By Emil van der Poorten –
Let me add a few more relevant facts to the disgraceful scenario depicted by reports appearing in the media since the violence perpetrated by navy personnel on Sunday August 12th in Kandy when the Kandy Sports Club played the Navy Sports Club in what was supposed to be a rugby match.
Mahinda and sons/ File photo
1. The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union has, at last, displayed something resembling a backbone and banned, for two years, the referee who deliberately cheated for the Upcountry (aka Nawalapitiya) Lions in their first round game against the Army, thereby eliminating the latter team from the second round of the national rugby competition and elevating the former to that virtual “play-off.” However, the totally skewed result of that match stands because according to International Rugby Board rules, the result of a game cannot be reversed!
2. Now that the Navy has lost to Kandyin the first honestly- and fairly- refereed game of this season, the rumours swirling around the hill country are that the Upcountry (aka Nawalapitiya) Lions have been instructed to “throw” this coming weekend’s game against the Navy, enabling the Navy to keep their chances alive. It is one of the more poorly-kept secrets in this country as to who completely controls the Upcountry (aka Nawalapitiya) Lions. Therefore, there is little doubt as to what the outcome of this week-end’s game is going to be!
3. A host of spectators who were trying to escape the post-game violence last Sunday have been arrested by the police and are being charged despite the fact that there is irrefutable (video) evidence that this entire criminal activity was begun and perpetrated by the 1200 navy supporters, brought in 60 buses, garbed in civilian clothes for reasons best known to the Navy and whose tickets were purchased from the Kandy Sports Club by the Sri Lanka Navy out of public funds. At time of writing, there are several newspaper reports of Kandy residents still warded in area hospitals due to the injuries inflicted upon them by navy personnel. Yet, not one member of the Navy has been detained, leave alone charged, for their criminal behaviour!
4. Last year, in response to what was happening every time the Air Force or Navy teams played in Kandy- irrespective of whether it was at Nittawela or Bogambara – the Kandy Municipal Council passed an UNANIMOUS vote of condemnation of the behavior of the service teams and those in charge of them, asking that this be stopped by those in authority. Obviously, the head of the Navy has not thought fit to take the action required in this connection. Instead, all the evidence points in the opposite direction!
This is no longer a matter concerning rugby players and their supporters. It has become a national travesty of justice and the general public needs to raise its voice in protest against yet another instance of rampant lawlessness.
Lal / August 16, 2012
This reminds me the golden era of Sri Lankan rugby dating back to the 70s and 80s. I live near Nittawela rugby grounds and when we were kids, we used spend most afternoons at the grounds playing rugby, cricket and all sorts of things. We watched every match played at Nittawela. The KSC players at the time were like heroes to us. Amongst all, one of the “greatest heroes” was Gen (then Captain) Denzil Kobbekaduwa. I have seen him play for the Army and Sri Lanka. He coached KSC and was an excellent referee. Everybody respected him. I think the time has come to bring in true lovers of the game, the likes of Gen Kobbekaduwa.
/
Senguttuvan / August 16, 2012
“Those whom God wishe to destroy he first makes mad” (Seneca)
Senguttuvan
/
Lanka Muslim, UK / August 21, 2012
Exactly, many other signs of the impending destruction are seen.
/
Jim Hardy / August 16, 2012
There are many complaints against the Navy team & its supporters swept under the carpet one instance is smashing a Restaurant & Pub repeated occasions in Welisara after consuming liquor after their practicing sessions.
/
Ranil / August 16, 2012
Navy rugby team and the supporters were a discipline crowd until the VIP sons started playing for it’s side.
/
raja-PASSA / August 16, 2012
raja-PASSA says “Fellow-men! try to live with what you have, which is what I am doing. Everytime I win (always) and the opposition loses (long live Ranil) and so will my progenies. I am who I am and Idi Ameen is my role model”
/
Desilva / August 16, 2012
THESE HOOLIGAN SERVICEMEN ALONG WITH THE MARA GOONS, ARE ONLY FIT TO PLAY MARBLES LET ALONE RUGBY. I BET THEY WILL START A FIGHT THERE TOO.
/
Piranha / August 16, 2012
What else would anyone expect from the Rajapaksa family members? The regime will have to depend on the armed forces for survival when the people rise up against it when the economic hardship starts to seriously affect them. The Rajapaksas have no choice but to keep the armed forces on their side.
/
Ben Hurling / August 16, 2012
Rajapakse clan is drunk with power.
They have started going mad slowly, but steadily.
Reminds me of how Saddam, his sons and family clan handled affairs in Iraq. Beating citizens at will anytime and anywhere.
There is little doubt we need a man of General Fonseka’s courage to clear this mess. To move Sri Lanka away from the current Banana Republic status.
/
Lanka Muslim, UK / August 21, 2012
Not only Saddam Hussain and his sons; Hosni Mubarak and his son, Ghaddafi and sons; Syria’s Al-Assad and family, are all clear examples. Still some cannot correct themselves even after seeing the destruction of others as they have gone beyond the point of no return. So there is no option other than to prepare to face the end.
/
Upendra / August 17, 2012
These navy fuckers and Rajapaksha fuckers are war criminals. They don’t know head or tail about fair play or sportsmanship. For them sports too is a game of slaughter. There is only one solution for this which the LTTE had adopted: claymore the fucking rascals into pieces together with their busses and luxury vehicles!
