Sri Lanka, Sept. 11 -- "To put it very simply, Sajith is not Mahinda." (A man on the street)

Sajith Premadasa's decision to deliver his speech at the commencement of the ninth parliament in English gleaned mixed reactions from various crowds. Some argue that he was channelling the spectre of Ranil Wickremesinghe by trying to be like Ranil in a place that's missing Ranil. Others argue, like I do, that there's nothing wrong with it.

It is significant to note that no one criticising the way the speech was delivered has paid any attention to what the speech was all about. This is to be expected when parliamentarians aren't expected to say much, and how they speak is considered more important than what they speak. The only exception elsewher...