Government now is like NATO

"Thaaththa," Bindu Udagedera asked, "what is happening to the government now?"

"Why," Bindu's father Percy asked, "what are you worried about?"

"Why thaaththa," Bindu said, "people are saying that they are like NATO"

"What do you mean?" Percy wanted to know.

"No Action, Talking Only…"

"Why do you say that?"

"Why thaaththa, they promised to do so many things, but very little has happened…"

"I don't think it is fair to say that…" Percy said.

"Why thaaththa," Bindu asked, "What have they done so far?"

"Why, they have stopped the war, at least for a while…"

"But that's not a permanent solution and it may do more harm in the long run…" Bindu argued.

"Then," said Percy, "they have reduced the prices of several essential items like gas and milk…"

"But those increases are hardly anything and anyway, rice prices have gone up…" Bindu countered.

"But they say they will do something about it…"

"Yes," Bindu said, "when a minister was asked about it, he said that he has been a minister for less than a thousand hours, so he needed more time…"

"But surely, Bindu" Percy said, "hasn't the situation in the country in general improved?"

"I don't know about that," Bindu said, "but everybody is asking for those independent commissions they promised…"

"I am sure they will be appointed soon…" Percy assured.

"And we are still in the dark as far is the power cuts are concerned…"

"But the gentleman dealing with that has asked for six months to settle that problem…"

"But these little delays are making everyone suspicious" Bindu said, "they fear that they will also become like the previous people…"

"But why can't you give them a little time?" Percy asked, "They have only started…"

"Why thaaththa, nearly half of that time is over now…"

"What do you mean?" Percy asked, "they were elected for six years and that was only a couple of months ago…"

"But thaaththa," Bindu argued, "all they asked for was a hundred days and now over fifty days have passed…"

"I thought the hundred days began only on the first of January…"

"That's a very convenient way to delay the deadline," Bindu said, "but even then, the hundred days will be over before the New Year…"

"But Bindu, you have to look at it in a different manner…" Percy suggested.

"And what's that?" Bindu wanted to know.

"I think they may be wanting a hundred working days, really…"

"And how do you calculate that?"

"You have to deduct all the holidays for a year…"

"And how much is that?"

"Why, Bindu there are a hundred and four days in the weekends, twelve poya days and at least twelve public holidays which is a total of a hundred and twenty eight days…"

"Still there are a two hundred and thirty seven days remaining…" Bindu calculated.

"Of that, people are entitled to forty two days of leave, so only a hundred and ninety five remain," Percy said, "and in a day, people are supposed to work only six hours which is only one fourth of its duration, so that is equal to about fifty days…"

"What do you mean, thaaththa?" Bindu asked.

"It means that in a year, if there are only fifty real working days, it will take about two years to reach that hundred day target…"

"Then," said Bindu "don't forget that Satellite can dissolve Parliament by

the end of this year, so they better hurry up with whatever they are doing…"

Percy didn't want to do any calculations on that.