"Thaaththa" Bindu Udagedera asked, "what happened to Thondaman's no-confidence motion against the plantation minister?"

"He withdrew it" Percy, Bindu's father said.

"Did he get his demands?" Bindu wanted to know.

"The President agreed to talk about them...."

"That means he has not got his demands... " Bindu pointed out.

"Not immediately...."

"Then why did he suddenly back out. That is unsual for him...."

"He may have realised that he couldn't win the no-confidence vote..."

"Why, I thought the UNP was willing to support him........"

"They said so at first. But later, they may have had second thoughts... " Percy suggested.

"Anyway, I can't see people like Susil speaking in support of Thonda... " Bindu said

"That's true" Percy said . "But not so long ago, we couldn't think of Mahinda speaking in support of Satellite..."

"Or Anura speaking in support of Ranil. ...." Bindu pointed out.

"That is how they survive in politics, Bindu", Percy said.

"But Thaaththa" Bindu wanted to know, "What happened to the no-confidence motion against Thondaman proposed by Srimani...."

"I suppose that will die a natural death....."

"But Thonda has compared her to a schoolgirl with no experience...."

"That's at least better than Ranil being called a village damsel by Satellite..."

"But Thaaththa" Bindu persisted, "Now there is only one thing we can do....."

"What's that?" Percy asked.

"We the people must move a vote of no-confidence on both UNP and SLFP governments for not having the confidence to tackle Thondaman'

"And Thondaman will be the first to vote for that" Percy said.