"Thaaththa," Bindu Udagedera asked, "how many ministers did we first have in this Cabinet?"
"Why, Bindu," Bindu's father Percy said, "we had thirty seven ministers to begin with…"
"Ah," Bindu said, "that means the price of bread will increase once again…."
"How can you say that?" Percy was puzzled, "what has the price of bread got to do with the number of ministers in the Cabinet?"
"Why, thaaththa," Bindu pointed out, "remember, at first we had thirty seven ministers in the Cabinet and the price of a loaf of bread was thirty seven rupees…"
"Well," Percy recalled, "that is of course true…"
"Now," Bindu pointed out, "the number of ministers has increased to forty one, and so has the price of bread which I suppose will continue to rise to forty one rupees…"
"I am sure it will increase", Percy observed, "and I hope it stays at forty one…"
"Do you mean the price of bread?" Bindu asked.
"Well," Percy said, "that, and the number of ministers too…"
"Why do you say that, thaaththa?" Bindu inquired, "they don't need to appoint any more ministers when they have appointed a minister for every possible subject including a minister just to look after our drainage systems..."
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"No, Bindu," Percy disagreed, "they may need about six more ministers…"
"Oh, no," Bindu said, "that would mean that the price of bread could go up to forty seven rupees…"
"Well," Percy said, "if the need arises, these six ministers will be appointed regardless of what would happen to the price of bread…"
"But why do they need so many ministers, thaaththa?" Bindu was curious.
"Why, Bindu," Percy explained, "they need six more ministers because then they will have a two-thirds majority in Parliament…"
"But why do they need a two-thirds majority in Parliament, thaaththa?" Bindu demanded.
"Why, they need that to amend the Constitution, of course…" Percy observed.
"And why would they want to amend the Constitution, thaaththa?"
"Why, Bindu," Percy pointed out, "they need to amend the Constitution to bring about all those changes that will improve our system of having elections and also to bring about changes that will benefit all communities…"
"But thaaththa," Bindu argued, "if these changes are so beneficial to our country, surely, the opposition parties would also support them, won't they?"
"I am not so sure about that…" Percy declared.
"Why do you say that, thaaththa?" Bindu asked.
"That is because," Percy pointed out, "one of the amendments they are proposing allows Mahinda maama to stay in office for more than twelve years…"
"Is that such a bad idea?" Bindu wanted to know.
"Why," Percy asked, "shouldn't there be some limit on how long someone is allowed to be a leader?"
"But, thaaththa," Bindu protested, "Mahinda maama is trying to stay on while he is winning election after election…"
"That is true," Percy agreed.
"But," Bindu pointed out, "Uncle Ranil is trying to stay on while he is losing election after election…"
"And that is why," Percy observed, "the Greens too are trying to amend their own Constitution…"
"And why would they want to do that?" Bindu wondered.
"I suppose that is because some people want to get rid of Uncle Ranil…" Percy explained.
"So, that is why they are saying that Uncle Ranil is now becoming like Sanath Jayasuriya…" Bindu declared.
"Why do they say that?" Percy was puzzled.
"Why, thaaththa," Bindu explained, "Sanath was a glorious player in the past and won many a match for us…"
"That is true…" Percy conceded.
"But now," Bindu said, "he is trying to stay on despite failing in every game and no one seems to have the guts to ask him to go…"
"And by staying on," Percy said, "the performance of the entire team has declined…"
"But thaaththa," Bindu said, "I am not so sure about whether it is correct to ask Uncle Ranil to go or not, but now I am certain that it is not such a good idea to amend the Constitution to allow Mahinda maama to stay on for more than twelve years…"
"Why do you say that, Bindu?" Percy asked, "you said just now that Mahinda maama is staying on only because he is winning election after election…"
"That is true," Bindu said, "but I am not worried about Mahinda maama…"
"Then who are you worried about?" Percy wanted to know.
"Why, thaaththa," Bindu replied, "Sanath Jayasuriya, who else?"
"Why is that," Percy asked, puzzled.
"Just imagine, thaaththa," Bindu said, "he is trying to stay on in the cricket team until he is well past forty. Now that he is in Parliament, just supposing he becomes President one day, how difficult would it be to get him out of that position, even at the age of eighty especially if the Constitution allows him to stay on?"
Thinking about that possibility, Percy knew he couldn't disagree. |
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