My dear Di Mu,
I thought I must write to you to congratulate you on your new appointment as the second-in-command. I know you think it is a long overdue appointment but then, as they say, it is better late than never!
Of course, Di Mu, it was no secret that you wanted the job. You had said so openly claiming that you were the oldest Blue party member and therefore the job is rightfully yours. Why, you even put forward a claim for the job saying you had already stitched a suit for the occasion and that it would otherwise be wasted!
But I am sure, Di Mu, you would have been nervous because there were so many others in the fray this time-your predecessor, Nimal, Maithri and SB to name just a few.
Of them, SB has always been shamelessly frank about his ambitions even going so far as to say that he will someday get the top job-but then he is shameless about many things he says and does, so that is not a surprise. And I am sure Mahinda maama would have been worried about giving such an ambitious man the PM’s job, anyway.
Then, there was Maithri who suddenly seemed to remember a story that Satellite wanted to make him PM when elections were held six years ago-and how he gallantly offered the job to Mahinda maama. I am sure Mahinda maama would have been suitably impressed with this sudden recollection, but then he may not have been too happy either because Maithri didn’t get the job!
Then there is Nimal but his claim to fame was heading a world health organization and Mahinda maama would have omitted his name from the shortlist because it seems silly to appoint a man who cannot kill a mosquito as PM!
I would think the toughest challenge to you came from your predecessor. He too is of the same vintage-and in fact entered Parliament before you-and although he was a staunch Satellite loyalist, did a decent job when he was asked to do so by Mahinda maama.Because of that-and because he is a decent man, unlike some of the other contenders-it would have been a tough choice for Mahinda maama but then your predecessor has already done the job twice and for over five years, so Mahinda maama may have decided to give you a chance as well.
Whatever it was, now that you have the job you wanted so much, Di Mu, what do you propose to do with it? Are you, for instance, planning to move into the house with the ‘Araliya’ trees? If I were you, I wouldn’t!
I wouldn’t also advise you to go around throwing your weight saying that you are now the second in command.
Theoretically that may be true, but we all know who the powers behind the throne are, don’t we, Di Mu? And after all your years of experience, I know that you are too smart not to realize that!
I suppose all that you would have to do is what your predecessor did-defend Mahinda maama in Parliament and outside and travel overseas for some conference or the other and smile for the cameras. Now, that is not too bad a job description, is it? And at your age, just two years short of four score years, you can’t really do much more, can you?
Remember, Di Mu, the first person to hold your job was to comment that it was a peon’s job, so you might feel a bit redundant. But then, don’t also forget that four people who held your job eventually got the top job as well. I hope you are not nursing such ambitions, Di Mu!
Of course, there are some suggestions that you are only a ‘stop-gap’ choice and that someone else, probably a sibling will take on your responsibilities at a later date. I am sure you wouldn’t mind, would you, Di Mu?
Anyway, Di Mu, now that you have realised your life’s ambition, we must wish you health and happiness for the rest of your term of office-whatever that may be. I am sure you will enjoy working with Mahinda maama although the only similarity I see between both of you is your jet black hair!
Yours truly,
Punchi Putha
PS-Di Mu, while you celebrate and rejoice, spare a thought for Vi Ja Mu, will you? He parachuted from the Green side to the Blue side at the eleventh hour, despite the Greens risking life and limb to elect him as Speaker six years ago. Now he has been given the ‘karapincha’ treatment by Mahinda maama and transferred to govern Sabaragamuwa.
Serves him right, I’d say, so it is only right that you should be rewarded in the way that you were because you were loyal to the Blues for over fifty years, weren’t you, despite the many offers that came your way from the Greens, even a few months ago? |
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