5th Column

Let this be the colour of success for Tilak
My Dear Tilak,
I thought I must write to you when I heard that you had changed your colours from Saffron to Green overnight and that you would be looking after the people of Bandaragama on behalf of the Greens.

To be honest Tilak, your 'crossover' puzzles me a little because you have always struck me as someone who stood for his principles. I am sure you would find it more than a little difficult to explain why you support a party which refuses to deal with the Tigers one day and then support a party which is willing to grant them an Interim Authority the next day!

But I don't for a moment blame you because I can see that you didn't have much of a choice. At least, you had the courage not to join the Blues and the Reds and to resist the temptation of various perks on offer for such a move.

But what disappoints me most, Tilak, is the political experiment that was the Jathika Hela Urumaya. Most people voted for the monks with high hopes at a time when they were disillusioned with the Greens, Blues and the Reds. They hoped that the Saffron robed monks would be able to bring some sense into a senseless system.

Unfortunately, that was not to be and from the moment when two of their ranks decided to support the Blues and the Reds, it appeared that the saffron-robed monks were just as liable to fall victim to the temptations of power as ordinary mortals.

Even thereafter, we heard statements to the effect that the good monks would never allow the downfall of this regime and then heard that they had even tried to deal with the notorious Karuna perhaps forgetting that the man would have been responsible for the Arantalawa massacre where hundreds of Buddhist monks were killed. As you now undoubtedly realise such inconsistencies have led to a lack of confidence in the Saffron robed monks and that is a pity because they appear to have forgone a golden opportunity to become an even bigger force in the local political arena. If you recall, the Reds too began with a similar number of seats in Parliament but used that platform very wisely to get to where they are today…

That outspoken lawyer, SL, left the party before you and we were all wondering whether that was the right decision. But your departure only confirms that SL was right and you at least went when people are still asking why you left, instead of why you aren't leaving!

It is a sad statement to make but it does appear that those wearing the saffron robe should, unlike in the ancient times of Kings and Queens, restrict themselves to religious matters instead of engaging in the blood sport of politics which even decent laymen find hard to comprehend. I'm sure you will agree, Tilak.

Yours truly,
Punchi Putha
PS- Your new leader, the Green Man is saying he will form a government by early next year. I hope you didn't join the Greens because of that because so soon after being disappointed with the Buddhist monks, I don't want you to be disappointed again…

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