“Thaaththa,” Bindu Udagedera asked, “what is all this fuss about a court decision?”
“Which court decision?” Bindu’s father Percy wanted to know, “these days there are so many court decisions that are important that it is difficult to keep track of them…”
“Why do you say that, thaaththa?” Bindu inquired.

“Why, Bindu,” Percy explained, “there is a court decision asking a top official to pay a fine in a case involving a land deal, then there is a court decision about evicting people from high security areas and then there was a court decision about a minister being imposed a suspended sentence…”
“That is true,” Bindu agreed, “it appears as if everyone needs the help of the courts to sort out their issues…”

“And which court decision were you referring to?” Percy wanted to know.
“Why, thaaththa the decision where an official was found fault with for entering into a land deal with a company and was asked to pay a fine of half a million rupees…”
“Ah, yes”, Percy said, “I believe he would have paid the fine by now…”
“But that is not the issue, thaaththa…” Bindu protested.

“Then, what is bothering you about that verdict, Bindu?” Percy asked.
“If the court so clearly said that the official had committed this mistake and ordered him to pay a fine, thaaththa, how is he still holding the same top job?” Bindu was puzzled.
“Why, what should he be doing, Bindu?” Percy inquired.

“I would have expected him to resign,” Bindu said, “that is what most self-respecting men would do…”
“Well, Bindu,” Percy advised, “you should know by now that in this country of ours nobody resigns and people let go of their positions only if they really have to, and that is true from top to bottom…”
“Why do you say that, thaaththa?” Bindu asked.

“Why, don’t you remember that Satellite wanted to stay on for one more year than she ought to and again, it was only a court verdict that prevented her from doing so…?” Percy recalled.
“That is indeed true…,” Bindu agreed.

“And then,” Percy pointed out, “our Doctor Dutugemunu carries on regardless, getting involved in a new incident every week even though he should have resigned many months ago after what happened at Rupavahhini…”
“But thaaththa,” Bindu argued, “when you expect people with self-respect to resign, you shouldn’t be expecting Doctor Dutugemunu to do so…” Bindu cautioned.

“I suppose that is also true,” Percy conceded, “but what I am trying to say is that no one ever resigns unless they are forced to…”
“Why, who else should be resigning?” Bindu asked.

“Take Seeni Bola, for instance. He too should resign and write his memoirs instead of trying to wriggle his way back into Parliament. After all, the courts have deprived him of his civic rights…” Percy noted.
“Then, thaaththa,” Bindu countered, “what about the Green Man? Shouldn’t he too resign as the head of his party after he lost so many elections?”

“Some people firmly believe that he should,” Percy said, “but Bindu, you should realise that it is futile to expect officials to resign over some minor misdemeanour like a land transaction that deprived the country of billions of rupees…”“But that sounds so absurd…” Bindu protested.

“Well,” Percy said, “in fact, it could have been worse…”
“Why do you say that, thaaththa?” Bindu asked, puzzled. “Why, he could have been given a pardon by you-know who, like the pardon offered to the minister who was sentenced,” Percy declared, “so you should be thankful that at least, that hasn’t happened so far…”
Bindu knew he couldn’t disagree with that.