A sure Bee in AB, but what's next?

I thought I must write to you when I heard that you had turned blue again after being green for seven or eight long years. I don't really know whether to congratulate you or sympathise with you, so I guess we will just have to wait and see.

Anyway, I guess it was only a matter of time before you returned to the Party founded by your father, protected by your mother for over forty years and now led by your sister. Even then, it is slightly puzzling why you chose to do so when everyone else is leaving it like rats deserting a sinking ship.

Of course, you must bear with us when we say that we will remember you best as Leader of a depleted Opposition of only eight MPs, battling the might of a massive green majority in Parliament. That has so far been your finest hour.

As Speaker though, we must say that we were not very impressed with the way you were dealing with matters, especially after Satellite decided to close down Parliament to avoid that no-confidence motion.

But it would have always been a tough job for you because you have to choose not only between what is right and what is wrong but also between loyalties to your Party and to your sibling. It is indeed a difficult task.

But isn't it true that there are other regrets too, AB? What about that palace-like mansion being built for the Speaker by the side of the Diyawanna, costing many million rupees? 

Perhaps your dream was to settle down there, a stone's throw away from that other new mansion being built for Satellite, and be good neighbours with your sister just like you were at Rosmead Place. You even chose new bathroom fittings for that house but now it seems someone else will be the lucky user of those luxuries, isn't it? 

But if you want some consolation, you could always say that it will be a better house than what you-know-who has built in Hanguranketha!

However, what troubles me most is the thought that you would be returning to the very people who conspired to oust you and install Satellite as the leader of the Blues. Those who were loyal to you in that contest-like Mahinda- have been sidelined and those who were loyal to Satellite-like Avamangala and the General- have earned double promotions. So, you will have to be careful about them, AB.

Of course, I need not remind you that everyone now uses you as the best indicator of which way the elections will go. After all, that yardstick has been proved right for the last twenty-five years and we remember JRJ wishing that you will be the Leader of the Opposition forever. JRJ, as we know now usually has the last laugh, so be careful, AB. We must nevertheless wish you best of luck because you are one person who will need a lot of it!

Yours truly,

Punchi Putha

PS- Just in case the Blues win, you must ask Satellite for the PM's post, AB. After all, the Blues have never been led by someone other than a Bee- though how that can continue after you is another question!