Thursday 6th November 2008 15

of capability,don’t act like Khemadasas. he ended his tennis career. He Forget Obamas. Sri Lanka lacks, was once arrested in 1985 for sadly,any role model. protesting outside the South Arjuna as a Role Model African Embassy in is one rare excep- Washington, D.C., during an tion here. He didn’t leave any stone anti-apartheid rally. He once unturned during his illustrious 18-year said; “True heroism is remark- cricket career when he fought for a ably sober, very ‘undramatic’. hear your voices. I’ll be your cause for his motherland. It is not the urge to surpass all President. For those who tear Most importantly, he didn’t ever others at whatever cost, but the “Ithe world, we’ll oppose you.” - agree to give way to any of his strong urge to serve others at whatev- Barack Obama, the 44th President of opponents. The day he retired from er the cost.” USA, the first black to be so. international cricket in Aug., 2000, for- Ian Botham was a promi- Guruge Premasiri Khemadasa mer England captain Tony Greig called nent fundraiser for charity, Perera, who died last month at the age of him a player who “added steel to the undertaking a total of 11 long- 71, abandoned his school education to back of Sri Lankan cricket.” How true. distance charity walks in join Radio Ceylon as a youngster from At the SSC, Ranatunga was almost in England since 1985 and after Thalpitiya, Wadduwa, about 35kms tears when he listened to that comment. an inspirational visit to a south of Colombo, provides a case in Ranatunga’s uncanny nature of Taunton hospital for treatment point. At his funeral, which was held standing up for his cause at any cost was for a broken toe, following one under full state honours on Oct. 27, depicted in Shane Warne’s recent book of his walks, he stumbled into Khemadasa was hailed as a legendary ‘Shane Warne’s Century’. a children’s ward to learn that some of the children there had only weeks to live. Botham has since raised more than 10 mil- lion pounds, for the charity ‘Leukaemia Research’. Have our posh, rich crick- eters done anything of that sort? Sanath Jayasuriya, , or Kumar Sangakkara could have easily supported at least Sri Lankan cricket, not the whole of society, by establishing some institution for the under- privileged. Have they gone out of their way to raise a voice against any social injustice? Present Cricketer musician, who tried to bring in rich and “Through gritted teeth I have put At a meeting with local classy music to the masses. Arjuna Ranatunga in my 100...and the schoolboy cricketer Chamika A group of Khemadasa students fact is that Ranatunga helped to put Sri cannot really be stark enemies of the Arjuna Ranatunga is remembered for exchang- Fernando, who scored 316 were in tears, when they sang the lines Lanka on the cricket map...our games strong Aussies, or the Englishmen, if ing heated words with umpire Ross Emerson runs in an inter-school match during a triangular series ODI against England of the maestro’s year 2000 cantata against Sri Lanka were always more you fail in your mission to stand for recently, Ranatunga, as the in 1999. Sri Lanka cricket lacks good role mod- ‘Piriniwan Mangallaya’ (The Passing fractious than they needed to be with your countrymen by shedding your gen- els. The cricketers here are selfish. History will present head of Sri Lanka Away of the Buddha), as his pyre was Ranatunga in charge... tlemanly demeanor. In spite of a num- not look too kindly at them. (Files) Cricket, has said on Oct. 30: being lit at the Independence Squire. “We found that he loved to be in the ber of his shortcomings, the man who “Our country needs cricketers Khemadasa was honoured by a varied middle when we sledged him - so we “looked like he had swallowed a sheep” ary line until the Sri Lankan manage- with solid education.” He has apparent- cross section of our society, ranging tried to keep quiet - but he was so irri- (Warne), tried to give Sri Lanka cricket ment conferred with him, after which he ly hit the nail on its head as our crick- from the country’s President to ordinary tating, it was so hard to keep our mouths its due recognition. Hence is Warne’s resumed play. It was later revealed that eters lack basic education with regard folks. He didn’t appear in any ‘pap- shut. He had the ability to get under inexorable resentment. Emerson, who was sidelined as an inter- to their social responsibility. padam’ ads fortunately,nor did he crave everybody’s skin...he did his job. A Rebel national umpire since then, was on sick Khemadasa was not a big time schol- for any ‘TV rights’ or franchise deals, “He wasn’t out there to win a popu- On Jan. 20, 1996, he made his players leave from his job as an investigating ar in music, but still he knew what he had like our cricket