Hot air like - the rise and rise of Harima P
From "Harim who?'' to "Harim he'' is not the longest ride -- but it was such a long journey. So now he is Harim he. Harim the man. Harim the spokes-man, hyphen intended.

This writer had the opportunity of meeting Harim Peiris last week, the spokesman who walks the walk and talks the talk -- and more than he talks the talk he walks the walk.

While he was walking the walk this writer was asked by Harim Peiris, "why you -- you haven't been writing haven't you?'' Well, muttering an excuse, I said I fully intend to resume my work. So Mr Peiris yours truly is back. I hope you won't mind.

While Mr Peiris was walking the walk, I asked him a routine question, the response to which of course must be put down to what we now think is in the nature of Mr. Peiris's routine answers.

I asked him "what can you say about the recent ruckus that has been raised over the appointment of President's Counsel?'' This is as routine as it can get. As they say part of the stock in trade of the scribe, to ask among other things, about the issues of the day. It's like a politician going before a microphone; we go before the politicians and ask questions.

Mr Peiris does not think so.
He says "I shay are these the issues of the day?!'' Okay maybe he does not say "I shay.'' But you could say that was his tone of delivery. So he says "so you think these are the issues of the day?. How many other more important issues are there - and you raise this?!''

So Harim Peiris says all Presidential issues are not important - and therefore his logic is that if some issues are less important they are not issues at all. His logic goes like this: the President eats string hoppers in the morning. This he will tell any journalist who cares to ask, be assured. The President may eat kiribath for breakfast on Wednesdays. This also he will tell any journalist who will ask. But, the President appoints President's Counsel as and when she wants and in any manner she pleases, and she does so with the aid of some sort of Committee which nobody has heard a thing about. But it's not an important issue.

It is a non-issue. Let's just drop it and get back to the President's kiribath. Harim Peiris then lambastes our writers for bringing up the real issues too -- but that's another matter. He says they do not have a modicum of propriety or something to that effect. Wow! Does the President's office then exude a modicum of transparency about the process of appointing President's Counsel? Huh, what's a modicum of propriety about a morsel of an issue, what?

Mr Harim Peiris does not say. Instead he tucks into something that looks like a kebab. Then there he goes again on the catwalk, looking for another kebab. These are not important issues, he says. Let's talk about kebab and kiribath. But catch Harim Peiris declaiming on the important issues, and you do not know how to figure out which in his opinion is more important. Himself or the issues?

In fact it appears is, he has not figured that one out yet. Which is more important? Harim Peiris or the issues?? They say he says "I said this'' or "WE did this'' more often than saying "the President did'' anything.

One would think he has taken over the manner of address that's preferred by the House of Windsor. At least it will be good in alliteration will it not ---- the sound of His Royal Highness Harima Peiris. I mean Harim Peiris. For hot air that keeps rising you can always count on HRH Harim.

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