New job, new rules, but some things never change

My Dear Mahinda,

I thought of writing to you first to offer you my congratulations on your new appointment but really I thought the day would never come when you would be elevated to this position. So, let me wish you well in your new job.

Anyway, Mahinda you need not be told that it must have been a really difficult decision for Satellite. After all, you were not known to be one of her favourites and then there was Mallo and the family dynasty to think about too, though it is hard to think what would happen to that after this generation.

So, to give credit where it is due, you must concede that she has taken the correct decision though it may have been a tough choice for her.

Anyway, Mahinda, I suppose you realise that yours is not an easy task. It is easy to become an opposition leader at the end of a government's term of office and then rush your way into office which is in effect what Satellite herself did. But it is that much more difficult to become one at the beginning of a government's term in office because the people are willing to give the new government a chance. So, you cannot expect to work miracles but you must bide your time and wait patiently.

Of course we all remember the work you did organising "paada yaathras" and "jana goshas" eight years ago. Those measures did have their effect then, but don't expect them to work for you now. It may just take a while for the people to get fed up with the greens and to start trusting the blues again.

But then, Mahinda, I think it is not the greens you have to fear so much. It is no secret that people like Avamangala were determined to stop you from getting to where you are now because they all know that it is a stepping stone for greater things. So, you may have to be more careful about your detractors within than without.

Then it is also well known that the likes of Seeni Bola were your good friends even after they parted company with the blues. It is just an idea, but you could just try to woo them back into the fold, couldn't you? That would surely cause havoc among the greens! Then of course there is Mallo to deal with. When Satellite was battling with Mallo for the leadership we recall that you were firmly on Mallo's side and that was the reason why there was so little love lost between Satellite and you.

But now that you have been handed this job, it is important to get Mallo to be with you if only to prevent another Walawwa coup to oust you when the next elections draw near, Keep that in mind will you?

Until now, Mahinda, we have known you to be a straightforward politician with liberal views and reasonable policies. We hope you remain that way because our country not only needs a good government but a better opposition. But for starters you could demonstrate your bona fides by stopping the unwanted incidents that seem to be occurring in Beliatta ever since the elections-and even after your appointment to this new job.

We wish you luck, Mahinda, because you will need lots of it- if you are in doubt, just ask the Pee Em how tough it is to be what you are now!

Yours truly,

Punchi Putha.

PS- There is a story doing the rounds that even the greens wanted you in that seat so that they could impeach you know who. Tell us that is not true, will you?