While visiting India , President Mahinda Rajapakse is invited to tea with President Abdul Kalam.
He asks President Kalam what his leadership philosophy is.
He says that, it is to surround himself with intelligent people.
Mahinda Rajapakse asks how he knows if they're intelligent.
"I do so by asking them the right questions," says President Kalam.
"Allow me to demonstrate."
Mahinda Rajapakse watches as President Kalam phones Manmohan Singh, the Indian Prime Minister and says,
"Mr. Prime Minister, please answer this question: your mother has a child, and your father has a child, and this child is not your brother or sister.
Who is it?"
Manmohan immediately responds,
"It's me, Sir !"
"Correct. Thank you and good-bye, sir," says Kalam.
He hangs up and says,
"Did you get that, Mr. Rajapakse?"
Mahinda nods:
"Yes Mr. President.
Thanks a lot. I'll definitely be using that!"
Mahinda Rajapakse, upon returning to Colombo , decides he'd better put his brother, Gothabaya to the test.
Mahinda summons him to Temple Trees and says,
" Gotha , I wonder if you can answer a question for me."
"Why, of course, Aiya. What's on your mind?"
Mahinda poses the question:
"Uhh, your mother has a child, and your father has a child, and this child is not your brother or your sister.
Who is it?"
Gothabaya was puzzled and finally asks,
"Can I think about it and get back to you?"
Mahinda agrees, and Gothabaya leaves.
Gothabaya immediately calls a meeting of the senior armed services & ministers of the cabinet, including his other brothers, Chamal & Basil and they puzzle over the question for several hours, but nobody can come up with an answer.
Finally, in desperation, Gothabaya calls Mangala Samaraweera and explains the problem.
"Mr. Mangala Samaraweera, your mother has a child, and your father has a child, and this child is not your brother or your sister. Who is it?"
Mangala answers immediately,
"It's me, of course."
Much relieved, Gothabaya rushes back to Temple Trees, finds Mahinda Rajapakse, and exclaims,
"I know the answer, Aiya!
I know, who it is!
It's Mangala Samaraweera!"
And Mahinda replies in disgust,
"Wrong, its Manmohan Singh!"
He asks President Kalam what his leadership philosophy is.
He says that, it is to surround himself with intelligent people.
Mahinda Rajapakse asks how he knows if they're intelligent.
"I do so by asking them the right questions," says President Kalam.
"Allow me to demonstrate."
Mahinda Rajapakse watches as President Kalam phones Manmohan Singh, the Indian Prime Minister and says,
"Mr. Prime Minister, please answer this question: your mother has a child, and your father has a child, and this child is not your brother or sister.
Who is it?"
Manmohan immediately responds,
"It's me, Sir !"
"Correct. Thank you and good-bye, sir," says Kalam.
He hangs up and says,
"Did you get that, Mr. Rajapakse?"
Mahinda nods:
"Yes Mr. President.
Thanks a lot. I'll definitely be using that!"
Mahinda Rajapakse, upon returning to Colombo , decides he'd better put his brother, Gothabaya to the test.
Mahinda summons him to Temple Trees and says,
" Gotha , I wonder if you can answer a question for me."
"Why, of course, Aiya. What's on your mind?"
Mahinda poses the question:
"Uhh, your mother has a child, and your father has a child, and this child is not your brother or your sister.
Who is it?"
Gothabaya was puzzled and finally asks,
"Can I think about it and get back to you?"
Mahinda agrees, and Gothabaya leaves.
Gothabaya immediately calls a meeting of the senior armed services & ministers of the cabinet, including his other brothers, Chamal & Basil and they puzzle over the question for several hours, but nobody can come up with an answer.
Finally, in desperation, Gothabaya calls Mangala Samaraweera and explains the problem.
"Mr. Mangala Samaraweera, your mother has a child, and your father has a child, and this child is not your brother or your sister. Who is it?"
Mangala answers immediately,
"It's me, of course."
Much relieved, Gothabaya rushes back to Temple Trees, finds Mahinda Rajapakse, and exclaims,
"I know the answer, Aiya!
I know, who it is!
It's Mangala Samaraweera!"
And Mahinda replies in disgust,
"Wrong, its Manmohan Singh!"
