Odds and Ends

Musical chairs
With the recent announcement by senior JVP member Nandana Gunatilleke that he is leaving the Party’s politburo, he has also lost his front row seat on the opposition side in Parliament. Instead now the man has been given a seat four rows behind. It’s been like a game of musical chairs for MPs since the beginning of the year with all the crossovers.

How many?
While Gunatilleke took the back seat, another JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti had a field day during the first day of the debate on the Budget. He had a simple question for Government members. How many ministers are there in the Cabinet? Despite the presence of several Cabinet, non-Cabinet and Deputy Ministers, there was no response. And soon it was ‘time up’ and the JVP MP had to continue with the debate. But not before remarking that may be even the President did not know how many were in the Cabinet now given the fact that everyone crossing over is being accommodated there.

Surname is the same
The Negombo Municipal Council had recently passed a resolution to put up a new name board for John Gunaratna Mawatha at the cost of Rs. 14,000. John Gunaratna is a former Mayor of Negombo. When the board was prepared and brought to be put up, it was discovered that instead of John Gunaratna Mawatha it read Sarath Gunaratna Mawatha. Sarath Gunaratna is the present Mayor and son of the former Mayor. It has now been decided to stick to the new name. Like father, like son, as they say.