Odds
and Ends
Boxing more than dancing prowess
Our politicians are known for their multi-faceted talents but not
many of them can claim to be in the Guinness Book of world records
and that too for breaking the ballroom dancing world record. The
man with such a record is the Sri Lanka Freedom Party's Colombo
North chief organiser Ratna Gamage who is contesting the forthcoming
elections from the UPFA. His dancing abilities are among a large
number of other achievements listed in pocket calendars that have
been sent out to his party supporters prior to the polls. It is
likely that more than his dancing skills, his being three times
national boxing champion, which is also listed, will come in handy
once he enters the political ring.
Walking
only at election time
Most politicians also seem to make use of their feet only
during election time after people have almost forgotten their representatives
are capable of walking.
After
all once elected people can only see them rushing round in luxury
vehicles from place to place and never walking about. So when Rural
Economy Minister Bandula Gunawardena decided to take a stroll along
the Parliament junction road at Kotte one morning last week to distribute
leaflets promoting his election campaign, many workers caught up
in the rush hour traffic looked on in amazement.
Mr.
Gunawardena seemed to enjoy the attention and was seen talking to
passers-by. Wish they would do such things once they get into high
office without waiting for an election to remember the voters.
Some
things will never change
The President continued with her habit of being late for
appointments and this time it was media personnel who had to wait.
Journalists from the BBC and Reuters were kept waiting for nearly
six hours past the scheduled time before they could interview the
President while scribes from a Tamil daily too had to grin and bear
till the President was ready for an interview with them more than
four hours after the scheduled time. At least we know that there
are some things that will never change, election time or not. |
