{"id":132907,"date":"2014-11-14T04:13:53","date_gmt":"2014-11-13T22:43:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=132907"},"modified":"2014-11-20T00:44:13","modified_gmt":"2014-11-19T19:14:13","slug":"conversations-with-sarath-n-silva","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/conversations-with-sarath-n-silva\/","title":{"rendered":"Conversations With Sarath N Silva"},"content":{"rendered":"

By\u00a0Malinda Seneviratne<\/a><\/span>\u00a0–<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Malinda<\/a>

Malinda Seneviratne<\/p><\/div>\n

Meanwhile in a parallel universe<\/em><\/p>\n

These are moving-around days.\u00a0 There\u2019s talk of people crossing party lines. There are people plotting regime-change. There are people getting ready to counter such moves.\u00a0 People are talking to people.\u00a0 We have the Constitution Abolishers. We have the Constitution Amenders.\u00a0 Then there are people trying to cobble together parties and other political groups as well as prominent personalities in a grand coalition that would support a \u2018Common Candidate from the Opposition\u2019.\u00a0 These same people are also busy trying to find a \u2018Common Candidate<\/span><\/a>\u2019.<\/p>\n

These are talking days. Some people are smelling blood. Others smell something else, but thinking it has to be blood, are salivating.\u00a0 Still others are not taking chances and are focusing on closing ranks. They are keeping partners under check even as they try to woo key members of the other side. Others are watching.\u00a0 Some are listening.<\/p>\n

\"Sarath<\/a>Even the biggest talkers must have a breather.During a break in a long discussion that had already taken half a day, a man called Sarath N Silva<\/span><\/a> found himself in a parallel universe called \u2018Humility\u2019. He was not alone. Those present had been discussing the Constitution, its inherent ills, its significant positives and the virtues of amending or abrogating the same.\u00a0 But in this calmer and less loquacious place, no one wanted to \u2018continue the conversation over a cup of tea or coffee\u2019 as one of the key organizers had suggested. They spoke of other things.<\/p>\n

\u2018Why did you do it, Sir?\u2019 a green-eyed MP from the Opposition asked the ex Chief Justice.<\/p>\n

Before the man could respond, a man red-eyed from sleep-lack on account of thinking too much about a blunder made in 2005 blurted out, \u2018he always played politics!\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Yes, first with the lady and then with the gent!\u2019 murmured the head of an NGO currently under a massive cloud due to allegations of fraud.<\/p>\n

\u2018Come, come, let us not quarrel here\u2026we have to focus on the objective and we have to put aside our differences. We can\u2019t afford to dwell on the past. We must look to the future.\u2019 That was a bikkhu<\/i> who some thought might be The Answer but others felt could only be a weaker SF<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018But we are on a break right now,\u2019 the green-eyed one protested.<\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019ve already said that I was in error.\u00a0 What more do you want?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018In error?\u00a0 Are you serious?\u00a0 You\u2019ve not only ensured that the Opposition gets weaker by the day but made sure that whoever wins can turn a wafer-thin majority into a two-thirds majority!\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Oh that?\u00a0 I thought you were talking about Helping Hambantota!\u2019 the ex-judge said.<\/p>\n

\u2018That\u2019s history.\u00a0 I am talking about people crossing over and how the ruling you gave facilitated it.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Yes, yes.\u00a0 So what was your question again?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Why did you do it?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Well, our rathu sahodaraya<\/i>, was correct.\u00a0 Deep down I am a political animal.\u00a0 Like anyone else.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Oh no.\u00a0 Don\u2019t flatter yourself.\u00a0 There have been many CJs who remained untouched by the dirty and crass of politics.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Good for them.\u00a0 I am a connoisseur of this thing called \u201cThe Art of the Possible\u201d. I did my bit. Indeed that\u2019s what I am doing now too. People objected when I determined when Chandrika<\/span><\/a>\u2019s term ends. People objected to the Helping Hambantota decision. People even objected to my ruling on MPs crossing over. Look around you. Most, if not all of these objectors, have either benefited from my decisions or else have become fond of obtaining my advice. You people should know that there are no permanent enemies of friends. It\u2019s the same for political positions.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018But we expect more from someone like you, Sir!\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018I didn\u2019t flatter myself, so why are you trying to make out that I ought to behave in a way that is flatter-worthy?\u2019 Silva raised the obvious question.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s this. We are confused. We don\u2019t know who is who. He or she who is with the Government today may be with us tomorrow, but it\u2019s more likely that the person who we call comrade and with who we plot and plan to oust the regime will be on their side the day after. We just can\u2019t trust anyone. It\u2019s ok being in the opposition.\u00a0 If we have to wait for six years, we will.\u00a0 But there has to be some basic kind of predictability. You\u2019ve done away with that!\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Son, let me tell you a secret. People think and I let them think that for all my expertise on constitutions and separation of power, and indeed my self-proclaimed deep study of the scriptures, I remain a creature fascinated by the political.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Go on..\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s a cover!\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018What do you mean?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018I did all that and do all that I do now because I am at the core a very lonely person leading a humorless life. I did all that and do all that I do now because I need some entertainment!\u00a0 Your agitation amuses me.\u00a0 As for your confusion, what do you think I am laughing off as I roll on the floor when I get home?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Break over!\u2019 the bikkhus<\/i> said.<\/p>\n

\u2018Ehey haamuduruwane,\u2019 the others said in unison. Sarath N Silva was grinning.\u00a0 The others were not.<\/p>\n

*Malinda Seneviratne is the Chief Editor of \u2018The Nation\u2019\u00a0and his articles can be found at\u00a0www.malindawords.blogspot.com<\/em>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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