Jayasuriya casts his vote a day ahead of elections

Apr 07, Matara: Sri Lanka cricketer and ruling party candidate for Matara District, Sanath Jayasuriya cast his vote for the General Elections in Matara today (7) after receiving special permission from the Elections Commissioner.

He cast his vote a day before the general election, as he has to travel overseas to participate in the IPL cricket tournament.

Jayasuriya cast a postal vote at the Matara District Secretary's office. Under Clause 20C of the Parliamentary Elections Act, the vote would be considered a postal vote.

Jayasuriya not first, but questions galore

Sanath Jayasuriya is not the first cricketer to enter into politics while still playing. The former England captain Ted Dexter continued playing for the country having contested for the Conservatives, and losing, in the UK general election in 1964.

And the legendry England cricketer, footballer and holder of world long-jump record C. B. Fry stood, unsuccessfully, for the Liberal Party three times.

But Jayasuriya, who holds many cricket world records may be on his way to creating another one. He will be the only cricketer ever to have played international cricket while being an MP.

Jayasuriya's decision to run in April's parliamentary elections has also created fresh controversy in the cricket loving nation.

Sri Lankan Sports Minister, Gamini Lokuge, told the BBC Sinhala service that even every member of the national cricket team has a right to be a parliamentarian while playing international cricket.

"We are not concerned whether they are parliamentarians or not. If they are qualified and still playing cricket, they all have the opportunity to play for the country."

"They all can be MPs but they should attend practice sessions and obey the rules of the game," he adds.

Jayasuriya who had retired from Test cricket said he would continue playing one-day internationals (ODIs) representing Sri Lanka and in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

"Since I am not playing Test Cricket, I will have enough time for politics," he said.

Speaking to the BBC Tamil service Jayasuriya said: "I have already campaigned for the president in the last elections. He requested me to contest this election."

Sri Lanka's former Test captain Arjuna Ranatunga said about Jayasuriya’s decision to enter politics while still playing. "Jayasuriya is in the last stages of his career and we know very well that he currently holds no permanent place in the team”."Jayasuriya has indicated that he would continue to play until the 2011 World Cup, so as he has currently no permanent place, perhaps he might be trying to use his political influence to get a permanent place in the team, " says Ranatunga.

Sri Lanka's only woman Olympic medallist, Susanthika Jayasinghe, is another sports personality contesting the parliamentary election.

Jayasinghe claimed that she was invited to enter into politics a few years ago but she refused.

"Then I could not chose one political party over another as I was representing my motherland and I needed everybody's blessings for that journey," she said.

Legal experts say there is nothing in the law to prevent sports personalities from contesting elections while playing for the country.

But a former chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises, Wijedasa Rajapaksa, PC, said it was "unfortunate" that Jayasuriya had decided to break a long-standing tradition of sports personalities not being involved in politics while still active in sport.

Some critics also say the sports minister's decision to support Jayasuriya appears to contradict some of the choices he has made in the past.

They point to the time when the minister rejected a proposal by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to appoint former Test captain Hashan Thilakaratne, currently an opposition politician, as the manager of the team.

"The same minister then rejected Hashan's nomination saying he should either chose sports or politics," says Arjuna Ranathunga, who was the then president of the SLC.

Minister Lokuge says he still holds the same view regarding the issue.

"Jaysuriya is a player but Thilakratne was to be appointed as the manager who controls the team. If we appoint a politician as the manager of the national cricket team, he might have been biased towards one political party," he says.

“The apparent duplicity in authorities' views is an indication of the direction the country is heading in”, said Wijedasa Rajapaka.

"If Jayasuriya was to contest from an opposition political party while playing for the country, he would have been shown the door from the team on the same day. This is the reality in Sri Lanka.", said Rajapaksa.

Sanath Jayasuriya takes flak after entering politics

Veteran Sri Lanka batsman Sanath Jayasuriya came under fire today for his decision to enter politics while still playing for the national team.

Jayasuriya will contest April 8 parliamentary elections as a candidate for President Mahinda Rajapakse's Freedom Alliance party in his home constituency of Matara.

The 40 year-old, the oldest cricketer still playing at the top level in the world, retired from Test cricket in 2007 but has vowed to continue his international career in the shorter forms of the game.

"His career is waning. He has set a bad precedent by entering politics before retiring completely from cricket," said Arjuna Ranatunga, the 1996 World Cup winning skipper, who took to politics only after he quit the game.

