Cast the first stone only if it doesn’t boomerang
Last week former Minister of Agriculture in the Gota regime, now a simple SLPP MP, Mahindananda Aluthgamage called on the Opposition leader SJB’s Sajith Premadasa to resign from his post forthwith for failing to keep his promise.
Mahindananda charged: ‘The Opposition Leader promised he will resign if the allegation of misusing the Central Cultural Fund is proved. We like to know whether he will do it.’
Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella responded saying that the Central Cultural Fund had been utilised after obtaining Cabinet approval. ‘Therefore the Leader of the Opposition does not have to resign on that score.’
The quick retort by the Opposition
Chief Whip aborted Mahindananda’s attempt to shame Sajith Premadasa.
But should those who reside in glass houses fling stones against others? Especially those with a tendency to suffer from convenient bouts of amnesia?
Two years ago Mahindananda, as Minister of Agriculture, appeared on Hiru
TV’s ‘Salakuna’ programme. He was asked whether he, as Agriculture Minister, could assure the people that, as long as he remains as the Minister, not a single grain of rice will be imported into this country or else he will resign.’
Oozing with confidence, SLPP Minister Mahindananda shot back: ‘As long as I, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, remain as Minister of Agriculture, no single grain of rice will be imported or else I will resign.’
Then with a further burst of adrenalin, he boldly ventured to declare: ‘On the contrary, you will be amazed to know that we will be exporting rice within a month.’
What a relief. Such sweet music to hear a minister staking his political future and promising that, come what may, with agriculture under his command, the people will not go famished denied their staple diet of local kakulu.
Ah, as Roman poet Horace would have put it at that assuring hour: ‘All Sri Lanka sent forth a rapturous cry, and even the ranks of UNP could scarce forbear to cheer.’
Despite his sterling assurance, the Government began importing rice from abroad in the subsequent months that followed with Mahindananda blithely remaining as Minister of Agriculture in Gotabaya’s crumbling government, with naught a word mentioned about him resigning.
As Shakespeare said, ‘no better sport than to hoist the engineer with his own petard’.