Number One had occasion to meet the former strongman and several other Diyawanna politicos at a state ceremony the other day.

While the ceremony was underway, the former strongman walked up to Number One and told him: “I saw a picture showing you in an unusual posture!”

The former strongman explained to him that the picture he was referring to was the one that showed him with both arms on the shoulders of Green party purohitas standing on either side of him during his recent official visit to China. 

“Ah! That’s the picture you are referring to?” queried Number One.  “That’s the work of that person over there,” he added calling a prominent governing one standing a few yards away.

The governing one soon appeared before them and the former strongman asked him with a smile: “Why did you allow this picture to the public?”  He continued: “There is no need for you to publish every picture you take of the country’s big boss… You should not have published this picture!” 

Number One nodded his agreement. The governing one did not say anything in defence.