My Dear JRJ,

I thought of writing to you even though you are in the Land of Never Return because some were celebrating your 103rd birthday last week-while others are preparing for elections for the post of Executive President that you created some thirty years ago.We remember, JRJ, how you used to boast that you were so powerful that turning a man into a woman was the only task you couldn’t do. Well, since then even a woman has taken on the job that you held but it does appear that its current incumbent, Mahinda maama is more powerful than you ever were!

To give credit where it is due, he has been successful in eliminating Velu and his band of Tigers, something none of the four Executive Presidents before him could achieve. As a result, and understandably too, his popularity has soared which is why he has become so powerful lately.
Unfortunately, JRJ, his political rival is none other than your nephew, Uncle Ranil who snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, the last time he contested Mahinda maama, with more than a little help from Velu himself.

Now there is supposed to be another contest to elect the next Executive President, JRJ, and that is what everybody is talking about these days. It is all but a foregone conclusion that Mahinda maama would win this battle without much difficulty, but strangely there are so many vying to be the one to contest him!
Initially, there were rumours that an ‘outsider’-someone who is not from one of the major political parties- would oppose Mahinda maama. In fact some were suggesting that a ‘Sarath’ would be contesting.

There were one or two suggestions as to who this ‘Sarath’ would be, but I think that is a remote possibility now.

Then, we also have the spectacle of Seeni Bola saying he would contest Mahinda maama-and win too! I find it slightly difficult to understand how someone who couldn’t quite become the Chief Minister of his province saying he would become the leader of the country, but then, Seeni Bola is not known to be careful in how he uses his mouth-not even a jail sentence appears to have taught him a lesson...
In the meantime, JRJ, those in your Green party are at each other’s throats. Some are saying Uncle Ranil must go. Uncle Ranil is saying the Greens must form an alliance with all the other parties and maybe even sacrifice the elephant symbol for that purpose. Then there are those who say the Greens should contest on their own-no matter how disastrous the result would be.

Of course, JRJ, it is no wonder the Greens are yearning for someone like you to give the party some direction and leadership. We all remember how you re-organised the party after that heavy defeat in 1970 when the Queen Bee and Uncle Felix were ruling the waves and waiving the rules.

You launched your famous ‘satyagraha’ and the campaign to boycott newspapers from the house by the lake; both were huge successes and seven years later, you were in power with an unprecedented mandate!

What happened thereafter, many people would say, was somewhat of a disaster, but nevertheless your role while in the Opposition was your shining hour-and that is what the Greens seem to lack right now.
Of course Uncle Ranil goes about tooting horns, smashing coconuts and destroying pots and pans but the end result is he only ends up providing more television footage for the state media to slander him with.

If it is of any consolation to you, JRJ, it seems Mahinda maama is turning out to be more and more like you. Already people seem to think MR’ stands for ‘Maha Rajaneni’ and stories comparing him to a modern day Dutugemunu are already doing the rounds. We can only hope that he does not repeat the same mistakes that you did towards the end of your reign...

Yours truly,
Punchi Putha

PS-Somebody pointed out that even though your trusted lieutenants Preme, Lalith and Gamini all have statues in their memory in the city, you have none in a public place. Well, JRJ, you needn’t worry about it too much. As for your legacy to the nation, no matter however much you are criticised, what is certain is that the Executive Presidency that you brought to this country will be around for a long time to come!