Arjuna plays a different stroke in Sydney

Legendary Sri Lankan cricketer Arjuna Ranatunga was in Sydney last week to talk about everything but the great game.

Ranatunga, who is now a member of the Opposition in Sri Lanka, met Australian politicans of all stripes, including Balmain MP Verity Firth, as part of his attempts to highlight what he calls the breakdown of democracy in his home.

He told Firth widespread corruption and the ‘unlawful’ court martial of DNA Party Leader and former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka had crippled the country.

Fonseka is serving a three-year prison term in Sri Lanka after being convicted of participating in corrupt deals while he was head of the military.

According to Ranatunga, the charges against the General are purely an act of “revenge” by the Government against General Fonseka for his decision to leave the military to enter politics.

He also condemned the current Government’s decision to remove the two-term limit previously imposed on the presidency.

Born into a political family, Ranatunga was previously part of the Government in Sri Lanka, along with his brother and father. He said he broke from the Government and his family because he did not think current President Mahinda Rajapaksa was doing enough to stamp out corruption.

“We have a rule that we don’t talk about politics or cricket at home,” Rantunga joked.

Along with Australian-based Jagath Bandara and Sri Lankan MP Anura Dissanayaka, Ranatunga has helped establish the umbrella group ‘Campaign For Democracy In Sri Lanka’ to highlight what he believes are the nation’s flawed political processes.

Bandara told the Courier the Australian Government needed to speak up about the situation in Sri Lanka.

“We really are appealing for support. I have experienced democracy here in Australia, and I want the same experience for my people,” he said.

(Source: Inner West Courier)