COLOMBO (EconomyNext) – Prime Minister Narendra Modi boldly suggested that Sri Lanka should emulate his "cooperative federalism" but the opposition UPFA which is against the "F" word may have given him a jab on the bum.
After the Indian leader told Sri Lankan law makers the virtues of devolving power, Sri Lanka’s new opposition leader Nimal Siripala de Silva resorted to a subtle rear-guard action.
"Your excellency, you are a self-made man, worthy of immunisation, "said de Silva who was the health minister under the former regime. De Silva whose United People’s Freedom Alliance considers federalism a four letter word made no reference to the Modi prescription, but gave him a Freudian jab.
Perhaps it was also a bit difficult for Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to swallow. "You have given us a throat provoking speech," a stumbling Wickremesinghe told Modi. "It is a valuable contribution that we have to start from here."
The state television anchors were also having some difficulties of their own. The Sinhalese anchor extolled the virtues of our great Asian friend and partner and Asian giant "China."
Another Freudian slip from an anchor who not long ago was praising China during Xi Jingping’s Colombo visit. "China…errr, India," he managed to spit out just in time to keep his job.
A Tamil anchor who got carried away as Modi drove to the Presidential Secretariat for the official welcome introduced the dignitary as "Thalaivar (leader) Narendra Singh Dhoni." Modi is probably used to it by now after President Maithripala Sirisena during his Indian visit very nearly called him Narasimha Rao.
For more satirical writing by Namal Suvendra click this link.