My dear Uncle Ranil,

I am writing to you at a time of great uncertainty for you. I am not certain where you will be, detained or out on bail when you read this. Despite the publicity about you providing a statement to the Police, many reacted with shock when they heard you were remanded- and the lights went out in court too!

We can only reflect on what a roller coaster year it has been for you and what a difference that short period of time makes. Around this time last year, you were the boss, ruling the waves and waiving the rules. You decided whether to hold elections or not. Now, you are an accused and being remanded.

You must be given credit for promptly answering summons and appearing before the Police, You didn’t follow your friends’ example and do a ‘Deshabandu’ and go into hiding, jumping over parapet walls and travelling in three-wheelers. Nor did you do a ‘Rajitha’ and disappear without a trace.    

We are told that this is all in relation to an overseas visit you undertook when you were the boss. The allegation is that you disguised a private visit related to Maithree as an official one, using state funds for it. We must not and will not comment on that. That will be a matter for Lady Justice to decide.

Uncle Ranil, you are very polarising person. Some see you a person to be admired who rescued the country time and again, rising to the occasion during hard times. Others see you as one of the arrogant elite who think power is their birthright and as a symbol of what is so wrong with the ‘system’.

It is true that there were occasions when you were a steadying influence in difficult times. Over thirty years ago, we remember how you stepped in when Preme (Snr.) was suddenly assassinated to ensure that Dearly Beloved took over the reins. It was then that you became PM for the very first time.

In your second term as PM, you achieved what then seemed impossible, a ceasefire with the Tigers. Some will say they used it to regroup and attack us later. Still, you were instrumental in dividing the Tigers into two factions. That played a big role when Mahinda maama ultimately defeated them later. 

You finest hour was however when fate decided that you should be the boss in an unexpected turn of events three years ago, when Gota maama had to flee from the backdoor of his residence and seek refuge overseas. Though never winning the top job in an election, you were handed it on a platter.

You biggest challenge was to eliminate the queues for gas and fuel, restore a regular power supply and bring down inflation. You did that, with help from the IMF. Imitation, they say, is the best form of flattery and Anura sahodaraya is sticking to your path, despite all that he said from election platforms.

Your critics will however say you again squandered a chance to make history by teaming up with the ‘pohottuwa’ and turning a blind eye to their misdemeanours instead of inviting the ‘telephone’ chaps. You also appointed those like Deshabandu to top jobs and used dirty tactics to postpone local polls.

Acts like that cost you dearly. After seeing you in the top job for two years, people didn’t trust you to give you another term. That and the momentum against the ‘Old Guard’ at the ‘aragalaya’ meant you lost a third time. Even Sajith got more votes than you. You remained active behind the scenes though.

That brings us to the here and now, where you face serious charges and at least a few days in remand. Some will argue that no one is above the law and that you should be an example, not an exception. Other will say at least some basic courtesies should be extended to someone who once led the nation.   

As we have said, we must let Lady Justice decide that but it is disturbing that those running YouTube channels are able to predict with certainty that you will be remanded. It is difficult not to smell a rat there. Obviously, it raises the question as to whether all this was pre-determined and stage managed.

Knowing you are being interrogated on serious charges and suggesting that you could be detained is understandable but to say with absolute confidence that this will happen and putting your job on the line for that hints at something sinister. It is also insults the judiciary. Your lawyers must take that up.

You are assured of your place in history, Uncle Ranil. You were sworn in as PM six times, more than anyone else. Your critics say you are the Green leader who brought party’s vote down to two percent. Now you are the only President to be arrested- that eluded Aiyo Sirisena, despite all his shenanigans!  

In the end, Uncle Ranil, people will divide themselves into those who are for you and those against you, ignoring the legal issues involved. You have said politics is not a sprint but a marathon where speed is nothing and endurance is everything. At seventy-six, it seems the race is not over for you!

Yours truly,

Punchi Putha

PS- At the courthouse on Friday were Namal baby and Aiyo Sirisena, not your best friends exactly. We didn’t see Sajith there though. He only posted a message on social media. Is it that for some people, there are no permanent interests, but only permanent friends and permanent enemies, even in politics?