5th Column

My dear Harin,

I thought I must write to you, not to congratulate you on your appointment as a Cabinet minister – because that is not an achievement to be proud of – but just to convey to you what people are feeling about the political drama that is being staged while they continue to endure untold hardship.

We were not surprised by your decision to accept a Cabinet post in a bankrupt government, handed out by the Green Man. There had been speculation that this would happen, and you yourself had hinted that you would become ‘independent’. Nevertheless, it was both disappointing and disgusting to see.

You and your partner in crime, Manusha, decided to break ranks with the ‘telephone’ chaps and become ministers in a hodgepodge collection of ministers. You say you took a huge gamble in your political career but many see it as a great betrayal of everything that you claimed to have stood for.

To be honest, Harin, we were not that surprised about Manusha. He is a younger version of SB, crossing from one camp to another when it suits him and saying whatever is necessary to please his master at that time, so it is hardly shocking that he decided to cross-over just to get a Cabinet post.

We remember how he entered Parliament 12 years ago on the Green ticket after making a name for himself as a television journalist. Just a few months later, he swallowed Basil maama’s bait and switched sides to vote for the 18th Amendment. He stayed in the ‘R’ camp for half a dozen years.

In that ‘51-day government’ when Aiyo Sirisena chose Mahinda maama as his PM, he was made a deputy minister. At the height of that crisis, he switched to the Green camp again. Then, he left with all of you to form the ‘telephone’ party. So, the only surprise is him being your political buddy.

Your decision is disappointing, Harin, because you were seen as one of very few decent politicians, the likes of whom we had in the past. Maybe you are too young to value those such as MDH who quit after criticising Ronnie’s budget speech, or Gamani J who resigned over the Indo-Lanka Accord.

What is even more baffling is that you were one of Gota maama’s harshest critics. When others were silent or more moderate in their criticism of Gota maama, you were very outspoken. You were one of the first to say ‘Sir fail’ and it was not very long ago that you said the country was under ‘Sir’s curse’.

You may also recall what Gota maama said in reply when you called him ‘Nandasena’ which is his name. He said people who attacked him in the past, such as Velupillai, were made to ‘die like a dog’ and that he could go into his Defence Secretary mode again. Then you said you feared for your life.

With all this history behind you, it is difficult to understand why you chose to join a Cabinet headed by Gota maama. You have said it is because of the plight the country is in and how you feel you should provide any help you can to the Green Man instead of shying away from that responsibility.

Harin, do you seriously expect us to believe you? Young Sajith was willing to form a Cabinet if Gota maama agreed to provide a timeframe in which he will resign and abolish the Executive Presidency. He didn’t, and Sajith refused to form a government. The rathu sahodarayas said much the same thing.

You left Sajith’s camp telling us that you have asked for assurances from the Green Man. You want Gota maama to resign, the Presidency to be scrapped and the Easter attacks, and the attack on GotaGoGama to be probed properly. Did you get those assurances when you joined the Cabinet, Harin?

Last week we saw how powerful the Green Man was, as PM. He suggested a lady should be Deputy Speaker. Basil’s pohottuwa chaps overruled him. Yet when it came to taking a vote to censure Gota maama he voted against it, though he helped to draft it! So, how can he help you with your demands?

Do you think, Harin, that being in a Cabinet headed by Gota maama will help you achieve the aims of the ‘aragalaya’ at GotaGoGama, that you can prosecute those who plundered the nation, that you can catch Lasantha’s killer, that you can secure Ranjan’s release or even look the Cardinal in the eye?

Harin, when you attend your first Cabinet meeting, look around you. On your right, you may find old Nimal, probably having a nap. On your left, you might find Tiran, best known for brokering deals during elections. Next to you could be Deal Wijey, enjoying a break after holidaying with Nissanka.

If you still think this is exalted company and you are not feeling nauseous by then, what you can do is to look at your own speeches on YouTube. That may jog your memory. Still, now it is too late to undo what you have done: you are now starring in this drama called ‘Ranil baba and the 20 thieves’!

You told the media after taking oaths that you didn’t even look at Gota maama when you were sworn in. Yet, what we saw in the video footage was you smiling and exchanging pleasantries. What were you saying to Gota maama, Harin, was it ‘Gota Go Home’ or ‘Nandasena’? It didn’t look like either!

Sometimes, you may forget, but people remember. They don’t trust people who betray their leaders and switch sides, even with best intentions. Karu was not forgiven for joining Mahinda maama. That is why Karu remains the best Prime Minister we never had. I hope you can learn from that, Harin.

Yours truly,

Punchi Putha

PS: We know that you were not in the best of health recently. When you recovered, you publicly thanked your doctor, Gotabhaya, for giving you ‘another shot at life’. Sadly, it looks like what one Gotabhaya has given you, you have wasted on resurrecting the fortunes of another Gotabaya!