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Sri Lanka Cricket was yesterday compelled to come out in full force and in the process warn disruptive elements whoever they are to guard against inflammatory questioning and trouble-creating rhetoric over race and religion.
The occasion was Sri Lanka Cricket’s (SLC) Transformation Committee’s monthly meeting with journalists to inform the sport’s followers of decision-making and one reporter was given a bellyful by an official no less a person that Sidat Wettimuny in a way no other cricket official was ever called upon to do.
The reporter (in Sinhala) in his question suggested that religion had got in the way of player and position selections. After former team captain and World Cup champion Roshan Mahanama and the current head of SLC Eran Wickremaratne had answered the reporter, Wettimuny told off the media man in easy to understand strong words.
“You came out with an utter lie. It is shameless to ask such a dirty question. It is not good for the country. That is not what we came here to discuss”, -Wettimuny
“You came out with an utter lie. It is shameless to ask such a dirty question. It is not good for the country. That is not what we came here to discuss”, Wettimuny told the reporter.
The reporter defended himself saying he only asked a question and wanted an answer.
But Mahanama then replied him saying any issues concerning religion and race had already been clarified in his (reporter’s) presence before he asked his question.
Interestingly the trio of cricket officials, who stood up to the reporter, make up three of the finest gentlemen produced by Sri Lanka with unblemished track records in public life.
Before the backlash against the reporter, Mahanama, who was also an International Cricket Council (ICC) Match Referee in making his opening statement said they were meeting the media to discuss cricket and not anything that fragments the country.
“There is no race, religion or culture here (at the Press conference). It is only about cricket. We have functioned as one country and we have suffered too long. We give opportunities to people who have got talent”, said Mahanama in his opening address.
But Mahanama was a second time drawn into the contentious issue and pulled out a set of files that he said cannot be hidden from any public scrutiny.
“In this country whenever there is some issue or that something has to be done or taken place, some people who have nothing to put forward come out with race and religion - Wickremaratne
“When I played”, said Mahanama. “Muralidaran (a Tamil Hindu produced by St. Anthony’s College, Kandy) was the most vociferous. If religion was an issue he (Muralidaran) would not have been able to open his mouth”.
Reading from the files, Mahanama said Sri Lanka Cricket has 250 employees on its payroll including the number of cricketers. He disclosed that of the coaches, 49 are Buddhist, seven Christian, seven Hindu Tamil and one Muslim.
“If you want I will give you the breakdown (of religions) concerning match officials, referees, umpires and even the players”, said Mahanama.
Wickremaratne three months ago at a Press conference clarified that religion had no place when it came to selections with merit being the criteria.
Like Wettimuny and Mahanama he was compelled to come out a second time yesterday.
“There is no race, religion or culture here. It is only about cricket. We have functioned as one country and we have suffered too long - Mahanama
“In this country whenever there is some issue or that something has to be done or taken place, some people who have nothing to put forward come out with race and religion. That is not important at all including (for) cricket. We select those who are capable”, said Wickremaratne.
Media manager of SLC Prasanna Rodrigo cautioned the reporter against asking repeat questions, an indication that an irresponsible media had gone too far beyond the boundary line.
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