It is a truism that in most sectors in national life, one does not get what one deserves. This goes for politics as well.    

A discussion of a group of Diyawanna backbenchers who gathered in the lobby the other day centred on this topic. The immediate provocation to discuss this commonplace injustice was the news that had just reached them about a politico sans even the secondary education being elevated to a high office.   

It had transpired that a favourite of a bigwig had been given the high office despite there being a number of better-qualified backbenchers for the position.   

Some of the members had likened appointing the unqualified person to the high office to arming the proverbial monkey with a shaving blade.