5th Column

My dear Thalatha,

I thought I should write to you when I heard that you had suddenly left the ‘telephone’ party. I must confess this didn’t come as a surprise because rumour had it that this would happen sometime before the big election. So, it was more a question of when it would happen and not if it would happen.

What was surprising though was that unlike most others – and most notably Rajitha who left before you – you didn’t join Uncle Ranil straight away. Instead, you chose to resign. Still, you also said that you plan to remain in politics. As a result, many are confused about what you plan to do next.

Your resignation speech was emotional. Still, your resignation in not as noble as what Gamani J did during JR’s time, for example. He opposed JR on principle over the Indo-Lanka Accord, quit his portfolio, his seat and politics. He was not even allowed to make a farewell speech in Parliament.

You claim you are resigning because you can’t bear to see your former leader and former deputy leader contest each other at the big election. You also say you cannot tolerate those from the ‘pohottuwa’ who have infiltrated the ‘telephone’ party because Sajith accepts anyone and everyone.

These are all quite reasonable concerns, Thalatha. In fact, you are worried that those who have joined the ‘telephone’ party from the ‘pohottuwa’ may recreate the disasters they generated for Gota maama. Shouldn’t we all be worried about ‘Gota Part II’, you ask and blame young Sajith for being immature.

Yes, young Sajith’s maturity has been tested recently. He hasn’t come off with flying colours – such as when Uncle Ranil offered his hand on Nomination Day and he said ‘ayubowan’ while still being seated. Yet, for you to realise all this after four long years doesn’t speak much of your maturity either.

I agree with you though that the ‘telephone’ party may not be the best camp to be in now. We saw Tissa getting caught out trying to libel Harini claiming she said the ‘maalimaawa’ will ban the ‘perahera’. Then Digambaram performed at a talk show as if he was acting in a badly directed Tamil movie.

It also seems as if Sajith can’t keep his own people with him now. The Field Marshal left and is now parading his bullet-riddled car and pleading for votes. The dentist left afterwards. It might not be his best political decision. Now, you have deserted him. The word is that there are three ‘K’s to follow.

Most will agree with you that Sajith is inviting disaster into his party by entertaining GL, Dullas and the rest of their crowd even if a few of them might be decent people. They are all tainted due to their association with Gota maama’s regime. Right now, that is who voters dislike with a vengeance.

It baffles me though, when you say the ‘pohottuwa’ has infiltrated the telephone party, but Uncle Ranil has been ‘freed’ from the Rajapaksas. He has all those who were with the Rajapaksas except the Rajapaksas themselves. Is Mahindananda better than Dullas? Is Rohitha more articulate than GL?

You say that, by being divided as the Greens and the ‘telephone’ party, you are all committing political suicide. That may be so. Do you also realise that Uncle Ranil’s tactic of weakening the ‘telephone’ chaps by luring their seniors is only helping one party, the maalimaawa sahodarayas?

You say you left the Greens as Uncle Ranil didn’t hand over the reins to Sajith five years ago. Well, nothing has changed. So, it seems you joined Sajith because you thought he had a better chance than Uncle Ranil. You were right then. Are you leaving him because you think his prospects are poor?

For many months you have been saying that the heartbreak of being torn between the Greens and the ‘telephone’ chaps was too much to bear. With Uncle Ranil not leaving the Greens anytime soon and Sajith leading the ‘telephone’ chaps, they are unlikely to come together, not in the near future.

You say your conscience doesn’t allow you to continue in the ‘telephone’ party. You try to appear ‘honourable’ by resigning without crossing over to Uncle Ranil’s camp immediately. If you are to remain in politics, is it your plan to join Uncle Ranil before the big race? So, is this all a performance?

People would have admired and respected you if you resigned and quit politics because you can’t deal with this rivalry. Instead, you say you will remain in politics. I am sure you won’t join the ‘pohottuwa’. The ‘maalimaawa’ won’t accept you anyway. That means you will be returning to ‘Sirikotha’?

Thalatha, it is best if you told us what your plans are, instead of making heart-rending speeches about the Grand Old Party, resigning and then saying you will remain in politics without saying how you would do so. It will only be a very short resignation, until the next general election, won’t it?

Yours truly,

Punchi Putha

PS: If you join Uncle Ranil’s camp for the next general election, you will have to compete with Pavithra and John in the Ratnapura District. You could have also had ‘Choka Malli’ on the list with you but for some reason he decided to return to the ‘pohottuwa’ after a few days. So, best of luck!