|
|
Olympics: Why this hullabaloo?
Friday, 3 August 2012 - 10:56 AM SL Time
 Share On Facebook
|
|
|
Questions are being raised in some quarters about the composition of Sri Lanka`s Olympic contingent in London. It consists of seven competitors and thirty officials, we are told. The government has drawn heavy flak for the non-inclusion in the contingent of shuttler Niluka`s personal coach, who could have encouraged and guided the up-and-coming player during his encounters with seasoned players.
However, we consider such criticism unfair, though we usually have no civil word to say about the ruling party politicians and their lackeys. Those who are hauling the government over the coals seem to think that giving our players international exposure or winning medals was what the government tried to achieve by sending a contingent to London. Far from it!
More players and coaches would certainly have been included in our contingent if the government had ever wanted the country to fare better and strive for Olympic honours. What really happened, in our book, is that Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and his officials needed a break and went to London to watch the Olympics. They were kind enough to take some players also with them. Why should anyone make a big fuss about it?
The Sports Minister should not be deterred by adverse criticism. He may have had to drop some of his friends to accommodate a few competitors. Let him consider dropping all players and taking only his officials and chumps to the next Olympics. Players can stay at home and watch the games on TV!
Sadly, people do not seem to appreciate our politicians` skills. Some of them have reached Olympic standards in some events. Their adeptness at shooting is only too well known. They never miss their targets as we saw in Kolonnawa last October. They will make wonderful Olympic sharpshooters, won`t they? Some of our politicians also excel in the long jump. They are capable of jumping from Sirikotha to Temple Trees without much effort. (Two more are said to be doing warm-up exercises.) Beating world champs will be a child`s play for them. It was only a few moons ago that some UNP reformists threw pieces of rock presumably twice as heavy as the Olympics shot put at Siri Kotha all the way from the main road many metres away. If they are taken to the Olympics, one of them is sure to throw the standard shot put over the stadium setting an unbreakable world record.
So, why flay our able politicians, especially Minister Aluthgamage and their equally capable officials enjoying themselves in London? Let`s wish them happy holidays!
Water fuel and pessimism
Deputy Leader of the UNP Sajith Premadasa has inveighed against the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) for importing what he calls substandard fuel. He says a number of vehicles and locomotives have developed engine trouble owing to CPC diesel. He is a confirmed pessimist! The optimists among us may look at it in a different way.
There are hundreds of thousands of diesel vehicles running on the CPC`s water-diesel and only a dozens of them have stalled. So, why can`t Sajith see the brighter side of it? Last time, the CPC managed to run cars on water-petrol and only a few thousand of them got damaged others had no such problems. At this rate the CPC will succeed in having all vehicles run on pure water without any trouble. It is encouragement and not barbs that the CPC deserves from the Opposition!
Will Sajith tell us a country where vehicles run on water mixed with a little bit of diesel and petrol? No other country has supplied aircraft fuel to the poor for lighting purposes. It was only a few moons ago that the CPC released a huge consignment of jet fuel to the local market as some water was found in it.
Since the CPC is increasing the water content in fuel apparently as part of an experiment, we suppose, President Mahinda Rajapaksa should bring the CPC and the Water Board under one ministry.
Sajith should stop venting his spleen on the government at every turn and be reasonable enough to grant that Sri Lanka has already become the Miracle of Asia, if not the entire world, as the country that runs vehicles on water with a dash of hydrocarbon.
|
|
|
|
Search All News and Discussions