5th Column

My dear new ‘Maco’ Nimal,

I thought of writing to you because we are beginning to see you and hear about you more often these days as Paradise prepares for a ‘punchi chandey’ or ‘small election’ to elect representatives to local government institutions. It may be a ‘small’ election for the voters but it will be a big test for you!

Having been used to seeing the ‘other’ Maco, Mahinda, for some time, many will be watching you with a lot of interest. This election is where you will be wearing your ‘L’ board as a ‘Maco’ and doing a trial run. Former Maco Mahinda walked the talk. We expect nothing less from you.

That is more so because there is so much controversy about this election, even before nominations have been received. The opposition wants an election at any cost but some ‘pohottuwa’ chaps and Uncle Ranil are asking whether that cost, some 10 billion rupees, is an expense we can now afford.

While the Greens have been making noises saying Paradise doesn’t need an election right now, the ‘telephone’ chaps have already gone to courts demanding a poll. The ‘rathu sahodarayas’ haven’t done that yet but are threatening another ‘aragalaya’ if you are forced to postpone the election.

Strangely enough, Basil is telling us that the ‘pohottuwa’ party is ready to face this election and has in fact begun selecting candidates. That they had to place advertisements in newspapers calling for candidates tells you something, but knowing Basil, this could all be a charade enacted for our benefit.

So, what a surprise it was when someone, a retired Army officer, went to courts this week demanding a postponement of the poll. I am sure the gentleman is a true patriot and his actions have nothing to do with the prospect that the ‘pohottuwa’ party or the Greens can lose badly if an election is held now!

It can be argued that with fuel rationed, electricity unaffordable and inflation sky high, whether an election which won’t change the government should be a priority. Uncle Ranil tells us that he is guiding us towards prosperity by 2048, so maybe that is when he wants us to have the next election!

This argument about not being able to ‘afford’ an election is curious. If that were to be accepted, it must follow that we should be undertaking only what we can afford. Then, we should ask whether we can afford dozens of ministers, 225 MPs, their vehicles, security staff and all their other privileges.

It seems saving money for the government is the fashion now. Keheliya went to India using ‘private’ money to check whether medicines we import are up to standard. Such patriotism must be admired, especially when he has ‘friends’ bearing his expenses. These friends surely expect nothing in return!

Soon, we will find Kanchana flying somewhere to test oil, Mahinda Amarey going overseas to inspect our food imports, Nimal going somewhere to check our planes or Susil travelling to see whether our foreign universities are above board. They all are sure to have ‘friends’ willing to sponsor them!

Don’t forget, Maco, that Uncle Ranil is from the Uncle Nephew Party. So, there is nothing wrong in him following in the footsteps of his uncle, JR. Like JR, Uncle Ranil also had to wait for decades to get to the top, both got to the top on July 21, and they first became President not by a popular vote!

I am sure you recall, Maco, that when JR didn’t want to have an election, he didn’t. That is why he had that referendum 40 years ago. I am sure Uncle Ranil won’t have a referendum on the local government polls but I’m also almost certain that if he doesn’t want an election, he won’t have one.

To be fair though, it wasn’t JR who first postponed elections. His rival at the time, ‘Methini’ did it before him. Elected for 5 years, she decided to count those years from the time Paradise became a Republic. A few years later, JR showed that what she could do, he could do better using a referendum.

Methini’s daughter Satellite had similar problems with counting when deciding when her second term of office began. Mahinda maama took the matter to court and the then Lord CJ Sarath decided her second term began after her second election. Obviously, problems in counting run in the ‘B’ family!

All this history aside, Maco, you have a tough task ahead, just to get this election show on the road. After all, even if the Constitutional Council is finalised right now, that Council can appoint a new ‘Maco’ and it will be the new ‘Maco’ who will decide on the elections. It can be as simple as that.

Maco, I hope you listened to what the people of Paradise said on the streets and at Galle Face a few months ago. Elections are where their voices are heard. That is why they are a necessary evil in Paradise now. So, we hope you have the courage to do what is right and give them what they deserve.

Yours truly,

Punchi Putha

PS: Uncle Ranil has told the Green Party that he won’t get involved in this election because that is not what he was elected for. I’m so glad that he has chosen to play statesman instead of politician. I am also wondering though whether those contesting from the Green Party are feeling a sense of relief too!