5th Column

Everything is fair, in the name of tsunami
"Thaaththa," Bindu Udagedera said, "I am beginning to think that the tsunami is a blessing in disguise after all…"
"Why do you say that?" Bindu's father Percy asked.

"Why, thaaththa, for tourism for instance…"
"I thought the tsunami wrecked the tourism industry by destroying all the hotels along the coast…" Percy was puzzled.
"But thaaththa, we are getting more and more tourists now…," Bindu argued.

"I don't think so…," Percy said, "I would think they would be worried about visiting the country now…"
"But thaaththa, look at all the high-profile people who have visited us since the tsunami…"

"A few visitors did arrive…" Percy conceded, "but may be that was just to see the damage…"
"Kofi Annan was here, Colin Powell was here…" Bindu pointed out.

"That's true", Percy agreed, "some of them may not have even known where Sri Lanka was on the world map earlier…"
"Prime ministers of Canada and Poland were here and now the prime minister of Turkey is here…"
"And we are told Bill Clinton and George Bush Senior will be here soon too…"

"And Prince Charles would be here just before his wedding…" Bindu observed.
"And we even have Shane Warne visiting us and offering his sympathies…"
"So, thaaththa, with all these people visiting us our tourism industry should be up and running in next to no time at all…"

"Yes," Percy agreed, "especially with such a dynamic minister such as the Crown Prince in charge of the industry…"
"He certainly will be up and running on his next overseas trip in next to no time at all…" Bindu said.

"So, it does appear as if the tsunami does have some benefits…" Percy declared.
"Of course it does," Bindu said, "there are so many other benefits as well…"

"What are those?" Percy wanted to know.
"Why, thaaththa, now the government can tell us they couldn't fulfil their promises only because of the tsunami…"
"And of course the Opposition will certainly tell us they were compelled to co-operate with the government because this was a time of national disaster, so it is not their fault when they lose the next elections…"

"And the Rathu Sahodarayas will say they felt obliged to support the government even though they were against all its policies, because of the tsunami…"
"Even the Tigers will say they didn't resume the war because of the tsunami even though what they really want is to get their hands on the aid that is flowing in…"

"And everybody else is free to organise seminars, go overseas for conferences, stage musical shows and do whatever it is that they want to do, provided it is all in aid of the tsunami…"
"But what will Satellite say to all this?" Percy wondered.
"Ah, she must be a very happy lady these days…" Bindu said.

"Why is that?" Percy asked, "I thought she had enough problems to deal with…"
"But thaaththa, look at what happened in Thailand…"

"What was that?"
"No government in Thailand has ever been re-elected. But after the tsunami, the prime minister was re-elected with a record majority…"

"But Bindu," Percy said, "I can see someone else other than Satellite who will be happy about that…"
"And who is that?"
"Why, our own prime minister…"
Bindu didn't disagree.

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