POINTS TO PONDER

Ship Of Fools

Many embarrassed faces amongst Sri Lanka's cricket selectors recently after they originally dropped Marvan Atapattu and Charitha Fernando from the final eleven. The selectors were forced to beat a hasty retreat and reverse their decision on the first day of the current second Test against Zim-babwe in Kandy.

"A player revolt which nearly saw at least five top players quitting in disgust saw both Atapattu and Fernando reinstated," re-ports said. "The selectors were made to bend backwards in the face of growing player dissent," sources said. Evidently painful as well as humiliating.

Tis The Season?

So much for the season of goodwill and peace to all men. Judging by the reported ten-fold increase in New Year's eve related incidents, Sri Lanakans still haven't leaned the meaning of moderation.

"From just 30 incidents in the past year, 317 incidents had been reported in the 24 hours between 6 am on 31 December to 6 am on 1 January," reports said. Aside from 64 people injured in brawls, three killed were also killed while 22 suffered burn injuries due to lighting of fire crackers, hospital sources said. "The majority of persons admitted were those who had engaged in clashes after consuming liquor." Not the most edifying start to 2002.

Try, Try Again

We like the 'never say die' attitude. And apparently so do the stalwarts at the Sihala Urumaya. Undaunted by their decimation during the December elections, the firebrands have announced that they will contest the March local government election.

Party sources said the party would contest all districts except in the north and east. We're sure their sharpening up their unique brand of race-hate politics, bigotry and extreme nationalism as we go to press. Don't you just love them?

Vampires?

The Sihala Urumaya isn't the only party looking to resurrect itself after its abysmal showing at the elections. "JVP attracts young blood," ran one recent headline. No, the JVP isn't turning to the dark arts or the occult to raise their political performance, they want to boost their candidate list with fresh-faced youthful leaders of tomorrow ahead of the local government elections.

"With peace talks in the offing the people have to be informed of what the government is planning to do. Our campaign starting at village level will address important national issues," said JVP spokesman Wimal Weerawansa.

Rules?

One former PA dissident, now a minister in the new cabinet, is finding it hard to meet the new rule of 'one minister, one official vehicle.' During the glory days of the PA, ministers could break the rules with impunity, so they're struggling to kick the habit.

"A minister and former PA dissident is paying scant respect for his new leader's directive that ministers should use only one official vehicle. This minister is reportedly using five." Evidently, he's using one official vehicle for each day of the week. "What will happen if the minister ignores the ruling again is to seen," reports said. Replacing his official car with an official bicycle perhaps?

Talking Shop

It's always reassuring to know that Sri Lanka's leaders are involved with the pressing issues of the day both on the domestic and regional front. Take Sri Lanka's very own President Chandrika Kumaratunga who arrived for the SAARC summit in Kathmandu with her entourage of media yes-men, I mean media crew.

Given the cross-border saber-rattling between India and Pakistan journalists would be forgiven for thinking that the President would make some comment on the situation. Instead, The Sunday Times reported the President giving "shopping tips" to local reporters. "On her last visit she had made a bargain purchase of a diamond-studded necklace worth about Rs. 500,000. However in Nepal it cost only 40,000 in local currency," she said. Great to see she's got her priorities right.