Their price was too high!

Stories about intriguing episodes that played out behind the scene in the run-up to passing of the 20A are said to be galore.

Two Diyawanna members from the telephone alliance figure in one of these stories. At the time when the public debate over the 20A was raging in the country, this twosome, thick pals, hailing from two adjoining districts had fallen out with the alliance chief over some issue.     

Some members from the regime who scented the mood of this twosome approached them when they were together and canvassed their vote for the 20A. In response, both of them posed the same question: “What will we get in return?”

The regime members had inquired what they expected in return and the twosome had replied that they did not want any position. Realizing that the twosome were expecting the ‘usual alternative’, the government members asked them to name their price. So, they had said that they wanted Rs.80 million each.

The regime members had later presented the proposition to their high-ups and the latter after a discussion had decided that the price was too high. 

The deal had to be called off later as the ‘telephone’ twosome refused to reduce the ante, they say.