I just received a phone call from the number 011 454 3301. It was a pre-recorded election campaign message from a UNP parliamentarian. The message was very short and abrupt. He wanted me to vote for a candidate who’s contesting the upcoming provincial council election. And he stopped without even saying goodbye. (It’s not that I will be happy to see him spending more time saying hello dear, thank you and ta-ta bye bye.)

We know this is not a new thing. It was a known fact that the president could obtain our phone numbers at will and send various kinds of text and voice messages to his beloved citizens. We are fortunate to receive his new year greetings and all; no need to mention the occasional request to vote for his party which was a delight to receive.

Now this has spread beyond the privileges of the president. How does a UNP parliamentarian get hold of my number (and location) unless the mobile company decides to disclose the details? It can be a good business opportunity during the election times to manage these campaigns. I have no inside knowledge of these companies to know whether this is already in their business agenda. But Dialog (my service provider) should seriously consider doing this out in the open. They can undertake carrying out sms and voice message campaigns for politicians. Spam us officially!

But of course, this business plan should not apply when it involves the president or his party. He is the state; and we (in this context we means he) should exercise those presidential immunity-loyality-sincerity-impunity things to the fullest extent. He should be given free and unlimited access to all the numbers that are connected to his citizens. (this include phone numbers, credit card numbers, bra size numbers and any system that can be understood or accessed through numbers)

And the rest of us - ordinary citizens - should always ask and depend on the generosity of the owners of the numbers.