"Thaaththa," Bindu Udagedera said, "I think I know why our country is in such a mess…"
"I didn't think that we are in a mess, Bindu," Bindu's father Percy said, "but why do you think so?"
"I think people are not doing the job most suitable for them…" Bindu declared.
"Why do you say that?" Percy wanted to know.
"Take Mahindaananda maama for instance," Bindu said, "he is only doing the job of the minister of sports…"
"And a lot of people think he is not doing that very well either…" Percy observed.
"No, thaaththa," Bindu disagreed, "I think he should be given much more responsibilities…"
"Why is that?" Percy was curious.
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"I think he should be made the Minister of Finance…," Bindu proposed.
"Why should we do that?" Percy was surprised.
"Why, thaaththa," Bindu said, "everyone else is saying that the Cricket Board is bankrupt and that they don't have money even to pay the salaries of the players…"
"Yes," Percy said, "that is what we have all been told…"
"But, thaaththa," Bindu said, "Mahindaananda maama says that this is not so and that it is only a temporary difficulty which would be overcome soon…"
"But, Bindu," Percy protested, "I thought the new President of the Cricket Board said he needed five years to settle all these problems…"
"And Mahindaananda maama seems to think that is rubbish; he says he can put everything right within a few months," Bindu pointed out, "and that is why I am saying we should appoint him as the Minister of Finance…"
"What would happen then?" Percy wanted to know.
"Why, thaaththa, don't you realise what will happen?" Bindu asked, "he will solve all our financial problems and Sri Lanka will be a very rich and prosperous country within a few months…"
"Even if he is able to do that," Percy said, "he may not be able to reverse the fortunes of our cricket team…"
"I think he has an answer to that too" Bindu said.
"And what does he propose to do about that?" Percy inquired.
"He says that our cricket team is losing so badly because cricketers are getting involved in politics…" Bindu recalled.
"And what is his solution to that?" Percy queried.
"I suppose he is suggesting that politicians should play cricket," Bindu said, "and even if they did, they probably would have scored more runs than our cricketers did in South Africa last week…"
"Yes," Percy said, "that is certainly possible…"
"And if the results don't look good," Bindu said, "they will pretend that nothing wrong has happened and advise everyone to ask for re-correction…"
"So," Percy asked, "is it only for Mahindaananda maama that you have a different job planned?"
"No, of course not, thaaththa," Bindu said, "I think Maithripala maama should take on a different job as well…"
"And what job is that?" Percy wondered.
"He should be appointed as the Chief Justice, thaaththa…" Bindu proposed, "and maybe Dullas maama should be appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court..."
"But, Bindu, why would we want to do that?" Percy was surprised, "I think we have very capable people doing those jobs and besides, they are not even lawyers…"
"But thaaththa," Bindu persisted, "I think they will do a better job…"
"How can you possibly say that?" Percy demanded.
"Why, thaaththa, they have been appointed to inquire into all those allegations against Mervyn maama that have been made by members of his own party…" Bindu pointed out.
"But, Bindu," Percy said, "that is supposed to be an inquiry within the Blue party and that is why Maithripala maama and Dullas maama have been appointed to look in to those allegations…"
"But thaaththa," Bindu said, "the charges against Mervyn maama are very serious and amount to criminal offences…"
"I think they do…" Percy conceded, "because they related to extortion and threatening people…"
"So, thaaththa," Bindu argued, "usually, when there are criminal charges against someone, it is referred to the Police and the Attorney General's Department and the cases are generally heard in the higher courts…"
"Yes," Percy agreed, "that is supposed to be the procedure…"
"But thaaththa," Bindu said, "what has happened now is that when Mervyn maama is the accused, the matter gets referred to Maithripala maama and Dullas maama…"
"I am not sure what you mean…" Percy was puzzled.
"Why, thaaththa," Bindu declared, "it can only mean that Maithripala maama and Dullas maama are capable of delivering a quick and fair judgment on the allegations against Mervyn maama, instead of wasting time going through the usual court procedure…"
"I am not so sure about that…" Percy said.
"Why do you say that?" Bindu wanted to know.
"Well," Percy said, "Maithripala maama might find Mervyn maama not guilty by giving his verdict in his favourite two words…"
"What words are those, thaaththa?" Bindu asked.
"Bambuwa Thamai" Percy said.
"Aiyo Sirisena" Bindu said.
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