Untitled Document

Its batting time for the Greens!
"Thaaththa," Bindu Udagedera asked, "what is happening to Satellite now?"
"Why," Percy, Bindu's father asked, "why are you worried about her?"
"Why, thaaththa," Bindu said, "it seems her days are numbered."
"What makes you say that?" Percy asked, "she is the boss for the next four years at least."
"But thaaththa," Bindu pointed out, "her powers are being taken away slowly but surely."
"Why do you say that?"
"Why, thaaththa," Bindu said, "they have now lost control of the council in the hills."
"Ah," Percy said, "but that has nothing to do with Satellite."
"Then her security boss is also said to be spilling the beans."
"But I am sure that will not affect her; after all, the Green Man is now eating out at roadside kadays with visiting prime ministers, so why should she worry about her security?"
"But thaaththa," Bindu argued, "now even the actor is supposed to get arrested soon."
"I'm sure Satellite will take no notice of that too." Percy assured.
"How can you say that?"
"Why, nothing happened to her when the general was arrested, so why should she worry if an actor is arrested."
"But thaaththa, didn't we think that the greens and the blues would work together, at least until the war is settled."
"But Satellite says she cannot work with the greens because people like Seeni Bola are with them now."
"And isn't that why the greens are making their own plans, thaaththa?" Bindu asked.
"What are those plans?" Percy wanted to know.
"Why thaaththa, they are planning to prevent Satellite from dissolving the House at the end of one year."
"I would have thought that would be better for Satellite." Percy observed.
"How can you say that?"
"Why, Bindu, the alternative for the greens would have been to impeach Satellite and that wouldn't have been a pleasant option either."
"But thaaththa," Bindu persisted, "then there is this other story."
"What story is that?" Percy wanted to know.
"That some blues want to cross-over to the greens."
"We are certainly having a hint of that." Percy agreed.
"Why do you say that?"
"Why, our Bonnie boy is already making some noises about how good the peace talks are."
"Is he planning to cross-over?" Bindu asked.
"I suppose he is; it is just a question of whether the greens want him back or not."
"Why wouldn't they want him?"
"Well, of late, he too along with the Crown Prince and the Boralugoda man have this unusual talent for always choosing the losing side."
"Would that stop the greens from taking him back?"
"Anyway," Percy said, "the greens already have more people than they can accommodate and the Green man wouldn't want to make his cabinet any larger."
"He could always form a national government." Bindu suggested.
"From what is happening right now though," Percy observed, "he might end up with an international government."
"How is that, thaaththa?" Bindu was puzzled.
"Why, when he has to accommodate foreigners in his cabinet."
"Who is that?" Bindu wanted to know.
"Why, Bindu, Mr. Pirapaharan, the Prime Minister of Eelam as he calls himself will surely want to sit in on the cabinet." Percy said.
Bindu didn't know how to respond to that.

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