Best of Luck, Sanath - You served cricket – Dedicate yourself to serve the country

"From the age of nine years, he used to play tennis ball cricket with the neighbouring children. This became a problem for me, as this child used to rocket the ball and deposit it in the adjoining Temple premises, by hoisting "sixers". The kind hearted Nayaka Thera, tolerated all this. I thought that it is not proper to disturb the Nayaka Hamuduruwo. So, I sent him for Under-11 cricket practices at St. Xervatius College."

These sentiments were expressed sometime back to me by Mrs. Breeda Jayasuriya, the beloved mother of Sanath Tehran Jayasuriya.

The tiny tot, Sanath, who deposited "sixers" at the Temple premises then, presently holds the One Day International world record for sixers by recording 270 sixers during his career, at all the world famous international cricket arenas, playing in 444 matches, and 432 innings. He collected 13,328 runs and remained unbeaten on 18 occasions. His highest ODI score is 189. He has an average of 32.43 and a strike rate of 91.22, with 28 centuries and 68 half centuries with 1500 hits to the ropes. As an outstanding fielder, he has held 123 catches in this ‘Cow-Boy Game’.



In his Test cricket career, Sanath whacked 59 sixers, and 910 boundaries. He played in 110 Tests, and in 188 innings, he remained unbeaten 14 times, collected 6973 runs. His highest score was 340. I had the fortune of commentating during this record-breaking innings at the R. Premadasa Stadium in 1997.

He made 14 centuries and 31 half centuries in his his Test career. Further, he held 78 catches.

He bowled 8188 balls, gave away 3366 runs and captured 98 wickets in his Test career. Further, in his ODI career, he bowled 14,838 balls, gave away 11,825 runs and captured 322 wickets.

I always highly appreciated his sterling, charming qualities and his fighting spirit. I have been following his unique and epic career right throughout. For a moment, I think cricket is a ‘Sansaragatha Puruddak’ in the sojourn of ‘Samsara’. He is undoubtedly a born cricketer. He is the most feared batsmen in the world - he mauled many bowlers in the world.

Today, Matara and Sanath Jayasuriya is synonymous, inseperable. It’s like treacle and honey of Ruhuna.

I always witnessed leadership qualities in him. He always put country before self. He is a simple, unassuming village lad. He respects his parents, teachers and elders and is very religious. In fact, his ‘Pirith Noola’ symbolises Buddhism and culture and his firm belief.

Sanath took up the captaincy in 1999 after the ‘Arjuna Ranatunga debacle’ at the World Cup 1999 in England. Sanath was never a haughty or head-strong character. He is loved by everyone.

Today, he has entered into a new lane - politics. He is contesting from the Matara District. I am positive that he will maul his opponents in his own inimitable style. He is quite capable of doing it.

I must congratulate His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa, for nominating him and giving an opportunity to Sanath to contest from his home base of Matara. This village lad will always remember his roots and he will always put country before self.

My memory goes back to 9th March 1996, when I commentated from Faisalabad on the England-Sri Lanka World Cup quarter final. I really enjoyed the swashbuckling innings of Sanath Jayasuriya. He blasted the Englishmen and scored 82 blistering runs in just 44 balls. For a moment, I felt sorry for the English attack. They looked liked merely pedestrians. The 100,000 spectators who watched this encounter at Faisalabad will forever remember this ‘massacre’.

Probably, Sanath Jayasuriya will play his normal game on 8th April 2010, and the grateful people of Matara District, will make Sanath - Man of the Match in this great battle, and strengthen the hands of our President, His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa.

I draw your attention to a ‘box story’ carried on 10th March 1996 in Pakistan’s English daily - Dawn. The headline read; ‘Has Sanath fixed a spring inside his magical bat?" The writer of Dawn translated this story from an Urudu Daily ‘Jung’. The way that Sanath pummelled the English attack at Faisalabad was unbelievable. The poor Englishmen would have thought for a moment, why on earth did we introduce cricket to Ceylon in the good old days.

In presume, Sanath in his new game will maul and thrash his opponents right royally. For many of his opponents, Sanath’s ‘innings’ at his pocket burrow - Matara, on April 8th, will be their swan song.

One of the innings that is etched in my memory is the one he played against India, at Kotla. In that match Sanath scored 79 runs, at almost a run a ball. What was the outcome of this match? At the conclusion of the World Cup 1996, the Indian opening bowler, who was really blasted by Sanath Jayasuriya, gave up his cricket career. It was Jayasuriya who pushed the Indian opening bowler Manoj Prabhakar to Indian politics.

