“Thaaththa,” Bindu Udagedera asked, “who is running this country?”
“Why, Bindu,” Bindu’s father Percy was surprised, “why do you ask?”
“Well,” Bindu said, “it should be the government who is running the country but I now have my serious doubts...”

“And why do you say that?” Percy demanded.
“Why, thaaththa,” Bindu said, “who decided on how children should be admitted to schools?”
“It should have been the government,” Percy agreed, “but eventually it was not the government which did that...”

“Then,” Bindu asked, “who decided on the salaries of teachers?”
“If I remember correctly, that was also not decided by the government...” Percy recalled.
“Then,” Bindu said, “who decided that telephone charges levied by the government were too much and ordered them to reduce it?”

“That too was not done by the government...” Percy agreed.
“And what about electricity rates? Who decided that they were too high and ordered that they be reduced recently?” Bindu inquired.

“That certainly wasn’t the government...” Percy said.
“Then,” Bindu said, “who decided that gas prices were too high and fixed a pricing formula?”
“That was not the government too...” Percy said. “Then, who decided that setting up a golf course in Kotte was done in an unlawful manner and ordered that it be cancelled?” Bindu queried.
“That was also not done by the government,” Percy said, “although they would have enjoyed the fact that Satellite was found fault with for that and ordered to pay compensation...”

“Well, talking of Satellite,” Bindu said, “who decided that Satellite was trying to rule for one more year than she ought to and ordered that elections be held early?”

“That too was certainly not the government of the day...” Percy conceded.
“Then, thaaththa,” Bindu asked, “who decided that land transactions with a leading company was illegal and ordered that the Secretary to the Treasury be removed?”

“That too was not the work of the government,” Percy observed, “although it took a while for the government to have the Secretary to the Treasury removed...”
“And,” Bindu said, “who decided that the ‘hedging’ deal for oil was irregular and ordered it cancelled?”
“That certainly wasn’t the government,” Percy said, “because half of them didn’t seem to know what ‘hedging’ was all about...”

“And now, thaaththa,” Bindu asked, “who has decided that Seeni Bola should not be deprived of his right to vote and contest elections?”
“That again is not the government,” Percy said, “although I suppose they would have hoped that Seeni Bola wouldn’t be allowed to contest the next provincial council election...”
“Then, thaaththa,” Bindu declared, “we come to the latest problem...”
“And what is that?” Percy wanted to know.

“Why, who decides on oil prices?” Bindu wondered.
“Why, it certainly isn’t the government...” Percy argued.
“How can you say that?” Bindu demanded.
“Why,” Percy asked, “haven’t they been told to sell petrol at 100 rupees?”
“Yes,” Bindu said, “and that seems to be the problem because they are not doing that, at least not from the day it was ordered...”

“So,” Percy said, “the government appears to be able to decide on oil prices after all, even if they cannot decide on any of the other issues...”
“I am not so sure they can do even that, thaaththa...” Bindu pointed out.
“Why is that?” Percy wanted to know.

“Why, thaaththa, one oil company has started selling oil at a hundred rupees already and there is one more task the government has been unable to do...” Bindu declared.
“And what task is that?” Percy queried.
“Why, thaaththa, they say they have been unable to get a copy of the decision to reduce petrol prices to a hundred rupees, even though the entire country was aware of it...” Bindu pointed out.
Percy didn’t quite know what to say to that.