Ministers
are limited but not the deputies
"Thaaththa," Bindu Udagedera asked, "what is all
this fuss about the cost of living?"
"Why are you suddenly bothered about that?" Bindu's father
Percy wanted to know.
"Why, thaaththa even the sahodarayas are complaining about
that…"
"They shouldn't be complaining," Percy said, "they
should be doing something about it…"
"But
one of their ministers has said that what cost a thousand rupees
a few months ago now cost five thousand rupees…"
"He should tell that to Satellite…" Percy suggested.
"Why do you say that?"
"Why,
she has said that there will no more subsidies because she can't
develop the country as long as she has to keep on giving subsidies…"
"So, what does she want us to do?" Bindu wanted to know.
"She says we should be prepared to work hard and experience
some hardships…"
"That
must be what she is doing, then…"
"She is certainly working hard…" Percy observed.
"Why do you say that, thaaththa?"
"Why, Bindu, the very next day after she advises us to tighten
our belts and be prepared for further price hikes, she appointed
four more deputy ministers…"
"I
suppose these chaps were essential for the development for the country…"
"You could say so because one of them is wanted by the police
because of so many complaints against him," Percy said.
"Then maybe Satellite thought appointing him a Deputy Minister
was the best way to keep him out of trouble…" Bindu suggested.
"Another has put up more banners in Colombo than the number
of manaapes he received…"
"But
what do the sahodarayas say about all this?" Bindu asked.
"Why should they complain?"
"Why, thaaththa, weren't they insisting that the number of
ministers should be restricted to twenty?"
"That's the trick, Bindu," Percy explained, "there
was no limit on the number of deputy ministers…"
"But
they have exceeded even the number they agreed on for ministers…"
Bindu pointed out.
"I am sure the sahodarayas must be very happy about that…"
Percy said.
"How can they be happy about that?" Bindu asked, "they
promised to control the government and keep it clean…"
"But
now they are having the best of both worlds, Bindu…"
Percy said, "whenever something good is done they take the
credit, whenever something goes wrong they blame Satellite and the
Blues…"
"And the poor greens have nothing left to do…"
"Maybe
they too could ask for a few minister posts…" Percy suggested.
"Why do you say that, thaaththa…" Bindu queried.
"Why, Bindu, nothing is impossible for Satellite these days…"
"Why is that, thaaththa?"
"Why,
didn't we hear ministers repeatedly assuring us that those detained
Tiger cadres would never be released in return for the release of
the two homeguards who were taken hostage?"
"Of course, we were told that…" Bindu agreed.
"And then those Tiger cadres were suddenly released on bail,
weren't they?" Percy asked.
"But
thaaththa," Bindu said, "if Satellite does exactly the
opposite of what she says, that is very good news…"
"Why is that, Bindu?"
"Why, thaaththa, she says she wants a third term in office…"
Percy didn't want to disagree with that. |
