Shripal Nishshanka Fernando

The Sinhalese proverb “Kunu Godata Kunu Ekathu Wey” is recently proven again by the latest member of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”The Club of Traitors of Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ Arjuna Ranatunga. Although he was a good cricketer his most indecent and selfish behaviour demonstrates his unsporting character. He is very lacking of sportsman qualities as one does not qualifies as a true sportsman just because he plays the game well.

A good sportsman thoroughly believes in manners and always leads with exemplary behaviour. It is true that Arjuna protected the interest of Sri Lanka in few occasions in cricket and captained the team bravely. He also made gravel blunders as captain paving the way for some brilliant Sri Lankan cricketers to leave the team and the pool disheartened. In one of the ODIs when he and Roshan Mahanama were batting in the crease and the winning of the match was conveniently on Sri Lankan side, he displayed to the world how unsporting he was by hitting the winning run, when his score was just 17 and MahanamaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s was 49. Even an under 11 cricket captain will not jeopardize a career of a teammate like that. Sri Lanka had enough overs to play in that game and if he gave the winning run to Mahanama, his score would be 50 and that will add to his cricket career for ever. Even the British commentator expressed his disbelief of Arjuna’s ugly behaviour.

A big thank to Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana in their unconventional striking streak in the opening batting in 1996 world cup, and boycotting by some of the teams to play in Sri Lanka, and of course due to superb performance by Sri Lankan cricket team and the supporting staff including the coaches, Sri Lanka became the world cup champs for the first time in cricket history.

Soon after the world cup Arjuna demonstrated his ungratefulness again by objecting awarding the Presidential Award to Dave Whatmore by then president Chandrika Kumaranathunga. Actually Arjuna should have not objected but initiated and proposed such an award to Dave as he was the key brain behind the unprecedented performance by SL team.

The above incidents are needed to be mentioned as Arjuna had been a historical unpatriotic figure as his recent merge to SF team is not surprise news all.

There was another political blunder by Arjuna Ranatunga during a crucial budget vote in 2007 when the eradicating the terrorism was in the peak. That budget vote was so critical as such that just one vote could even topple MR government thus enabling the pro-terrorist RanilƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s party to destroy the country. Arjuna threatened to join RanilƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s side if he is not awarded the chairmanship of the cricket board and the helpless MR had to promise him that post as his vote was so crucial. That displayed ArjunaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s patriotism! He could even join the LTTE if he was not pacified.

These special selfish characteristics of Arjuna are exactly matching the destructive activities of Sarath Fonseka who will also not only sell his family for his ego and benefits but also the whole country just to gain power.

It is quite historical that Sri Lanka is lining up all her traitor in one bunch today so that they all can be easily identified and eliminated by the intelligent voter in the coming Presidential Election and the General election following that.

Down with Sarath F, Ranil, Arjuna, Mangala, Hakeem, Mano, Somawansa and other traitors!