Sri Lanka It's Happening

May 9, 2004

In chess it's said that the threat is mightier than it's excution. That's probably why ministers in Sri Lankan threaten to resign every few weeks but never execute that decision.

Very occaisionaly you see a different spectable; a resignation announced but not submitted. Typically the reason given would be that the minister is very sad at the wild accusations made against him. Allegations made at a time when he is working around the clock to be of service to the nation.

Immidiately after the announcement posters would appear all over Colombo begging and pleading with the politician not to resign. A handfull of people might even take to the streets demonstrating against the 'conspirators' who have wrongfully accused a lilly white (or lilly livered) minister.

Within hours the politician would appear on TV again and claim he was just about the submit his letter of resignation when he was moved by the show of faith in him. He would pledge to continue to be of service to the nation (while serving himself from the government coffers). A variation is to say the resignation has been withdrawn or not accepted.

In the back room his trusted aid would pay off the men who put up the posters and banners and give a bottle of hooch to each of the demonstrators. The hooch usually doesn't cost them anything they get it free from the bootleggers.

There is a new twist to this drama. Arjuna Ranathunga who refused a deputy minister post a few weeks ago, has just been sworn in - as a deputy minister. He just sat back and waited till the public forgot about his original stance. Memories are very short in this land of serendib.

Posted by raditha at May 9, 2004 3:18 PM