Letter

Ranatunga era comes to an end

I am neither a supporter of Arjuna Ranatunga no a stooge of Thilanga Sumathipala, but the defeat of the Ranatunga family including Nishantha at the Cricket Board election on Sunday is a big defeat for them that could spell the end of the Ranatunga era.

True Arjuna won the World Cup in 1996 but that was 20 years ago and times and demands have changed.

Having lost the election on Sunday, Arjuna said it is easy to win a general election and be a minister than win the cricket election.

Arjuna must now realise that what he takes for granted is not what others think or want of him.

Arjuna’s plans for cricket in Sri Lanka are now over. His plans would have been appropriate 15 years ago. He has no vision for the future.

Besides all this Arjuna has also proved that he does not accommodate the views and sentiments of others and this is what could have brought about the defeat of Nishantha.

For example Arjuna is now the minister of Ports and Shipping and he spoke against the monopoly of the Rajapaksa family during the Presidential election. But he does the same thing by appointing his brother Dhammika as Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

Arjuna did this disregarding public opinion and we can imagine what he would have done as vice president of Sri Lanka Cricket had his brother Nishantha won.

Arjuna may be a hero in national politics but it is time he realises that the people don’t look at him that way when it comes to cricket.

Arjuna cannot go by past laurels. His thinking is outdated for today’s requirements.

My sympathies are with Nishantha Ranatunga who had a vision for Sri Lanka cricket but lost a good number of votes because of Arjuna.

My appeal is for Thilanga Sumathipala to do a good job and not fall into the same mess that the Ranatungas got into.

Amaranath Perera
Peradeniya.