No Permanent Friends or Enemies in Politics: The Norwood Lesson

When Party Leaders Say “Jump,” Local Councils Say “How High?” — or Not!

This week proved the old political saying true: no matter what the top dogs decide, local council members do what they want—because who really listens to the leadership anyway? Case in point: while the Weligama PS meeting descended into a shouting match between NPP and SJB members, Norwood’s Pradeshiya Sabha showed how local politics can be a whole different circus.

Norwood’s Political Dance: Who’s Kissing Who Now?

In Norwood, the NPP’s candidate snagged the chairperson spot by beating the Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC) 12 to 7—but here’s the kicker—all five SJB members voted for the NPP candidate. Yes, the very party they usually spar with! Meanwhile, the SJB’s own candidate nabbed the deputy chairperson position by beating the UNP candidate, who got some surprise help from six NPP members.

Politics makes strange bedfellows, indeed. It’s like watching a soap opera where alliances shift faster than a Wi-Fi connection.

The Rebel SJB Member Who Just Couldn’t Quit

Over in Karuwalagaswewa PS, the drama was just as juicy. Most opposition parties staged a dramatic walkout, protesting a secret ballot decision like it was the latest episode of their favorite reality show. But wait—one brave SJB member stayed behind, refusing to abandon ship.

The walkout squad tried to drag her off like a reluctant contestant on a game show, but the Local Government Commissioner called in the big guns—the police—to make sure our rebel could vote in peace. And vote she did… with the NPP candidate. Oops!

UNP and PA Score Their Own Wins — Against the Odds

In the midst of all this chaos, the UNP and PA quietly bagged some wins. A PA member snagged the chairmanship of the Udpalatha PS in Kandy, beating the NPP by a solid margin, while a UNP member won the top seat at Madurawala PS in Kalutara, with a little help from SJB as deputy chairperson.

It’s like the political version of “David beating Goliath”—except with more backstabbing and last-minute deals.

Moral of the Story? In Politics, It’s Never Personal—Only Practical

If there’s one thing to take away, it’s this: there are no permanent friends or enemies in politics, just whatever gets you the chairpersonship. So next time party leaders issue orders, just remember—down at the local councils, the members are writing their own rulebook, and it’s all about who they want to have coffee with tomorrow.

Would you like me to make this even snarkier or more straightforward?