Lanka spared; punishment to even the best sportsman

The talk of the country is the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, now gazetted and soon to be debated in Parliament. The Opposition may blow its argumentative and prophetic steam until it lifts the roof off the unique Bawa designed building but nothing will change in the 20A as stipulated by the SLPP constitutional pundits and more so the politicians who want the future assured …. less for the country, Cass adds vitriolically and biliously. Some say this and some say that in media blitzes and press meetings, and, Cass says nothing.

Another bone of contention with the Speaker of Parliament and the winner of a parliamentary seat in Ratnapura on one side against the AG’s ruling, is being hotly debated. Premalal Jayasekera was nominated to contest the August 2020 general election while having a charge of murder against him. He contested and won the seat. But his eligibility to sit in parliament was in balance as he was convicted of murder and sentenced to be hung. The Speaker of Parliament ordered prison officials to conduct the convicted murderer to Parliament, and there he was on Tuesday with a picture of him in the Wednesday The Island newspaper, being sworn in.

The justification to allow him in Parliament from Death Row is that he has appealed his death sentence. Sure bets; he will win the appeal case. Then no trouble as he will emerge an acquitted man. If the higher court convicts him all over again, there still seems to be a loophole available to creep back to the August House to increase the number of SLPP members and their Ayes. And what pray is that opening? A presidential pardon! A precedent exists and freshly minted too. A prez pardon was conveniently given by President Maithripala Sirisena to a convicted murderer in death row a day or two before he left the presidency. So why not again? Let us wait and see. Mums the word from Cass. She knows next to nothing about court and parliamentary rules and articles in the Constitution that govern such a case. The only strong statement she makes is how on earth candidates accused of murder – the most heinous crime that a human can commit – are elected by voters. The Ratnapura voters are blame-worthy plus crazy.

That stately institution, the Parliament, is that which gets the black paint and stink. It suffered when MPs went berserk with bound volumes and chilli powder. Now blackened by a death row inmate sitting within. Were the black saatakayas prominently worn by SJB members symbolic mourning for Parliament’s reputation and honour? Cass has followed suit. She’s wound a black scarf around her neck. If news gets too odious and interferes with life, she’ll tighten it!

Silver linings over our horizon

We are, as a country, still maintaining the status quo of no social infection and spreading of the terrible Covid 19 thanks to the Presidential Task Force bravely and effectively overseeing arising issues: quarantining stringently; contact tracing vigilantly; strict enforcing face mask wearing, though social distancing is often thrown to the winds. Constant alertness is maintained by the Health Services. We sorely miss Dr Jasinghe’s daily updates but we suppose the higher authority saw how work and lack of sleep etched their lines on the good doctor’s face so he was transferred to overlook the environment and perchance doze off a bit when elephants and men behave. The doctor who has taken over, though minus the former’s chutzpah, gives us due warning not to be complacent; the dread virus is far from confined even in our island.

The second bit of good fortune: the oil tanker sending out SOS messages with a fire in its engine room has been safely towed, the newspapers announced, ‘to international waters’. We don’t know exactly where such waters of the ocean start, but at least the damaged ship is not too close to our island to gruesomely pollute our seas if it haemorrhages its gasoline oil. Cannot its holds be emptied of the oil it carries by pumping out the same to tanks in other ships? Far beyond Cass’ limited understanding.

No mercy for even World’s Number One

Poor, poor Novak Djokovic, the world’s number one tennis player; a treat to watch as his slim body moves superbly on grass or clay court. He agreed to play in the US Open at Flushing Meadows, New York, while top seeds Federer and Nadal declined due to Covid fear. Novak Djokovic has been ruled out of the US Open now playing to empty visitor stands. He was defaulted from his match on Sunday 6 September after a tennis ball he hit in anger struck a woman line judge in her neck. We saw on the TV Sports Channel how he hit the ball, then realized he had struck a person at the back and went up to her, touched her on her shoulders and apologized. But that was not enough for the match umpire. Novak was sent out. So sad because it was an accident. Novak is usually very polite, very controlled and when in the mood, full of fun.

One remembers the 2018 US Open Women’s Finals when Serena Williams was pitted against novitiate but great tennis player Naomi Osaka. Serena argued loud and long with the umpire, called him thief and liar, and smashed her racquet in anger. She was fined $17000 but allowed to continue playing and lost the match but snatched glory from the shy, half Japanese player, who cried bitterly while donning the crown.

Novak left the grounds without speaking to the media, In an Instagram post, he apologized again to the line judge, saying he didn’t intend to hit her and that he is “going to turn all this into a lesson for my growth and evolution as a player and a human being.” That’s the spirit one would say. and pity he was blocked from winning the US open a fourth time. This Serbian who wins hearts on court and off; reputed to meditate before a match; seen on TV as a doting father; is truly great having won 17 grand slam single titles, the third most in history; and many more; winning five Wimbledon singles titles, eight Australian and one French open. He counts more kudos. And he was sent out conceding the match and his sure title for an accidentally hit ball!

How about sports and sportsmanship in our country? We have our own greats and some we are ashamed of. Time was when a First Lady played netball and tennis. In the team game she was said to be undefended; no player dared touch her, though she was very sporty. In tennis she was photographed with her skirt a mite raised and… Rugby was the latter young politicos’ game. We know how a Navy vs Kandy team match invariably ended with the field invaded with outsiders and fisticuffs galore. One who ratted about match fixing is now planted securely in Parliament. So much for some of our sportspersons! But let us consider the truly great and be comforted.