Sunday Punch 2

Olympic silver and for her outburst against Dayasiri for stopping her salary? It may be true that the government may have sponsored an athlete but has the minister even considered that no amount of money can purchase the copyright of the fruits of hard training, discipline and dedication that goes to win it? So many are sponsored, but only a handful wins the Golden Fleece. The fame can belong to the country, but the medal must belong to the athlete.

Self interest is a potent incentive to spur an athlete to run the extra mile with greater vigour and more determination. Not all can be expected to possess the same patent patriotism as held by Minister Dayasiri to give their best, motivated solely by a deep rooted searing altruistic love for country in the manner the Hon. Minister has admirably demonstrated on public stages on countless occasions, now can they?

Secondly he also announced plans to bring laws to give pensions for life to sportspersons who bring fame to Lanka. What authority or what sports minister can quantify fame and decide who merits public funded pensions? Does winning a cricket match and bringing fame to Lanka, like for instance the Sri Lanka cricket team did this Thursday when they won against India, qualify the entire team – for cricket is a team effort – for a pension? What happens when the same team lose in disgrace on another day?

Is the Minister -- who may perhaps have earned more than a pension for his political pole vaulting -going to encumber the masses with having to pay pensions for life to