Sri Lanka’s politicians are a quarrelsome bunch, but even they will belooking on with some trepidation, as former cricket captain, ArjunaRanatunga, whose career was littered with bellicose disputes with officialsand opponents, is seeking to become
Charlie Austin03-Dec-2001Sri Lanka’s politicians are a quarrelsome bunch, but even they will belooking on with some trepidation, as former cricket captain, ArjunaRanatunga, whose career was littered with bellicose disputes with officialsand opponents, is seeking to become a member of parliament in the December 5general elections.Ranatunga retired 16months ago
©CricInfoRanatunga has followed his father Reggie, a top-level minister, intopolitics following an invitation from President Chandrika Kumaratunga tojoin the ruling People’s Alliance (PA). It was a career move that had notbeen entirely unexpected, despite frequent denials ever since he bid atearful goodbye to international cricket 16 months ago.On the field Ranatunga was a fearsome adversary, unafraid of confrontation,who irked many an opponent with an arrogant air. Clashes with officials,selectors and administrators were not uncommon either, most famously when headmonished umpire Ross Emerson like a naughty schoolboy during a One-DayInternational at Melbourne during the Muralitharan chucking controversy in1998/9.But whilst he made enemies he also won the adoration of the nation forleading Sri Lanka to world cup glory in 1996 and the respect of many for themanner in which he had stood up for Muralitharan in Australia. It’s thisgrass roots popularity that he wants to tap into now.Speaking at home, before another busy day on the hustings, Ranatungaexplained why he has decided to enter politics: “I was invited by thePresident. She had a long chat with me and said she was concerned aboutsports in the country and the problems of the youth. She was very keen forme to have a plan for that. It took me 8-10 days to make up my mind, but Ifinally decided that I should get involved in politics to show myappreciation for the country.”Opposition MPs will be relieved, if somewhat disbelieving, when they hearthat Ranatunga is not planning a finger-jabbing entrance onto the politicalstage. “I don’t throw mud at anyone in my speeches,” he said. “I want to domy politics in the proper manner. I didn’t get into politics to fight andbehave like some of the politicians nowadays.”Even so, he promises not to duck any challenges: “In my cricket career I wasa nice guy, but when I realised that people were coming after us, I stood myground. It will be the same thing when it comes to politics.”But, for those politicians keen to avoid his Napleonic wrath, it’s notentirely obvious which issues and policies to steer clear of. Ranatunga’sadmits to being faced with a steep learning curve, saying: “It’s not mystyle to stick my finger into anything I don’t know. I know I have a lot ofarea to cover.” Although he is joining a quasi-socialist party, he claims noideological leanings. So his focus is youth issues in general and sports inparticular and his campaign centers in on his proven success as a cricketleader, with the state-sponsored television station repeatedly showingemotional clippings the 1996 world cup and the Muralitharan affair.With the political pendulum apparently swinging towards the United NationalFront (UNF), the support of Ranatunga would appear to be a real coup for thePeople’s Alliance, as they desperately try to shore up their support in therural areas. Kumaratunga was demanded that Ranatunga follow her around thecountry to all her major election rallies, but he is not concerned that hisreputation may be being used for selfish purposes.”They respect me for who I am. I didn’t get into politics to just be a PAman,” he said “What I wanted to do was to give something back to thiscountry, whether you are SLPF, UNP or JVP. I am not concerned about blue,green or red; I have come to do a job. I told the President that if I couldnot do that job properly then I would not stay in politics.”He talks seriously about the importance of sport in modern day Sri Lanka,brushing aside suggestions that cricket is merely a hobby in a countrytarnished by terrorism and gripped by economic problems. On the contrary, heargues, cricket is a unifying force and a source of self-belief for SriLankans.”Sri Lanka used to be known as a place where tea comes from, then peopletalked about the war and now they are busy talking about the Sri Lankancricket team. Through cricket a lot of goodwill has been created with othercountries.”There is no doubt that cricket has a role to play in unifying the country,”he said. “If you ask the kids what they want to do, 95 per cent will saythat they want to play for the Sri Lankan cricket team. After the 1996 WorldCup cricket took off and became like a religion and the cricketers shouldnow do more than just play cricket.”But Ranatunga maintains that Sri Lanka’s sporting success should not beconfined just to cricket and high up on his agenda, should he secure a seatand PA win power, is reform of the administrative bodies that run sports.”Apart from cricket, and a couple of athletes, our sporting standards havegone down badly. It is the officials that have created these problems. I wasa victim at one time and I know what I went through with officials in the 18years I played for Sri Lanka. I had a tough time. They wanted me to come infront of them and say yes to everything but was prepared to fight for therights of the players from out-stations.”He is also unsurprised by the recent allegations of corruption with theBoard of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BBCSL), arguing that theinstitution has been hijacked by businessman seeking cash and kudos.”The cricket board is one of the richest institutions in the country,” hesaid. “If you are board president then everyone will know who you are. Theyget a lot of publicity and prominence. There has been corruption in theboard. Board officials have now come forward and given some documents.”He believes the best people are not running the board: “Take the presentconstitution, if a top cricketer wants to become board president, then hewill need a lot of money because there are times when votes are bought. Ican remember in 1982 how hard Gamini Dissanayake found it to find avice-president. But now everyone comes rushing in. For what, to do somethingfor cricket? I have my doubts.”Indeed, cricket has become such a serious business in Sri Lanka that formercricket board president, Thilanga Sumathipala, stands accused by a PAminister, Mangala Samaraweera, of triggering the present political byhelping to fund the crossover of nine PA politicians to the opposition.Sumathipala, it was inferred, was so desperate to be reinstated as Presidentof the cricket board that he brought a national government to its knees. It’s a fanciful plan that is strenuously denied, but not beyond the bounds ofpossibility in a country so obsessed with cricket.Ranatunga, a past ally, fell out of favour with Sumathipala during his lastperiod in office, when his brother Dammika was sacked as the chiefexecutive. He didn’t rule out the hand of Sumathipala in the crossovers. “Icannot be sure,” he said. “One thing that I know is that some of the peoplethat crossed over the floor were involved in cricket.”His family dispute with Sumathipala has even prompted suggestions thatRanatunga’s entry into a politics represents nothing less than an attempt toregain his families grip on the cricket board and settle old scores. Afearsome power struggle with the Sumathipala clan is predicted.Whatever the reasons for Ranatunga’s entry into politics, few doubt he willsecure a seat and even fewer expect it to be a dull affair, especially hisfuture colleagues in parliament who will now be bracing themselves forconfrontation.