/
mike / August 17, 2012
Strange, so far no comment from Idi Mahin nor his two playboy sons on the ugly Kandy incident. The only comment that can be forthcoming is from Presidential spokesman, Bandula Jayasekera, stating that this is an inside job. He is well known for his “inside job” during his tenor of office in Canada as well as in the United States!!
/
gamini / August 18, 2012
Mike, in hind sight do you believe that Rugger player Thajudeen died of a car accident?
/
Gode kolla / August 17, 2012
This is the Miracle of Asia, Corruption, Thuggery, Murders, Drug Dealers they are the ones who runs “Pearl Of Asia” or “Serendib” or “Taprobane” or “Ceylon” or “Sri Lanka”
This country has lot more to offer, People are helpless. Now the sports has taken over by these thugs. There is nothing more else take over.
Rest In Peace
“De Mo Crazy”
Hope it will be back to its former Glory “The Mother Lanka” we always loved and cared, where we all love and lived in peace and harmony as one people one country one nation
/
Jagath / August 18, 2012
The moronic fuckers of Sri Lankan general public, it is fuckers like you who voted in these rogue fuckers and now you are reaping the harvest! What an irony of fate! Yesterday 3000 odd farmers who were eking out the last drop of water from a tank in this drought havocked country unleashed and catalyzed due to unbinding of destructive evil spirits trapped and bonded in ancient secret treasure troves dismantled by the rogue Rajapakshas to fulfill their voracious treasure mania were beaten and forced to kneel on the ground by the fuckers in the STF. It is these brainless thoughtless fuckers in the STF, Army, Navy, Police, Air Force and judiciary who are preventing and depriving the general public of their inalienable civil rights in collusion with the rogue Rajapakshas. Now no amount of elections would restore the citizens’ rights enjoyed by them formerly. We can’t help but be rejoiced at the cruelty meted out to these stupid farmers because they are the vast majority who gave their vote to establish this whore of a government. The same thing happened to JVP fuckers as well. They all teamed up to topple the UNP government and bragged of a “remote control” and “unplugging from international” but what happened to them ultimately? They were all butt fucked by the crooked king and now they are running all over the place wiping their assholes! It is as sure as sun rise that the imbecilic 5 forces of the SLFP-Sanga, Weda, Guru, Govi, Kamkaru-will have to take arms, bombs, galkatus, claymore and suicide attacks, resort to demonstrations, riots, strikes and sacrifice their younger generation to a blood bath and slaughter era to send this government home. This is only the beginning and more things are coming hint of which is being witnessed by the arrival of a tribal barbaric king in whose country under-aged naked girls are being lined up in thousands on the ground for testing their hymen and virginity only to be picked up a single maid to be raped by the monarch! This Mahinda Rajapaksha fucker wants to make this country his family’s fiefdom by converting it into a state similar to the country where the barbaric monarch rules, the Swaziland. God save this nation of fuckers!
/
AYMAN / August 20, 2012
EMIL,
YOU ARE PROVED WRONG.UPCOUNTRY LIONS DID NOT THROW AWAY THE GAME
THEY TRULY BEAT NAVY. THEY WERE SUNK. GAMES ARE WON AND LOST
EMIL,LEARN TO TAKE DEFEAT IN THE TRUE SPIRIT.
I AM SURE YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN TAUGHT THIS AT T.C.K.
/
Emil van der Poorten / August 21, 2012
Ayman:
More strength to the Up-Country Lions who have proved that there are still a few people around able to resist very serious political pressure because, make no mistake, that pressure WAS EXERTED. This is one of those times that I am very glad to see something I’ve predicted not come to pass!
Incidentally, I didn’t have to go to TCK to learn to take defeat gracefully. Some of us had the good fortune to grow up in circumstances where that was simply the way one was expected to behave. The proof of that is the numbers of old boys of TCK (and other major schools) who act in a totally unprincipled manner, supporting and holding pandang to the most corrupt as long as they are in power!
/
Lanka Muslim, UK / August 20, 2012
As the warring mind-set still remains Navy and Army personnel are resorting to force in sports activities as well. Just image how they would deal with the ordinary people in the North. No doubt the complains of indiscipline and domination from the forces in the North are true.
/
hansan / August 21, 2012
How long you want to show this wothless Sh…t No news in it.
/
Lanka Muslim, UK / August 21, 2012
Do not forget the blast that killed the plotters who set the blast to kill Gen. Denzil.
/
Mohamed Marzook / August 23, 2012
One who abuses the gift of God to rule the people may escape from the instant punishment that man may give but cannot escape the wrath of God whose punishment could come late but certainly comes in the most crudest forms. Such instances have happened in other parts of the world and we have seen in Sri Lanka too.
/
nihal / May 8, 2013
Although sad to say, I do not want to get involved too much in any topic concerning our country anymore. What one reads today on the news is purely shameful and beyond reason, whether Politics or Sports or just anything for that matter.What has happened to our beautiful country ??? What happened to all those magnificent times when folks used to enjoy a game of sports in the true spirit of the Game !!!! Yes indeed those were really wonderful times…. apart from a heated argument as to the events that took place during a Game, everything else was just plain innocent fun and everyone had a Good time…. Why could not all of us as Sports loving citizens just enjoy the Game and afterwards call it a day no matter what the outcome is at the end… I only hope that people would find more peace and reject the hatred in their hearts…Let Lanka be what it was in the Good old days…
(From a not too popular Rugby player himself in the late 50’s – to the early 70’s…. who just loved playing the Game!!!)
/