ahpsampath
10-30-2008, 02:26 PM
While visiting India, Prime Minister Ranil 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.
Ranil asks how he knows if they're intelligent.
"I do so by asking them the right questions," says President Kalam.
"Allow me to demonstrate."
Ranil 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. Ranil?"
Ranil nods:
"Yes Mr. President.
Thanks a lot. I'll definitely be using that!"
Ranil, upon returning to Colombo , decides he'd better put his friend, Ravi to the test.
Ranil summons him to Temple Trees and says,
"Ravi , I wonder if you can answer a question for me."
"Why, of course, Aiya. What's on your mind?"
Ranil 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?"
Ravi was puzzled and finally asks,
"Can I think about it and get back to you?"
Ranil agrees, and Ravi leaves.
Ravi immediately calls a meeting of the senior armed services & ministers of the cabinet, including his other friends, SB & Kirielle and they puzzle over the question for several hours, but nobody can come up with an answer.
Finally, in desperation, Ravi calls Wimal Weerawansa and explains the problem.
"Mr. Wimal Weerawansa, your mother has a child, and your father has a child, and this child is not your brother or your sister. Who is it?"
Wimal answers immediately,
"It's me, of course."
Much relieved, Ravi rushes back to Temple Trees, finds Ranil, and exclaims,
"I know the answer, Mr. Rasnil!
I know, who it is!
It's Wimal Weerawansa !"
And Ranil 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.
Ranil asks how he knows if they're intelligent.
"I do so by asking them the right questions," says President Kalam.
"Allow me to demonstrate."
Ranil 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. Ranil?"
Ranil nods:
"Yes Mr. President.
Thanks a lot. I'll definitely be using that!"
Ranil, upon returning to Colombo , decides he'd better put his friend, Ravi to the test.
Ranil summons him to Temple Trees and says,
"Ravi , I wonder if you can answer a question for me."
"Why, of course, Aiya. What's on your mind?"
Ranil 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?"
Ravi was puzzled and finally asks,
"Can I think about it and get back to you?"
Ranil agrees, and Ravi leaves.
Ravi immediately calls a meeting of the senior armed services & ministers of the cabinet, including his other friends, SB & Kirielle and they puzzle over the question for several hours, but nobody can come up with an answer.
Finally, in desperation, Ravi calls Wimal Weerawansa and explains the problem.
"Mr. Wimal Weerawansa, your mother has a child, and your father has a child, and this child is not your brother or your sister. Who is it?"
Wimal answers immediately,
"It's me, of course."
Much relieved, Ravi rushes back to Temple Trees, finds Ranil, and exclaims,
"I know the answer, Mr. Rasnil!
I know, who it is!
It's Wimal Weerawansa !"
And Ranil replies in disgust,
"Wrong, its Manmohan Singh!"