With all trying to get together, who'll be the Opposition?

By Rypvanwinkle

"Thaaththa," Bindu Udagedera said, "what is happening with all these talks that have been scheduled…?"

"Why, Bindu," Bindu's father Percy asked, "why are you worried about that?"

"Why, thaaththa, I am confused because it seems that everyone is having talks with everyone else…" Bindu said.

"Why do you say that?" Percy wanted to know.

"Why, thaaththa, now it appears that even the Tigers are ready for unconditional talks…"

"But," Percy pointed out, "those on this side are now trying to attach several conditions…"

"And then," Bindu pointed out, "Mahinda maama is also talking to the Reds and asking them to join his government…"

"That is nothing new, Bindu…" Percy observed, "he has been trying to get them to join him for the past several months…"

"But he is talking to the Greens too…" Bindu said.

"Ah, yes," Percy said, "there is always this talk about a National Government…"

"But it has never got this serious with the Blues and Greens holding formal talks about it…"

"Well, yes," Percy recalled, "it is rarer than having talks with the Tigers…"

"And that is exactly what I am worried about, thaaththa…" Bindu said.

"Why are you worried about that?" Percy wanted to know, "we should all be hopeful of the two major parties coming together in this time of crisis…"

"But thaaththa," Bindu said, "if all these parties come together, that will be the end of democracy in this country…"

"Why do you say that?" Percy was puzzled.

"Why, thaaththa, at the rate Mahinda maama is getting people to join his government, there will be no one left in the Opposition…"

"That will never happen, Bindu…" Percy assured.

"Why not, thaaththa?" Bindu wanted to know, "already, so many from the Greens have joined him…"

"But there are so many others still left behind…" Percy pointed out.

"And now, the Reds might join him too…" Bindu was worried.

"But what exactly are you worried about?" Percy queried.

"Why, thaaththa, with everyone joining Mahinda Maama, there won't be anyone to become the Leader of the Opposition…" Bindu pointed out.

"Well, the Green Leader will not be able to retain that job if they join Mahinda maama…" Percy conceded.

"Well, he may even be appointed Prime Minister, if the Greens really join the Blues this time…" Bindu declared

"Nor will the Reds be able to take on the job of Leader of the Opposition, if they too join Mahinda maama…" Percy said.

"And if Mahinda maama succeeds in talking to the Tigers, all those chaps from the North will join him too…" Bindu said.

"Then one of them too cannot be appointed as Leader of the Opposition…" Percy said.

"That is why I am saying there will be no one to take up the job of Leader of the Opposition, thaaththa…" Bindu said.

"Ah, you don't have to worry about that, Bindu…" Percy said, "there will always be somebody for that job as long as Mahinda maama is the President…."

"Who is that, thaaththa?" Bindu asked, puzzled.

"Why, Bindu, we can always rely on Satellite to take that offer…" Percy said.

Bindu knew he could not disagree.