A time to recall the good old days of a humble beginning

By Rypvanwinkle

My Dear Karu,

I thought I must write to you since you are so much in the news these days, planning 'reforms' in your party and then boycotting party conventions!

What amazes me Karu, is that ten years ago, most of us did not know who you were. Of course, you had been a very successful businessman and then an ambassador, but no one saw you as a political leader then. It was then that the Green Man asked you to become the Chairman of his party, which you did although that was not the job of an active politician at that time.

We know that there have been many who parachute into power but even among them, yours must be quite an achievement, Karu, because over the next ten years and ever so rapidly you became the Mayor of the capital city, a chief ministerial candidate, a parliamentarian, deputy leader of your party and a frontline Minister.

And the Green Man, the trusting chap that he is, even appointed you as his running mate at the last presidential election which he lost narrowly. All this in just ten years and it would even make Satellite-who rose from nobody to President in less than five years-blush. But then, she was the daughter of two Prime Ministers, wasn't she?

Now, you would be the first to agree that your meteoric rise to almost-to-the-top was not because you demonstrated some exceptional and outstanding ability, over and above the others in your party. If there was anything that earmarked you from the rest, it was your image as a thorough gentleman and your unquestionable loyalty to the man who plucked you from among a host of potential candidates, placed you on a pedestal and kept you there.

You would also agree that it was the Green Man's powers within his party as its leader that enabled him to elevate you to where you are. If you had to rise among the ranks of the Green Party - like JR, Premadasa and even the Green Man himself did - it would have taken you at least thirty years to get you to where you are today. So, it is quite ironic when you now complain that the Green Man has too much power in his party and that therefore, his wings should be clipped!

Look around you, Karu, and you would realise that most of your so-called 'reformists' are Johnnys-come-lately to the Green camp, having been in one party or another. Yes, dear, I am referring to those such as the professor, the jailbird, the Matara man and the dentist and you will have to agree they cannot profess to this undying love for the Green camp without sounding a bit unconvincing!

Of course we take your point that your party has lost fourteen elections in a row and that you do not wish to add any more to that tally. We also agree wholeheartedly with your criticism that the Green Man has allowed the party to be run by a few men in grey suits from their air-conditioned rooms in Colombo, not knowing what it is like to win grassroots support from Kataragama to Kebitigollewa.

Then, the Green Man himself needs a bit of a refresher course in people skills, the type where they teach you how to smile for the cameras and talk to people and make a speech without looking like Mr. Bean and being so awkward or embarrassed about it.

We don't quite disagree with you on all these matters, but it is the way that you are setting about 'reforming' the party, in the manner of biting the hand that fed you that disappoints many of us. For instance, we do not for a moment believe having media conferences of your own or printing posters which claim that you and Seeni Bola are like JR and Premadasa will be the answer to your problems!

Hopefully, Karu, all is not lost and there is still some room to reach some kind of agreement and work together. Think about all this, Karu. After all, your party may have reached an understanding with Mahinda maama, but don't forget that nearly half the people in this country voted for the Greens at the last election and they expect you to be a responsible opposition, no matter what.

Yours truly,
Punchi Putha.

PS- Why don't you also be careful about those around you who may be using you to gain their own ends? I say so because of what some people are already saying about these 'reformists': "hitiyata Karu, anith okkoma horu…"