This Ministerial one is a big-mouthed politico hailing from the hills. Once he had to spend a holiday in the main state-run lodge for talking out of turn. He was luckless at the recent general poll, but was back in luck soon, when he was hand-picked for a national list seat in Diyawanna.
Though he was assigned a new portfolio under Yahapalanaya Two, he continued to use the limousine given to him when he was in Yahapalanaya One. The vehicle was new and was in a sound condition, but the four tires had worn out. Therefore, he ordered his aides to replace the old tires with new ones without delay.
The Ministerial aides immediately sought in writing the main secretarial one’s approval for the purchase of four new tires, but the latter laid aside the request.
Nettled that the approval was not forthcoming, the Ministerial one asked the Secretarial one why he rejected the request. The Secretarial one meekly replied: “Sir, this vehicle doesn’t belong to our Ministry. The cost of the new tires should be borne by the Ministry that owns it. If I approve the expenditure on the new tires for this vehicle, one day I may have to face the music. They may prosecute me and send me to jail…” “If you can’t purchase new tires for my official vehicle, how can I go about my official duties?” the Ministerial one asked suppressing his anger.
“Sir, I will certainly approve the proposed purchase, if you give me necessary instructions in writing,” replied the official.
The Ministerial one issued written instructions as suggested and he now happily goes about on new tires though the vehicle belongs to another Ministry!
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