5th Column

My dear Harini,

I can see that you are a very busy lady these days, burdened as you are with the duties of your many ministries and, of course, being Prime Minister. I thought I must still write to you to congratulate you. After all, it is only about once in every 30 years or so that we choose a female Prime Minister!

We did start the trend with the first female Prime Minister in the world with Sirima but I would still say you deserve a special mention. Not to take anything away from what your two female predecessors have done, but they were both thrust into those positions only after their husbands were assassinated.

In contrast, you were appointed to this position because of who you are and not whose who you are. It was also a refreshing change because, for many decades, we have been used to presidents appointing prime ministers based not on merit but depending on who was least likely to be a threat to them.

Some will say it was good fortune that got you to the hot seat. After all, Anura sahodaraya didn’t have much of a choice. It was only between you and Vijitha. We must admire Vijitha too because he has been fully supportive of your appointment. That is not what we would have seen in any other party.

There are always critics too. One chap says you don’t represent the typical ‘Sri Lankan female’. We can’t expect anything intellectual from one who produces snakes from the Kelani River at one election and thinks eating ‘roti’ will win him the next. Thankfully, the typical Sri Lankan male is not like him!

Then there is Champika, belittling the mandate your party received. His curious logic is that, since Anura sahodaraya polled only 42 per cent of the vote, 58 per cent of voters were against him. He should then try telling Sajith that since only a third of voters voted for him, two-thirds were against!

Despite all this whingeing, Harini, I think it was a smart move by Anura sahodaraya to appoint you as PM. He is from the ‘original’ rathu sahodarayas, you are from the ‘maalimaaawa’. By having you in power and in place, he is now able to attract a different type of person to vote for the ‘maalimaawa’.

Your appointment was hailed in many quarters, and not because you have a PhD. You were a dignified voice of reason in a parliament where we heard the rowdy rants of Diana, Geetha and Pavithra. You are also not a senile politician awaiting retirement who is usually made PM. You can still contribute.

Only two weeks ago, we had one of the largest Cabinets in the world with ministers, deputies and state ministers. There was also a time when we had non-Cabinet ministers, senior ministers, project ministers and ministers without a portfolio. Now, we possibly have the smallest Cabinet in the world.

That is most welcome but people who voted for you expect more. They want a clean government, to restore law and order and for you to keep that promise of ‘catching thieves’ – and that is not done by parading dozens of government vehicles at Galle Face, even if it is Rosy’s termite infested Porsche!

Yes, they will expect you to solve their economic problems too. Yet, since no one else was able to do so before you, they will give you time for that if you show that you are doing your best and running a government that is not corrupt. If you achieve that, you would have changed the ‘system’ by then.

Most governments are allowed a ‘honeymoon’ period, where whatever it does is applauded. Yours hasn’t been afforded that luxury. Every decision you take is scrutinised and criticised. That maybe because you promised a ‘pure’ regime during your campaign. So beware, the snipers are already out.

The next election is in a few weeks. Your party needs a comfortable majority in Parliament. Your greatest advantage is the state your rivals are in. The Greens are bickering with the former Greens, the Blues are fighting the Blues and the ‘pohottuwa’ is split into three camps. What more can you ask for?

We hope you don’t follow the ‘yahapaalanaya’. They too promised a ‘good’ government but, by the time the general election was held, they were in disarray. The ‘maalimaawa’ must now live up to the hype they created. Remember, you may have won the presidential battle but the war is far from over.

That crucial election which will decide whether Anura sahodaraya can govern in comfort is on the 14th of November. If the ‘maalimaawa’ does secure a majority, it will be a historic win. It will also be 35 years and one day since the demise of the man who started it all, Rohana sahodaraya.

Already, some wonder whether you will still be PM after that election. I am sure you are not bothered about that because you see the office you hold not as an ornament but as a great responsibility and a job you have to do. We sincerely wish you well, Harini, do keep up the good work.

Yours truly,

Punchi Putha

PS: You may not know, Harini, but you are following JR’s footsteps. You are the second Bishopian to become PM. He was the first. He began school there, not at Royal. We hope you will live up to your schools’ motto: “Not for self, but for all”. In hindsight, what JR did was “Not for all, but for self”!