Phew! It's blown hot and cold, and left us high and dry!

By Rypvanwinkle

My Dear Mahinda Maama,

I thought I must write to you even if you are in far away Uganda, just to wish you many happy returns as well as to congratulate you on completing two years in office. Who would have thought that the man from Medamulana would come this far and last this long, after all?

Of course, Mahinda maama, for a moment you had me worried last week. That was when the Greens tried to topple you at the budget and fell short by a few votes. Being the street fighter that you are, you responded in style although I don't quite agree with the type of people you chose to join your side.

First, there was that provincial councillor chap who had a dubious track record. Then, there was that Mahinda chap from Ratnapura who is the second accused in the murder of one of your own parliamentarians. Why, it is almost as if being accused in a criminal case is a qualification to join the cabinet!

Of course, you might now have a problem with the Mahindas in your cabinet. First, you took Mahinda Sam from Kalutara and then you won over the other Mahinda from the south. Now you have taken the Mahinda from the city of gems and with yourself it makes a foursome. I guess that if there are any more Mahindas left in the green camp, the Green Man would ask them to change their name!
But your realm's trump card was Rauf and Thonda, weren't they, Mahinda maama? We all know that they are usually loyal to the Greens but then, there is nothing that a few more perks can't do! But mark my word, Mahinda maama, the day they feel that you are running out of steam they will be the first to dump you, so don't count on their support forever...

Of course, it was the Reds that really led the Greens up the garden path. Had they announced their decision earlier, I am told there would have been many blues who could have been tempted to jump but they didn't do that because they didn't know which way the Reds would go. You should give that Wimal sahodaraya a real pat on the back, Mahinda maama, for allowing you to save your skin...
The Greens are now saying they will defeat you at the final reading of the Budget but then, who believes them now anyway? Nevertheless, I do worry about you, Mahinda maama because you may have a struggle on your hands every time you need to get a vote passed in Parliament.

I am sure some people still like what you are doing with the war but at the same time, you must also realise that it doesn't do your image a lot of good when newspaper factories are burnt in high security zones! But I am sure you will not end up as Pervez has in Paksitan, where they have now even been suspended from the Commonwealth. After all, you haven't sacked all the judges in the highest court of the land, have you?

But then, you need to be careful Mahinda maama, because you too have allowed a former lady leader to return to the country and at least in Pakistan, that was the beginning of all of Pervez's problems, remember?

I heard that your delegation to Uganda was only a dozen and a few more. That is a massive reduction from the over a hundred and fifty that you took to New York but then, who wants to go to Uganda anyway even if they are given a free ride, right?
And is it because he was not allowed to take his usually large retinue that Boggles decided to support Pakistan's suspension without even asking you? Does he think that he has already become the President of the country? The mind boggles at what he does, really!

Yours truly,
Punchi Putha
PS-Mahinda maama, can you tell me why the Greens are like the Sri Lankan cricket team? Why, they are beaten in every game but the captain keeps promising to do well at the next outing and everyone seems quite happy about it!