I was at Arpico (supermarket) when I saw Mangala Samaraweera, former Foreign Minister and Svengali, in the other line. He was buying light bulbs, pet food, and tinned fish. Then it hit me. This is why Ranil doesn’t want to give up power. As Opposition Leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe gets all the perks of a government Minister. He also has power both locally and internationally. Unfortunately, he can’t actually do his job as Opposition Leader (winning elections occasionally) but he does collect the perks. But it’s not just that. I see former President Bandaranaike out randomly and no one pays any attention. She’s a former President but no one cares. Come from a place where you could be five hours late and people would wait, that must suck. In Sri Lankan politics there is no exit strategy. You’re either dead or dead to the world. Perhaps that’s why Ranil clings onto his post for dear life.

Gotabaya Rakapaksa has now gone and threatened to hang General Sarath Fonseka. On the BBC of all places (via AFP). Why oh why I ask. Fonseka is not the wisest or most sagacious person, but he’s still a war hero and he shouldn’t be in jail. Even if he is in jail, the government should at least attempt not to look like it’s trying to kill opponents, or cover up war crimes. This holds doubly true if they are trying to do these things, if only in self interest. I actually think the government is less bad than Gota makes it look (though not good). He really shouldn’t be talking to foreign media anymore.

I don’t think about politics much anymore. Things seem pretty stable. Nothing really irritates me anymore. After the American Idol for ugly people that was the Parliamentary campaign I don’t even mind seeing Mahinda around. He at least has style. I think Namal’s eyes are a bit widely spaced, but I can deal with seeing him too. I’m sure there’s mad deals and fun going on which I’m missing out on. Whatever connections I have are now like a phantom limb, a stump really, but life is still pretty good. I don’t have too much control over my own volition and this is where I am right now. I don’t really care.

In a sort of 1984 Ministry Of Love kinda way, Mervyn Silva is the Deputy Minister of Media. Previous qualifications include smashing Sirasa TV cameras and physically assaulting the head of Rupavahini TV. So now when the media has complaints they can address them directly to the usual source. At this point, for me, it is just funny, but I wonder how you say FML for a country. FMC?

Harsha De Silva is my friend. Not in the sense that he’s a guy I know around Colombo, but in the sense that he’ll always share his Coke with me and he’s bailed me out of more trouble than you can imagine. He’s also a damn good friend to a lot of people. I know a (Tamil) programmer who got arrested under Emergency Law and was locked up for months. From day one Harsha was on his falling-apart rubber band phone finding out where the guy was and helping the frantic family out. Which is the kinda guy he is. More than his professional and economic qualifications, that’s why I’m really proud that he’s a National List MP.

They can’t really assemble Parliament until Nawalapitiya and Trinco are repolled. What for the (extraordinary) violence there was. Perambara has a reporter down there now posting updates on the Twitter. Seeing as all the (limited) attention is on these few polling stations violence seems unlikely, but who knows. I suppose there are still scores to settle. I think Mano Ganeshan (leading Tamil politician) is running from there. I think he may’ve lost last time so it’ll be interesting to see how that turns out. The fate of recent/late UNP crossovers like SB and Keheliya Rambukwella will also be decided.

Sarath Fonseka’s dog is a big dalmation. He’s caged now, in the front garden of the family’s rented house on Queen’s Road. Anoma Fonseka is holding a press con, saying there’s no men in the house. Her daughters are abroad. She’s concerned for her husband’s health as he languishes in jail. I try to get close to the dog but he barks at me. From a distance watch. He naps. He plays with a rock. It’s a large, heavy rock, but he plays with it anyways. I wonder if he misses his obdurate master.

I went to the most awesome carnival in Mannar, sponsored by Minister Rishad Bathiudeen as part of his election campaign. They had motorbikes in a barrel, a ferris wheel, merry-go-round, music, food, everything. I think I kinda get the real-politicking now. I honestly feel inclined to vote for the man now. I was hungry and Bathiudeen gave me kottu, I was bored and he gave me a ferris wheel, why wouldn’t I give him my vote.

Ranil Wickremesinghe has dyed his hair black. It doesn’t look so good. Mahinda has been dying his hair and stache for years, but it hasn’t been a sudden change. Ranil normally has distinguished looking salt and pepper hair, and has for years. I think this is fine and grey hair is quite respectable and nice. This jump to black, however, is a bit shocking and macabre. It’s not an especially good dye job aesthetically, nor is it an especially good move politically. But judge for yourself.

This sounds weird. It is weird. Whenever I think Sri Lankan news has reached the pinnacle of oddity it goes one further. So, some people threw stones at a TV station for sponsoring an Akon concert. Among the many places Akon has objectified women dancing (not an issue in itself) they happened to appear for about 3 seconds near a Buddha statue. Hence, the violent response. I went to the press conference today and the Media Center For National Security (about as ominous as it sounds) is saying that it was a conflict and the TV employees were also throwing stones. From inside.