heroes, during his much larity contest or give out prizes. He saw refuse to shake hands with the Aussies officer with the Western Australian to do to pass a strong message to the next hailed 50-year musical career. his role purely and simply as one to help at the SCG after a defeat in a World Dept. of Fair Trading! generation in his chosen field. The entire Instead, Khemadasa tried to share Sri Lanka win cricket matches and he Series Cricket final marred by partial By standing up against injustice nation honoured him, valued his work. what he discerned, as a master musi- wanted to make himself into the hardest umpiring by Steve Randell, who was with his head straight, when others Our National cricketers here, though, cian, with the younger generation. He opponent he possibly could. He was no later convicted of assault against nine gave up the fight quite naively, Arjuna think that playing for the country is a did so as if to epitomise the idea of that coward. He didn’t like to back down with schoolgirls in 1999 and the ever so con- came close to becoming a sporting role great fortune that came their way. They black ‘blues’ singer Louise Armstrong the bat any more than he did with his troversial Darrel Hair. model of his generation. want to have the cake and eat it. Such who sang, “I hear babies cry; I watch leadership.” Ranatunga is also remembered for Role of a Role Model people will not be remembered for their them grow. They’ll learn much more, Warne’s remarks here about exchanging heated words with umpire The late Arthur Ashe, the 1st service to their motherland or mankind. than I’ll ever know.” (from ‘What a Ranatunga clearly show that the former Ross Emerson during a triangular series African-American male to win a Grand We have cricketing ‘stars’ here, but no Wonderful World’). Lankan skipper has acted masterfully to ODI against England in 1999 and leading Slam tennis event who died of AIDS in great social beings, role models. History Our cricket heroes, having so much become the Aussies’ enemy No.1. One his team to a point just inside the bound- 1993, was a civil rights supporter after will not tolerate the selfish.

Letter GD was a colossus! Mother blames medical authorities for Iresh The late Gamini Sri Lankan cricketers Pushpakumara’s untimely death Dissanayake, who to take part in the IPL. hailed from that pres- The Sports by Reemus Fernando tigious school in the Minister fell for it, August, was the third highest killers. He had vomitted at night. ted to the National Hospital. hills, Trinity, was a hook, line and sinker, Premier Under-23 cricketer wicket taker of the tournament. He told me that he begged for The funeral of beacon of light in Sri and gave him the nod. Iresh Pushpakumara who met He died a day after he was saline and medicine from the Pushpakumara will take place on Lanka cricket! Modi made a dramatic with an untimely death on admitted to the National nurses but they did not give him Saturday at the Pothupitiya His tragic death in move, when he swept Tuesday had wanted to join the Hospital. anything. cemetery. the prime of his life under the carpet his Electricity Board where his Hailing from an underprivi- “The next day,when I went to A leg-spinner, Pushpakumara was a rude shock to promised 40 million father worked, to prosper as a leged family, he had struggled to the hospital nurses showed me picked up nine wickets in an all lovers of the game. bailout and the Sports cricketer, his grief-stricken meet the huge financial the list of medicines the doctors innings against Lankan CC, his He strode the political Minister had to eat mother told ‘The Island’ yes- demands of cricket. And he had had recommended. But my son former club, in a Premier Under- arena like a colossus humble pie. The during his illustrious Lankan skipper, who terday. struggled more than that during said that nothing was given to 23 tournament in early August. career. It was the appears to be in the “He wanted to work where the last few days for his life as him except for painkillers.” He represented Panadura SC last same in the cricket- good books of some his father worked. He said he careless Panadura Hospital On Sunday his parents had season and was the third highest ing arena. He left his leading politicians, could prosper in cricket, since authorities and a money hun- taken Pushpakumara to a private wicket taker in the tournament, footprints on the Gamini Dissanayake along with some of his there was a cricket team there. gry private hospital in Colombo hospital in Colombo. “He couldn’t having captured 40 wickets in sands of time, in the senior teammates, He was scheduled to face an had failed to provide medication even walk. They admitted my son seven matches. Pushpakumara, annals of Sri Lankan cricket. viewed the