At the conclusion of the World Cup 1996, Sanath jayasuriya earned the title ‘Most Valuable Player’. Don’t be surprised, if after the conclusion of ‘2010 battle’, Sanath will earn another title - ‘Man of the Match - Matara District’.

I still remember, his 111 against New Zealand in Napier, Maclean Park, when he associated with Upul Tharanga, another Southerner, in the ODI series in New Zealand. In this match, they were associated in a partnership of over 200 runs for the first wicket and Sanath’s contribution was 111 runs with five sixers and 14 hits to the ropes.

He made his Test debut against New Zealand in Hamilton on February 22 in 1991. His last Test was against England at Kandy from December 1-5, in 2009.

I commentated when he scored his epic 300 plus against India played at R. Premadasa Stadium in 1997.

Born on June 30, 1969, in Kotuwegoda, Matara, his beloved parents are Dunstan Jayasuriya and Breeda Jayasuriya. His elder brother is Chandana Srinath Jayasuriya. He learned his basics in cricket from Lionel Wagasinghe and Gratien Liyanage. The then Principal at St. Servatius, Mr. Galappati and the staff-members, old-boys and well-wishes were a tower of inspiration to Sanath Jayasuriya.

The major teams Sanath has represented are - Sri Lanka, Asia XI, Bloomfield C and AC, Colombo Cricket Club, Dolphins, MCC, Mumbai Indians, Ruhuna and Somerset. He is a left-hand bat and slow left arm orthodox bowler.

In 1996, Sri Lanka did not annex the Wills World Cup on 17 March 1996 at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan, purely because of the ‘Matara Mauler’, ‘Master Blaster’, unassuming southerner Sanath jayasuriya. But I am positive that they could not have lifted the Trophy without Jayasuriya and that great all-rounder and batting artist, Aravinda De Silva, who scored 107 n.o. No doubt, it was a brilliant team effort.

The gentle Sanath Jayasuriya, although he has harmed many international bowlers of repute, is a perfectionist. He takes up challenges and is committed to his job. He spends many hours in the gymnasium and he is as fit as a fiddle.

Once Shane Warne said that his hand was so strong that "his handshake could crush a walnut."

Sanath not only turned ODI cricket up side down. He also opened the gates to outstation cricketing talents of Sri Lanka to blossom. He was never jealous and never had private agendas. He always gave opportunities to deserving cricketers.

Some day when the cricket chronicle of Sri Lanka is written, his name will be written in Gold as the man who crushed the so-called ‘Colombo elite schools’. His leadership was democratic. Jayasuriya served commendably, as Sri Lanka’s cricket captain after Arjuna Ranatunga was sacked in 1999 and Sanath Jayasuriya built a happy and united team.

He had the distinction of producing the fastest century and fifty. Singapore was the scene. Sanath broke the record for the fastest ODI century and fifty within six days.

Married to Sandra, that charming epitome of womanhood, they are blessed with sweet daughters, Savindi, Yalindi and son Ranuk. Sanath’s wife Sandra is the wind behind this cricketer turned politician.

Sanath - Obata, Ratata, Suba Anagathayak!

History awaits Sanath Jayasuriya

Sanath Teran Jayasuriya, known as the ‘ Master Blaster’ or the ‘Matara Mauler’ is no doubt god’s gift to the game. From the time he was knee high to a bat at St. Servatius College, Matara, big run making came naturally to him.

His natural promise began to grow and representative honours was not long in coming. He first served notice when he toured Pakistan with the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team and reeled off two double centuries.

That was his launching pad and since then has mesmerized the cricket world with his unbelievable and amazing stroke play with the willow that has made everyone watch in awe and applaud his brilliance.

Records came naturally to him and now he is in line to create another world record when he becomes a Member of Parliament from Matara in the coming General Election.


Sporting the cap of the UPFA gifted to him by the sports loving and promoting President Mahinda Rajapaksa, he will now take his stance and strike it rich for his party. President Rajapaksa has the god given ability to spot a winner, and in Jayasuriya he has certainly picked an easy winner.

Jayasuriya’s next record will come when he takes the field for Sri Lanka at the next 50 over World Cup tournament to be conducted in the sub-continent as a Member of Parliament. He will be the first in the world to do so. He has promised to make his bat do the talking by scoring heavily and then taking his rightful place in the team.

