FRIDAY - The newspapers are full of front-page pictures of my meeting
with Ranil. Even I thought it was a pretty picture. But despite the smiles,
I thought I gave as well as I got at the meeting, Ranil has the cheek to
ask for Independent Police Commissions and what not for the elections when
we all know how they conducted elections. No commissions, I told them but
they can have a committee monitoring the elections. That is safe. I thought
the committee can make all the noise it wants, but it will have no real
powers to do anything. Anyway, I also want a clean election. If not, how
would I know whether to hold an election or referendum (like JR!) next
year?
SATURDAY - Now after Wayamba I have to start the campaigning business
all over again. I hope the people do not remember which saree I wore where
- even I have lost count of that. And since they are all blue, what difference
does it make anyway? But the hardest part of campaigning is to sit on those
stages and listen to the speeches made by some of our people - they talk
such nonsense, even I feel embarrassed at times!
SUNDAY - Athauda has joined our party. I suppose it is better to be
a somewhat important person in a party with a future rather than be a very
important person in a party with no future. His Samasamaja colleagues are
not at all happy about it, I heard, but I told him to wait until the end
of the Provincial Council elections. That will be the time to think of
a Cabinet reshuffle and reward all those people who made 'sacrifices'.
Batty, I heard is so angry with Athauda that he is threatening to live
upto his name!
MONDAY - Now, these people want the date of the election changed. Even
the Catholic Church is very adamant about it and is threatening to go to
Courts over the issue. I gently asked the Elections Commissioner about
it but he says his hands are tied by the Supreme Court ruling - stubborn
chap he is, not like formerly. Now, what about all the effort put in by
SB to find astrologers who said that April first was a very good 'nekath'
day for us and that we will never lose on that day! If these chaps succeed
in getting the date changed I will have to send SB again to find out what
is in store for us!
TUESDAY - I have to call Fowzie and Alavi and Ashraff and tell them
not to be at each other's throats while campaigning at the elections. The
way they are fighting now the only winners will be the UNP. Fowzie especially
is overdoing it because I see his son's posters all over the place. If
they continue in this fashion, I have to tell them, I will not be giving
my "manape" to any of their candidates. Anyway, after the first
of April. I have to decide what to do about Ashraff because of what he
said about Wayamba. The problem is, of course, if I let him go Ranil will
grab him with both hands and we will lose the Eastern Province.
WEDNESDAY - Susil says there is an invitation to appear on the same
stage with Karu. Karu is a charming man, I know, but there must be more
to it than a mere pledge to conduct a clean election. Susil is also too
decent to be in politics, I think, which is why I am not sure of winning
the Western Province where we will have to rely on the Gampaha district
votes. Anyway, I told Susil he should appear on stage with Karu but he
should also be very careful about what he says. Last time, at the local
government elections, I remember I went for the final rally and criticized
Karu so much that he won the election.
We must watch out for Karu - he is more dangerous than Ranil, I think
because he is trying to do what I did: first become Chief Minister of the
Western Province and then become President without even being in Parliament
for a decent period of time!
Rajpal Abeynayake's Column
Editorial/Opinion Contents
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