In the week following the general poll, the former strongman took a holiday from politics and was relaxing at his residence in the South.


Before the poll, the former strongman found himself eternally surrounded by scores of fawning Betel leaf politicos from all parts of the country. However, after the poll none of these loyalists except a diehard one had called on him at his Tangalle residence. The exception, of course, was Udaya leading a heritage party, they say.

Meanwhile, a certain Blue party veteran now in retirement on hearing about the plight of the former strongman had quipped: “Politicians should remember that they too are subject to the universal law of impermanence!”