Jayasuriya Into Politics? Why or Why?

Perhaps reality is sinking into him and is thinking about life after cricket. Perhaps he is misled by some folks or maybe he has genuine intent to help the people of Matara. What ever it is, I think it’s a terrible choice. Politics in Sri Lanka is not for gentlemen no matter which party you decide to hang out with. This immensely talented man has seen a sharp decline in the last year or so. Even though I want him to go forever, I think reality is catching up with all of us. So perhaps we can’t blame him for looking for a life after cricket.

I think his IPL contract is expiring after this season, which probably will not be renewed. As far as I know he was not recalled by the Nashua Dolphins for another season and he has found work in lesser leagues in Singapore etc. Kind of reminds me of the Wrestler movie. I thought he had one last hurrah left in him for the world cup, but if the last few internationals are any indication, then there isn’t much hope left.

As any loyal fan, my hopes went up when he got back into form in the inter provincial match against the combined X1, but since has not had much luck with the bat. I hope the spell he bowled against the Kandurata team will keep his chances alive as an all rounder. It remains to be seen what the selectors think when the time comes for the T20 World Cup. Perhaps he may come back to form during the IPL. His reflexes may have slowed down a bit, but I think the man still has the luck and the magic.

Either the way I wish him luck. Maybe he might be able to make a difference to his home town. But I think deep inside, he himself wants people to remember him as the swashbuckling batsmen that helped us win the world cup, rather than Sanath the politician. I hope he protects that legacy.

(Article by Ranukaz (ranukaz.wordpress.com)

Jayasuriya cleared for politics and sport

Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya has been cleared by the Sri Lankan Cricket Board to play cricket while engaging in his political campaign to contest the upcoming General Elections.

Sri Lanka Cricket spokesman Nishantha Ranatunga confirmed to Daily Mirror online that the cricketer has been given the green light to engage in politics while remaining a contracted cricketer. (ISA)

Jayasuriya to balance sport with politics

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya will embark on a political career by taking part in the upcoming parliamentary polls on April 8.

Jayasuriya is seeking to become a Member of Parliament under the ruling coalition United People Freedom Alliance (UPFA) in the south coast district of Matara, his hometown.

Jayasuriya is seeking to become a Member of Parliament under the ruling coalition United People Freedom Alliance (UPFA) in the south coast district of Matara, his hometown.

The 40-year-old was recently dropped from the Sri Lanka ODI team but he has no plans to end his cricketing career despite his entry into politics.

“I have no plans to retire from international cricket at this stage as I believe I can successfully balance the workload of playing for Sri Lanka while also serving the people of Matara as an MP,” Jayasuriya said on Thursday.

“It has been an honour representing Sri Lanka on the cricket field during the past 21 years and after careful consideration I believe now is the right time for me to serve the people of Matara.”

Jayasuriya’s marathon international cricket career started in 1989 and has spanned 110 Tests and a record 444 one-day internationals.

Sanath Jayasuriya’s ‘Devani Meheyuma’ - The 2nd Innings

Will Sanath Jayasuriya become the first MP to play cricket for Sri Lanka, that too in a Cricket World Cup? Here he is seen addressing a political rally last month in support of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. (Files)

"I don’t’ have a soft, soothing voice. My voice is rough. I don’t look handsome. I think I’m ugly. I’m not a tall chap but a very diminutive man. Therefore why shouldn’t I be happy about what I’ve achieved in this field?"

- Sunil Perera, local pop music icon and founder of the pop band ‘Gypsies’

Sanath Jayasuriya became ‘Sanath Jayasuriya’ through a lifelong journey across the unknown. A rollercoaster ride of a ‘simple man’ from Matara in the eyes of the most erudite, Jayauriya had to fashion his own destiny through sheer passion, grit and vigour. Luck, though, must have played a great role, as many would argue, in shaping his fascinating life story.

Now, one can imagine Sanath Jayasuriya, dressed in a national costume, walking into parliament next April. It was only last Tuesday (Feb. 16), that he confirmed that he will be contesting from Matara for the April 8 Parliamentary Elections. Critics believe he will win a parliamentary seat. Then will he instead wear western attire unlike his predecessor in politics, Arjuna Ranatunga? And there is yet another interesting thing to look forward to. Will he become the first MP to play cricket for Sri Lanka, that too in a Cricket World Cup? (One is coming up here in Asia soon.) As the political front predicts his definite entry into the legislature, cricket soothsayers say he will make a grand comeback into the Lankan team as well!

