The Fifth Column

6th June 1999

Reds: third force for how long?

My Dear Voter,

I thought of writing to you because the entire country will be watching what you will be doing on Thursday. That will be good entertainment for them too, sick and tired as they are with what they got from our cricketers in the past few weeks.

I'm told that the fight in the south is more or less a straight fight between the blues, greens and reds. So, when you are marking that all important cross on Thursday you must remember that your decision will be shaping a lot of events in the country in the near future.

Everyone says that if the blues win comfortably, then Satellite will call early elections, possibly before the end of the year. I too think that is quite possible because I'm sure she will be the first to realize that her popularity is not on the rise with every passing day.

Of course, that is not to say that the greens are riding on a wave of popularity. Their leader is being bombarded from all quarters for being an ineffective leader- whatever that means- and their past record, especially in the south, is likely to go against them.

But, my dear voter, I did notice something peculiar in the news reports that appeared in the media regarding the campaign. It was obvious, I think that the blues were targeting the reds rather than the greens in their campaigning. I think even satellite did this to some extent.

Now, we all know that the reds have gained a lot of ground in the recent past. This is more so in the south which was one of their strongholds anyway. But now it appears that whatever the outcome on Thursday, the reds will have a big say in who will form the next administration there.

That, my dear voter, would be a change for the better. Despite the reluctance of the people to trust them after two insurgencies, it is also a fact that they never held any power in the past. Now, all that seems to be changing. The next question is whether they will be content in remaining a "third force" for long!

Therefore, your choice on Thursday will not be an easy one. You will have to consider whether the blues have been good to you in the past few years and whether they have kept their promises.

After all, they came to power four years ago promising to make a real change in the south which they said was severely underdeveloped. Have they kept that and the other promises that they made, my dear voter, after having all those Ministers in the Cabinet supposedly representing the South?

Then, you will have to decide about the greens. You will have to decide whether they are capable of governing the province effectively. You will also have to decide whether they have changed their past ways enough, so that they can be forgiven. It won't be an easy decision!

Then you will also have to decide about the reds. Are they mature enough now to be trusted? Or will they always revert to the power that comes from the barrel of a gun? And, can you give them the responsibility of having the bargaining power in the administration of the province?

For all I know, it will be a tough contest and something tells me that after the election the blues, greens and reds alike will be claiming victory, whatever the outcome may be. So, use your vote carefully and wisely, remembering that a lot will rest on your decision.

And, if I were you, I wouldn't spoil your vote either, like a lot of people did at the last Provincial Council election!

Yours truly,

Punchi Putha.

PS- And by the way, cast your vote early and watch out for any naughty attempts to stuff the boxes, will you? We have assured that 'Wayamba' will not be repeated but then when the going gets tough the tough gets going don't they?

Rajpal Abeynayake's Column

Editorial/Opinion Contents