President lays to rest canard

From the time the Sri Lanka Cricket Interim Committee was appointed headed by former Sri Lanka captain and leg spinning allrounder D. Somachandra de Silva, never a day passes without allegations being slung at them. Here was a leader who had the highest of cricket credentials to his credit and brooked no nonsense.

He gave and continues to give leadership the stature that Sri Lanka Cricket needed so badly. But this agitates those who supported other aspirants. So what do they do: they resort to another favourite sport, if not past time: the sport of not of Cricket but one that I will term for this purpose as "Chrac Ass" - the shortened form for Character Assassination"!

Now it is over a year since the Interim Committee came into being. At the rate allegations are being made, mainly that it is a corrupt body one would make the IC look as though it's a band of bandits having a ball.

It is a common trait for those who have been banished or for those unable to get into, not only the Interim Committee, but other national sports associations or a blue chip company to level allegations. It's a consuming pass time.

This is not to say that we condone any level of corruption or misconduct. But where is the proof? It is grossly unfair and inhumane to simply level wild allegations and sully the good names of those appointed to do job.

When allegations are made, the public tends to believe it as those against whom the allegations have been made do not have the same platform to defend themselves. No attempt is made to verify, but simply people drift with the tide.

Sacrilege

It is a sacrilege to dabble in character assignation. Those apt at doing this must first turn the search light inwards. When allegations are made it has to be done so with credibility. Meaning the allegations must be substantiated with facts and figures. A defense needs to be sought. Then there is credibility and then people will have cause to reflect if not believe.

The other day at a discussion with newspaper editors and media heads at Temple Trees, a journalist alleged corruption in the Interim Committee. The sports loving President who has his ear to the ground and his fingers on the national heart-beat hit that question for six by saying - 'No. If there is such corruption I will reveal it now and not wait until the World Cup is over'. He also said that the World Cup venues in the country would be ready on time.

It's obvious that the President who is the highest in the land had been conscious of these wild allegations and now had reason to lay to rest the canard. He debunked it firmly and rightly so. With this, it is hoped that those who have a penchant to gossip and level unfounded allegations would stop their nonsense. What should be realized is that by this type of mudslinging the good name of our country and that of the cricket stardom we have achieved is sullied.

Case in point

A case in point was former Nalanda and Colombo Cricket Club batting star Thilanga Sumathipala. When Sumathipala headed the then Sri Lanka Cricket Board and set in motion the building of the Rangiri International Cricket Stadium in Dambulla, he was not spared.

His critics had a field day. There again it was all allegations and nothing was ultimately proved. But Sumathipala the sport that he was, never lost his cool, but continued to do the job that he set out do. And today that stadium in Dambulla is not only a picturesque cricket setting that visiting team ogle at, but one to international standard.

When Sumathipala set out on that expedition in the jungle in Dambulla, he did so with an intent and purpose. During the rains there was no venue where the game could be played.

Now that we are in the "big league", it is an International Cricket Council requirement that the maximum hours of cricket be played. Which meant that playing fields be built in the zones that can be rain safe havens.

Sumathipala was scourged for doing just that. This is but one example where those with Vision-in this case - Sumathipala and D. S. de Silva became targets in trying to do a good job.

Reminiscing with Percy

A couple of weeks ago in this column I wrote about Percy Perera, describing and recalling memories when he brought great honour to game and country by being the only Sri Lankan to be adjudged 'Asia's Best Shooter' after the cager tournament in the Bangkok Asian Games in 1966.

Percy lived down my street where also lived the two famous Benedictine cricketers' brothers Ranjit and Sunil Fernando. What these two brothers did for Benedictine cricket is well documented.

We had another opportunity to reminisce: this time about billiards and snooker at the Old Bens Club, which we enjoyed playing in the company of Teles Fernandopulle, Leslie Lord and Anton Weerasinghe.

There we also had Cosmos Perera who was the first Ben to lead the national basketball team, Edward Sumanasekera, Patrick Perera, Milroy Pieris, Edgar de Zilwa, Lakshman Fernando, Stanley Joseph, Desmond and Ainsley de Silva . That billiard table is still there with the billiards secretary Selvaraj Fernando having given it a new cloth.

Joe cricketer passes away

'SPORTSCOPE' is sad to note the passing away of former Josephian vice captain, Colts and Nondescript CC off-spinning all rounder Ranjan de Silva after a terminal illness bravely borne. He was 56.

De Silva first sported Josephian colours in 1974 making his debut under Gary Melder. Some of his team mates were Trevor Croner, Ranjit Senaratne, Kumar Eliyathamby, Rohan Wijesinghe, Tony Gunewardena and Rohan Fernando. One Sunday morning the Parish Priest of St. Lucia's Cathedral, Kotahena Fr. Tony Martin in his Sunday sermon, mentioned to the congregation that he visited the terminally ill, and among them was a former Josephian cricketer and requested prayers from the congregation for their speedy recovery.

Playing against

After the service I wanted to ask Fr.Martin for the name of the cricketer, but missed the opportunity. A couple days later I met former St. Benedict's College, St. Peter's College and Saracens cricketer Edgar Tavarayen at a funeral house who gave me the name of the cricketer as Ranjan de Silva who he had the opportunity of playing against in the 'Battle of the Blues' encounter. Former cricketer Bernard Wijetunge who needs no introduction called me and spoke in glowing terms of De Silva. He said Ranjan was one of his closest buddies and he was one of the finest gentlemen he was lucky to have met and played with. 'When De Silva was breathing his last, fittingly at his bed side were Wijetunge, Roy Dias and Trevor Rajaratnam. Wijetunge too was an outstanding cricketer for St. Peter's and Nomads.

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