The chosen path towards 'Avamangala' or 'Jayamangala'

By Rypvanwinkle

My Dear Mangala,

I thought I must write to you after the events of last week, when you created quite a sensation by crossing over to the Opposition benches in Parliament. Despite having my reservations about politicians in general, Mangala, I must say I was pleasantly surprised to find a politician crossing over to the opposition benches, whereas it has been one way traffic the other way around until now!

Pardon me, Mangala, but we are quite a bit confused at present. That is because the people who voted for some Greens are finding that their representatives are sitting among the Blues and calling themselves the 'democratic' group while others who voted for some Blues are finding that their nominees are sitting among the Greens and calling themselves the 'mahajana' group. We are all quite marooned by all this!

Anyway, Mangala, it does take a lot of courage to do what you did. It is true that Blue stalwarts have broken away from the party before, but it has rarely been when the party was ruling the country. And the last time somebody was brave enough to defy a President was when Lalith, Gamini and G.M. defied their boss and we all know where that ended!

It is all the more interesting because you, more than all those Jeyarajs, Maithripalas and Nimal Siripalas put together worked to bring Mahinda maama into office less than two years ago. The most intriguing issue however is all these deals that Tiran is supposed to have put through in return for the Tigers enforcing a boycott of the presidential polls. So, would it be fair to say that you are now paying for your own sins, Mangala?

We do also remember your days as the Media Minister in Satellite's government. You will, I hope readily agree that you weren't all grace and humility during that period when you were constantly at loggerheads with those in the media. That is why, when you are now making claims about saving the country from a dictatorship, we have to take it with a pinch of salt!

But we have to agree with you when you complain about abductions and evictions, the rising cost of living and the approach to the ethnic crisis because we too feel that something is not quite right in the way matters are being handled. Add to this the fact that we have over a hundred ministers who have to be paid for when the public is being asked to tighten their purse strings and you know that something has gone wrong in this Paradise of ours.

I don't think I need to tell you this, Mangala, but you shouldn't underestimate Mahinda maama. You know how he snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at the presidential election and we have all seen how he seems to smile and win over even his harshest critics. You have also seen how he has treated those who helped him in the recent past. Need we say more?

One factor which may be in your favour, Mangala is the fact that all of us have realised that we have a robust judiciary which will pass judgments on any issue, be it the eviction of lodgers, school admissions, the sale of shares in government companies or even the workings of sugar factories. That is something Mahinda maama may not have counted on!

So, best of luck, Mangala. I'm sure you must be hoping to become 'Jayamangala' rather than 'Avamangala' but we will all watch your journey with tremendous interest!

Yours truly,
Punchi Putha

PS-We heard you say that you would like Satellite to return to politics to give you leadership. I suppose you want her help to mobilise the masses but frankly, with all due respect to the retired lady, I would think that you are better off on your own; most people think she has passed her 'use by' date...