situation with joy, for interview at 11.00 am on in time. and provided saline and other was to play in the Premier Club His towering personality, his they had got the green light, to take Tuesday at the Electricity “He got fever on Thursday medicine. But they too dumped tournament this season. command of the English language part in the IPL tournament, which Board. It was the exact time he and consulted a private doctor. him a day after when he reached Under his captaincy in the and his administrative skills, played would satisfy their greed for money. breathed his last,” said a crying There was no change for the a critical state. We were told that 2006/07 season, where they a crucial role in Sri Lanka cricket These money hungry cricketers, achieving Test status. He presented who are among the richest in the mother, who dreamt of seeing better after medication. Then we would have to spend lakhs if played only a few matches, Sri Sri Lanka’s case for her entry into country today, having earned their her son prosper in cricket one we admitted him to the they were to provide other life- Sumangala College, Panadura Test cricket to the officials of the wealth on a platter due to their day. Panadura Hospital. And I told saving medication and they took beat arch-rivals Moratu ICC (then MCC) in an eloquent and inborn talent, opted to kick the two Pushpakumara, who came the doctor that he was allergic him to the National Hospital,” his Vidyalaya in their big match. He clinical manner, which convinced match Test series in England aside into the limelight when he to penciling.” mother said. bagged 11 wickets in the big the officials to grant Sri Lanka Test and thus deprived Sri Lankan crick- picked up nine wickets in an “Later, my son called me and Pushpakumara died after match and was also part of the status. et fans, the opportunity to watch an innings in a Premier Under-23 said that he had not received any bleeding from the nose and big match winning team two He groomed young Arjuna absorbing Test series between two tournament match in early medicine except for some pain mouth a day after he was admit- years earlier. Ranatunga, to reach lofty heights in great cricketing nations, just for self- his cricketing career, even though he ish gain. was the son of a senior opposition Test cricket is what this great politician. Even in politics, he played game is all about; it has been so a straight bat. His successors were down the ages, but to them it holds MSBA semi-league BB tournament not fit to walk in his footsteps. They no water, for money is all that mat- were square pegs in round holes. ters. Today, this great gentleman and It was England captain and dash- sportsman must be spinning in his ing batsmen Kevin Pietersen who Dialog Telecom and Sampath Bank win thrillers grave, due to the low depths to which said a mouthful when he stated; Sri Lanka Test cricket had sunk. “Test cricket should retain its pri- Manjula D. Phillips Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge macy, the IPL is a spin off.” At the short whistle, the scores Meanwhile, in the same scorer with 18 points for HNB. was led up the garden path by Lalit This should be food for thought Dialog Telecom beat Nation were 34-30 in favour of the win- Division Sampath Bank beat The first round matches ended Modi, the Commissioner of the to these Sri Lankan cricketers who Indian Premier League tournament, would go to any extent in their lure Trust Bank by three points, in the ners, while the final scores read 62- DFCC by a margin of four points last Tuesday and the semi finals of a man with a criminal background, for easy money.This great game and their last match in the first round 59. in another close game. the tournament will be worked off who promised the Sri Lanka Cricket the country does not come into their in an ‘A’ Division match in the on- Harsha Devendra de Silva (21) After leading 33-28 at the short from November 25. board, a bailout of 40 million US dol- equation; they are a slur to this going Mercantile Services and Vajira Kumarasinghe (10) whistle, Sampath Bank went on to The MSBA semi-league tour- lars, on the condition it cancels the game which is known as a Basketball Association semi- were the top scorers for the win- win the game, 71-67. Thisara nament is organized by the Lankan tour of England early next ‘Gentleman’s Game’. league tournament played at the ners while Manjula Jayaratne (16) Chathuranga (20) and Virantha Mercantile Services Basketball year, for a two match Test series and Rex Wijewardene, Otter’s Aquatic court, last and Sidath Senaratne (15) excelled Bastian (18) excelled for Sampath Association and sponsored by three ODIs and opens the door for Dehiwala. Tuesday. for NTB. Bank. Asanka Suwaris was the top Hatton National Bank.