private life of a couple of them and then use that to get them to
resign…" Percy suggested helpfully.
"But
thaaththa, even that can be quite embarrassing as some people have
found out recently," Bindu said, "isn't there any other
way?"
"Of course there is," Percy said, "and that is to
appoint two more rathu sahodarayas as ministers…"
"But
thaaththa," Bindu said, "then they would protest even
more…"
"Why should they?" Percy said, "they haven't protested
at everything else Satellite has done against their wishes until
now…"
Bindu didn't disagree with that. |
