The Fifth Column

2nd August 1998

Summit: no fireworks

TUESDAY - I hope nothing will go wrong at the Summit. This is the first time I am hosting such an event and I'm nervous, but Kadi tells me not to worry and that everything will be alright. But how can I be so sure when Anu has packed his bags and gone to China. What if Prabha lets loose one of his suicide chaps? They tell me the only way to stop that is to declare a public holiday and seal all the roads. Now, why didn't you tell that to me earlier and I would have done that earlier. I ask them and all of them look at each other's faces. So I have to issue a late night announcement saying it is a public holiday in Colombo on Wednesday. But I'm sure most people won't get the message and they will be blaming me when they go to work tomorrow and find it is a holiday.

WEDNESDAY- The Summit went off without any major disasters though there were some embarrassing moments like when I was tapping the microphone, not knowing it was switched on.

And everyone was complaining that the Opening Ceremony was not as colourful as it was during the Summit Premadasa held. Maybe I made a mistake there, but there is no one in my Cabinet who could organise such a show!

And, whoever designed those sarees for the ladies-in-waiting who stood behind the Heads of State? They looked just like me and didn't I look like one of them on TV? I must find out who did that but they are sure to say ''how are we to know what you will be wearing?''

Spotted Mallo in the audience, and even Ranil. At least they had the decency to attend. I thought they should have been given front row seats, instead of seating them where they were.

Then there was that most embarrassing moment. Everyone finished their speeches and I thought it was time to go so I got up and left and the other leaders followed. Only then did I realise that the National Anthem had not been played, but it was too late and we were all walking out. Everybody else was also standing and talking to each other, but I did see Ranil standing at attention! I hope no one notices!

And then on to dinner in the evening. There were no major hiccups there - Nandi didn't throw up over the table - but this changing from one saree to another so many times each day is getting on my nerves. How easy it would have been for J.R. or Premadasa - one white national dress for every function and no one would know the difference!

THURSDAY - Now to ''informal'' talks at Bentota. The talks may be informal but the media is hounding us and so many people from the international media as well! I wanted to commend Mangala for getting down all these people but Kadi tells me they are not here to cover us but to see whether Vajpayee and Sharif start going at each others throats, what a pity I couldn't get a picture of Vajpayee and Sharif shaking hands with me in the middle- that would have been the only way I could have got on the cover of Time or Newsweek!

FRIDAY - At last, finished everything - at the Secretariat itself- and sent everyone back to their respective countries. What a relief it is to get it all over with. But then. Now I have to get back to the business of finding a convincing excuse to postpone the Provincial Council elections. Hopefully, Arjuna will win some matches in England and then, everyone will forget about the war and the elections........

Rajpal Abeynayake's Column

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