Forget the past and be remembered

My Dear Satellite,

I thought of writing to you because we don't see you as often on TV or in the newspapers now and so I guess fewer people will be writing to you or sending you greeting cards this year!

But I do sympathize with you, Satellite for all that has happened over the past month or so. There you were, breathing fire and confident of victory even days before the election and telling your supporters 'meruwoth maranna' only to find that the poll was a disaster.

In fact, Satellite, it was rather silly of you to come on state television and in an Address to the Nation-when the whole country was expecting a statesmanlike stirring speech- to find you reeling off telephone and fax numbers of your office asking your supporters to complain of post-election violence! And this from a lady who said 'meruwoth maranna' only a week before!

Then there was the swearing-in ceremony which was a disaster, Satellite. Of course, we didn't expect you to be grinning from ear to ear and saying hello machang to either Gas Labu or Seeni Bola but you made it obvious that you were nursing a grudge and letting personal issues take precedence over official duties. You could do with a course in public relations, Satellite!

Then, Satellite, you mustn't let all these recent events cloud your judgment. For instance, how can you justify leaving out old faithfuls like Alavi or Batty from the National List? Alavi may grin and bear it but Batty is certainly putting up a fight-and no one is saying this time that he is trying to live up to his name!

Satellite, you must surely agree that whatever his faults, the Green Man did a good job of taking over the reins. He could have set about it much more aggressively, lashing out at you publicly and making a mockery of decency. But he didn't do that and mark my word, Satellite, he's not just being nice, he's being shrewd too because everybody is now saying that he behaved like a perfect gentleman.

I guess, Satellite, that you now have two options. Either you forget the past and try to work with the greens, however much you may dislike some people in the green camp, especially those who deserted you and crossed-over. Or else, you use whatever powers that are still available to you to try and get the greens out.

I know your heart prefers the latter option but I feel most Sri Lankans will admire you even more if you choose the former for the sake of the country. The greens have been given a mandate and it is your duty to respect the peoples' wish. So, if you work with them and succeed in bringing peace and prosperity to the country, your place in history will be assured. Well, it is either that, or you would be remembered as the lady who couldn't take defeat and threw it all away. You don't want that to be your record, do you?

Yours truly, Punchi Putha.

PS- Anyway, I don't think you really have a choice. The greens will naturally be scared that you will dissolve the House after one year; so they will have to present an impeachment, just to be sure. And this time around, Mallo is not around to help you on that, either! By the way, Happy New Year- it can only get better from the year that is just ending!