He may not have gone to school even to take shelter from the rain, but he is entitled to a handsome pension when he resigns or loses his position, whereas other Public Servants should complete 20 years at least (or is it 25?) in various distant postings. Our friend gets a palatial official bungalow even though he may have a private residence in the heart of the city. As far as I am aware his income is not taxed. His children are dropped at school in his official vehicle and the wife uses it for her shopping.

By now you should know that I am referring to our peoples’ representatives, but this certainly does not refer to all politicians. Those leaders who are not with us now, like JRJ, Dr. N.M., S.W.R.D., Dr. Colvin R. de Silva. Sir John, Dudley Senanayake, C. Sunderalingam (pardon me for not mentioning all) irrespective on party politics spent all their time and money for the welfare of the people. I refrain from mentioning those who are still with us, for boosting anybody’s ego is not my intention.

Now take the case of Mr. Reginold Cooray who claims to be the SLFP organiser for Panadura. He was elected to the Provincial Council, but for reasons known to all but himself, he was not offered a Ministry. What was his response? "Now I will start my English tuition classes again". Whether he is competent to teach English is another matter, but reading between the lines, it is obvious that he infers that since he has no other income, he will have to start his tuition classes again. The cat has crept out of the bag!

I was once at the Panadura residence of the late Leslie Goonawardena who was then the Minister of Transport, and a certain person very well known to him had come to get a letter from the Minister. He promptly told his Secretary to do the needful and when the letter was put up to the Minister for his signature, he casually asked what it was for. The applicant said that he wanted to apply for a post under his Ministry. The Minister promptly tore up the letter and said "Please try to understand - if I as the Minister issue a letter to you, they will certainly employ you whether you can handle it or not. That is not fair. That is undue influence. Now if the letter is to another Ministry. I will gladly do it". Where are the politicians of that calibre today?