Sunday Punch 2

Four walls do not a prison make for a drama queen to flaunt showman skills. Or to attempt a Houdini act to break free from remand bondage.

And for Wimal Weerawansa, the manicured, pedicured, goatee sporting former JVP member- turned- founder of his own party of four in the House, the Welikada Prison Gates may well confine his liberty, but it cannot contain his dramatics within its remand walls from breaking free. Nor deny the public the free invite to burst into hysterics over his latest act, even though it’s a repeat performance.

On Wednesday morning, the Prison Warden was told by his officials that remand prisoner Weerawansa, the Honourable Member of Parliament who was presently sojourning there on charges of corruption, had refused to partake of the prison porridge. Given the state of Welikada meals, it would have hardly raised his brow if some other guest at the government inn had skipped his breakfast.

But news of Weerawansa -being not the run- of- the- mill sort ever known to have refused anything served free but has shown an admirable propensity to generously distribute it amongst his kith and kin as well -- turning his thumb down on the morning repast served gratis, would probably have made the Prison Guv to raise both brows in alarm and to prick both ears in consternation at the explosive report his officials served him as his breakfast.

Soon the Prison Warden’s worst fears were confirmed.

The National Freedom Front said its leader MP Weerawansa had commenced a hunger strike against the political revenge of the government. “He has taken