When common nonsense takes over - Heaven help them!

“Thaaththa,” Bindu Udagedera asked, “what is so special about Kelaniya?”
“I suppose it is special these days because of the ‘perahera’ in Kelaniya,” Bindu’s father Percy said.
“No, thaaththa,” Bindu said, “I don’t think so…”
“Then,” Percy asked, “is it because of the Kelaniya Temple which is one of the places visited by Lord Buddha?”
“That may have been a reason for Kelaniya to be special some time ago,” Bindu retorted, “but I don’t think that is the reason why Kelaniya is special now…”
“Why is it special, then?” Percy was puzzled.

“I think there is a separate state in Kelaniya now…” Bindu suggested.
“How can you say that?” Percy was surprised, “all that nonsense about a separate state is now no more because the war is over…”
“Why, thaaththa, what is the meaning of a separate state, then?” Bindu wanted to know.
“It would be a state which has its own rulers and its own set of laws and regulations…” Percy explained.
“Then,” Bindu said, “that is exactly why I am saying that instead of a separate state in the North and East we now have a separate state in Kelaniya…”
“And why do you say that?” Percy demanded.
“I say so because Kelaniya seems to have its own set of laws and regulations…” Bindu argued.
“So, does it have a ruler as well, then?” Percy wanted to know.
“Yes, it does,” Bindu said, “and it is Uncle Mervyn of course…”
“But how could you say that it has its own set of laws and regulations?” Percy inquired.
“Why, thaaththa,” Bindu recalled, “can you remember that infamous incident where Uncle Mervyn tied a government official to a tree?”
“Yes, I do,” Percy conceded.
“So, thaaththa,” Bindu pointed out, “is there a law in our country that permits a man to be tied to a tree and publicly humiliated as a form of punishment?”
“No, of course not…” Percy admitted.
“And that is why I say there is a separate set of laws and regulations operating in Kelaniya…” Bindu observed.
“But, Bindu,” Percy said, “that was just one incident and I believe Uncle Mervyn was reprimanded for that as well…”
“I am not so sure about that,” Bindu said, “because I think he got away by saying it was all a performance for the benefit of others…”
“Whatever it was, it was just one incident,” Percy pointed out.
“No, it is not, thaaththa,” Bindu disagreed.
“And why do you say that?” Percy wanted to know.
“Now, Uncle Mervyn has banned the sale of certain vegetables in Kelaniya…” Bindu declared.
“Why would he do that?” Percy wondered.
“Well,” Bindu said, “he says there could be a scarcity of vegetables in the future and to make sure that the people of Kelaniya will not suffer as a result of that, he wants them to grow these vegetables…”
“That is quite a good idea, isn’t it?” Percy asked.
“But thaaththa,” Bindu said, “that is not all...”
“Then,” Percy queried, “what else does he want them to do?”
“Just to make sure that the people of Kelaniya will follow his instructions, he has banned the sale of certain vegetables in Kelaniya and promised to punish anyone who doesn’t grow these vegetables…”
“That does seem somewhat drastic…” Percy admitted.
“And that is why I say there is a separate set of laws and regulations operating in Kelaniya…” Bindu said.
“So,” Percy asked, “what will the people of Kelaniya do now?”
“I suppose they will just follow his instructions…” Bindu said.
“Would they blindly do that, just because he asks them to?” Percy was curious.
“I think they will,” Bindu said, “after all, they elected Uncle Mervyn with over a hundred thousand ‘manaapa’ votes…”
“That is also true,” Percy concurred.
“And besides, if they do not follow his orders,” Bindu said, “they risk being tied to trees and being publicly humiliated.
“That is certainly a possibility…” Percy agreed.
“But I do have a suggestion for them,” Bindu said.
“And what suggestion is that?” Percy wanted to know.
“When they grow their own vegetables,” Bindu proposed, “they should each cultivate a plot of grass as well…”
“And what would that be for?”
“So that the rulers of this separate state will never go hungry in the event there is a scarcity of food,” Bindu explained.
“But, Bindu,” Percy asked “wouldn’t a plot of grass in each household be a little too much for the rulers to consume?”
“No, it won’t,” Bindu said, “because they would also have to feed those who elected them…”
Percy didn’t dare argue with that.