5th Column

My Dear Field Marshal,
I am writing to congratulate you because you were appointed to Parliament once again. After running for the highest office in the country that might not seem like much but then, a lot has happened since then and I am sure you must be relieved to be back in the House surrounded by the Diyawanna Oya.

Of course, we remember you mostly as the man who gave leadership to the war that defeated the terrorists. It has now become fashionable to take credit for winning the war and indeed there were many who provided leadership, political and otherwise, but your role was still first and foremost.

One of the most stirring stories of the war effort was how you were almost fatally injured in a suicide bomb attack and how that attack made you even more determined to end the war. So, unlike politicians who break their promises, you kept your promise of not leaving the war to your successor.

But, being the good old soldier that you are, you didn’t want to just fade away. You thought you would take your chances and challenge Mahinda maama for the top job. And why wouldn’t you, when the Greens and the Reds were also willing to support you with their votes?

Why, at that time even Sampanthan seeya’s party extended their support to you even though you had provided the leadership to the war that raged in the North and East. It was a big gamble to take on Mahinda maama who people were then hailing as King Dutugemunu but you took up that challenge.

That is when things started to go wrong for you. I’m sure you could have lived with losing that election. However, just after the election, you went from hero to zero overnight. The gallant soldier who defeated the terrorists became the villain while terrorists were sent to Parliament.

What was disgusting was the way in which you were detained. They sent the military police to arrest you even though you had left the military. You were dragged away literally kicking and screaming by soldiers who treated you like a common criminal- even though you were a decorated General.

Looking back, it is amusing to realise that the Wimals, Vasus, Dineshs and Udayas- who are now up in arms about young Yoshitha being detained and are complaining about political revenge- were with Mahinda maama at that time but we didn’t hear any of them say a word about what happened to you.

In the years that followed, you were court martialled and paraded before the courts and the public many a time on various charges. We saw the man we were used to seeing in ceremonial uniform and battle fatigues in a prison jumper. They stripped you not only of your rank but your pension too.

There were times when you had to apply to courts to have a fan in your cell. I don’t think KP who financed the Tigers would have had to undergo such inconveniences. Being the fighter that you are, you endured all that and emerged once again as a force to reckon with, teaming up with the Greens.

This partnership will be watched with much interest. There were times when the Greens received lashings from your acid tongue because diplomacy has never been your strong point. Then there is the man who is minding justice who called you a ‘vel vidhaaney who must be eating his words now.

Isn’t it also ironical that at about the same time you returned to Parliament, the man who presided when you were sent to jail had to see his own son being detained and was complaining of political revenge! It seems as if you reap what you sow- and dashing thousands of coconuts won’t prevent that!

Anyway, Field Marshal, your battles are far from over. I suppose one of the reasons why the Greens want you to join them is because Mahinda maama is gathering his acolytes to try and recover his good fortune- and they will want to play the ‘look what they did to the man who saved the nation’ card.

The Greens will use you to counter that. They will also want you to dance to their tune. Being an army officer all your life, you are only used to others dancing to your tune. So, be careful; after all, they haven’t even announced what ministry you will get though you might want the Justice portfolio!

Yours truly,
Punchi Putha
PS- Speaking of singing to various tunes, did you hear the fuss by certain ‘patriotic’ people over an internationally renowned Sri Lankan lady singing ‘Danno Budunge’ on Independence Day? It was as if Buddhism had been destroyed by this performance although they didn’t say a word when Bhathiya and Santhush decided to do a rap version of ‘Siri Sangabodhi maaligawedi’, a song from the same play! The next thing we know, these chaps will want us to ban ‘Yaman bando vesak balanna’- after all, how dare we sing a ‘baila’ about Buddhism’s greatest day?