Insight By Sunil KumarƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  April 21st, 2010

” He once held the Nation in awe with his stoic sense of judgement and cool on the cricket field but now seems to have run himself out!”

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In a highly controversial manner, totally lacking in decorum and in very poor taste, former Sri Lankan cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunge the DNA candidate who successfully contested the last General Elections has said that ” only the drug peddlers, rapists, bookmakers and tavern owners make up the UPFA Govt. and that genuine Sri Lankans have been pushed out, whereby the party is being destroyed.”

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He seems to be hallucinating somewhat in his wild accusations against the Government saying that ” At the last elections all those who had criminal charges against them were allowed nominations under the UPFA list.” which is a mere matter of interpretation as there surely are individuals belonging to this category in practically all the political parties in Sri Lanka where the indemnities of pending as well as post prosecutions of certain members have been no obstacle to candidates in any specific party contesting the General Elections despite the irregularity it seems to logically present but hardly a justification for any political party to be labelled in this manner and also a point for many to ponder upon regarding their own liabilities including the leader of the opposition!

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ For arguments sake at this very moment individuals being tried for treason against the State as well as some in remand custody for criminal activities are being given the opportunity to be present at the next opening of Parliament which obviously runs from the sublime to the ridiculous albeit not the point Ranatunge is trying to make in his apparent attempt to defame the Government!

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Ranatunga needs to re-consider these bold accusations relative to an apology and and thank his lucky stars that such defamatory talk is being tolerated by a very compassionate and lenient President who in all probabilities has given much thought and consideration to Ranatunga’s previously prestigious status and the fact that his late father and other family members have always been in good stead through a loyal and healthy alliance with the UPFA despite the renegade nature of Arjuna Ranatunga today.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It sounds like a somewhat disillussioned Ranatunge making a bold and unclarifiable statement about the Mahinda Rajapaksha Administration where he is probably putting himself in the position of one of these “pushed out genuine Sri Lankans” he alludes to while feeling sorry for himself.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ But where then is his sense of decorum and patriotism if he in addition to being a Sinhalese has taken it upon himself to insult his fellow countrymen and their President in this despicable manner? He should truly be ashamed of himself!

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Unfortunately for Arjuna if this is indeed what he is alluding to he needs to be made aware that it is his own doing that has projected his falling from grace with the Sri Lankan Administration based on his own frustrations that he has not had his way regarding many overtures made to the President towards his own ambitions and perceived direction where the President as usual has been very pragmatic and has maintained all the protocols relative to what Ranatunga probably demanded deeming them unfair and consequently Ranatunga voluntarily exited the UPFA where he had previously built a very good rapport .

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ To make matters worse for him he has then made the cardinal error of throwing his support behind another hero fallen from grace ( Ranatunga’s heroics being internationally known on the cricket field) based purely upon his own frustrations with the Administration where many Sri Lankans could easily view him in disdain as a verbose and frustrated individual exercising what he probably beleives is his right to free speech but is in fact veritable slander and intolerable in the climate of Sri Lanka today!

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ While all this is painfully apparent through his speech and actions and needs to be brought to the attention of the general public that this is no hero any longer, as in politics just as in cricket, one’s conduct, idealogies and speech are certain yardsticks measuring one’s net worth where Ranatunga has let the side down.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Ranatunga should be contrite and relent remembering his past glory which he seems to have now tarnished through his own indiscretionary attitude and rhetoric !