Daring dreams

Who had ever thought that this dark and chunky ‘pol adi’ hitter by the Matara beaches would one day become a trend-setter in the art of cricket batting in the world? Who had in his/her wildest dreams could have predicted in the mid 1980s – when only Colombo-based players held sway in local cricket — that this ordinary man from a far off southern town could become Sri Lanka’s most successful cricket captain? Who thought this bashful, inert and soft-spoken youngster would one day become a celebrity in the entire sub-continent.

His story, the ‘Sana’ saga, doesn’t stop there. Last year he became Sri Lanka’s longest serving international cricketer of the post-Test era. His continued stay in the cricket field later on was frowned upon by many a critic, and at the same time, loved probably by a majority of the ordinary folk, his long time fans.

It was noteworthy that Jayasuriya’s last four, five years in cricket fell parallel to an extremely prospective era for the Southerners in Sri Lanka, simply due to the emergence of the giant figure of Mahinda Rajapaksa. President Rajapaksa, who probably chronicles the grandest adventure of local politics of our times, is one who emerged from the deep South Medamulana to ‘invade’ prestigious Temple Trees, defying age old political traditions.

The affable ‘Sana’ has begun his ‘Deveni Meheyuma’ (Second Operation). Jayasuriya, by his entry into politics will probably turn a new leaf in life. Or else, he will give his support to his beloved state leader by collecting a mega number of votes for the President’s party from his electorate.

On the other hand, in this country where someone like Anarkali Akarsha polled in grand numbers to enter the Southern Provincial Council only recently, what’s the point in asking for any political background, useful knowledge and experience before taking to politics? In Asia (maybe even in the US), politics is a forum for tears, blood, bullets, worship and religion and both masters and the amateur stay alive with equal prospects; star and the flop, both…in Sri Lanka, how can it differ?


(Source)

Jayasuriya to take on Ranatunga in politics

His cricket career on the wane, former captain Sanath Jayasuriya has taken the political plunge and will have a face-off against ex-teammate Arjuna Ranatunga during election campaigns for their respective alliances for the April 8 Sri Lankan Parliamentary polls.

Jayasuriya is expected to contest the upcoming general elections under the ruling coalition United People Freedom Alliance (UPFA) ticket from the Southern Coastal Matara district.

Jayasuriya, however, ruled out giving up cricket just yet.

“I will not give up cricket though I am coming into politics. I was pushed to this decision after an exhaustive study,” the opener said.

“I have nothing to earn from the politics. But I can work for the people who loved me a lot. It is the bounden duty to serve the people, in return, for what they did for me to come to this position,” he added.

“When the UPFA invited me to contest for general elections I accepted it since this is a golden opportunity to work people wholeheartedly,” Jayasuriya told Daily News.

The 40-year-old cricketer said he got the all-clear to contest elections from the Sri Lanka Cricket Board.

Ranatunga, who left the UPFA and sided with the defeated opposition presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka, had recently said that Jayasuriya and other active cricket players should not join politics.

While one of Arjuna Ranatunga’s brother, Prasanna is the Chief Minister of the UPFA-led Western Provincial Council, his another sibling Nishantha Ranatunga is the secretary of the Interim Committee of the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

Jayasuriya to contest under UPFA ticket

All-rounder and veteran cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya who entertained Sri Lankan and world cricket fans with his aggressive batting for more than two decades, will contest for the upcoming General Election. He will also come into politics under the UPFA ticket from the Matara District.

“I will not give up cricket though I come into politics. I was pushed to this decision after an exhaustive study” the master blaster told the Daily News. I have nothing to earn from the politics like many others do. But I can work for the people who loved me a lot, added Jayasuriya.

It is the bounden duty to serve the people, in return, for what they did for me to come to this position. When the UPFA invited me to contest for General Elections I accepted it since this is a golden opportunity to work people wholeheartedly, said the veteran cricketer.

The senior and oldest cricketer in the National Cricket Team further stressed that he has come a long way and has entertained all cricket fans at his greatest strength and he wants to continue it giving maximum satisfaction for the people who were behind his success irrespective of their differences.

The 40 year old cricketer, responding to the clearance report from the Sri Lanka Cricket Board to contest for the election while playing Cricket, explained “everything has been solved and I will definitely contest for the forthcoming General election.”