Sri Lanka sweep test series 2-0 against Zimbabwe

Sri Lanka wrapped up their two-match test series in Zimbabwe, winning the second test by 257 runs at the Harare Sports Club. It is Sri Lanka’s fifth consecutive test win after the 3-0 test victory against Australia at home. Opener Dimuth Karunaratne for his tally of 280 runs was adjudged the Man of the Test Series.

Stand-in Captain Rangana Herath continued his left-arm spin bagging 13 wickets for 152, which included 5 wickets for 89 in the first innings and 8 wickets for 63 in the second innings. He enters the elite club of test bowlers recording five-wicket hauls against all test playing nations. With 351 test wickets to his credit, Herath is now Sri Lanka’s third highest test wicket taker after Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Chaminda Vas (355).

In the absence of Captain Angelo Mathews, who is out of the squad due to multiple leg injuries, the 31-year-old Upul Tharanga leads Sri Lanka in the triangular ODI series involving Zimbabwe and West Indies commencing on 14 November at the Harare Sports Club. Left hand batsman Tharanga has scored 5,526 runs in 188 ODIs, which include 13 hundreds and 29 half-centuries. Kusal Perera acts as his deputy since Vice Captain Dinesh Chandimal is also recovering from a thumb injury.

Seamers Nuwan Kulasekera and Nuwan Pradeep and spinners Jeffrey Vandersay and Shehan Jayasuriya have been recalled for the 15-man squad, which also include uncapped all-rounder Asela Gunaratne and seamer Lahiru Kumara.

Ranaviru Privileges

The Dinamina Editorial of 09 November 2016 states that there exist higher respect and official recognition for war heroes in the country. The epithet Ranaviru itself bears proof to this fact. Members of the armed forces are elevated as war heroes for being a party to the war victory. Besides, the regard for disabled war heroes is even higher in the society. They are regarded highly with honour as a segment who have sacrificed their life and limb for the defence of the territorial integrity of the country.

Every government has granted privileges to war heroes. Granting of houses and awards for war heroes, allowances and promotions for the disabled personnel can be cited as such instances. Each war hero killed in action was given a pension and other allowances along with promotion to next rate/rank. In addition, they are entitled to special privileges from the public administration. A programme to give marks when admitting a child to school was also in place. It is true to say that war heroes are a segment who receive greater privileges and respect from the Government as well as the society.

Amidst such a situation, a fast was commenced by disabled war heroes on 31st near the Fort railway station. By 03rd it had turned into a fast unto death. They demanded that disabled war heroes who had not completed 12 years of service also be given pensions. The Government had agreed to fulfil that demand. Accordingly, the war heroes who had not completed the stipulated service period will receive pensions with effect from next February. The move proves the special regard the Government has for war heroes.

A second reading is needed into this demand and the fast as well as the subsequent response of the Government. The Government has taken its decision contravening the pension and gratuities code of the Army. As such, relevant sections in the code will have to be amended. A soldier should have a service period of 12 years to retire or resign. That period has to be 10 years for a higher rank. Yet, disabled war heroes that have only 08 years of service now receive pensions according to the new decision.

Protesting war heroes are said to be those who had left the service having received compensation. As such, it could be deduced unfair by those who receive pensions after completing 12 years of service since they have not opted for any compensation. In contrast, those that had protested have received not only compensation but also pensions and other allowances as well. According to Government regulations, no government servant, who has left the service having received compensation, will be granted such a payment. In such an eventuality, the relevant Government institution will act as having foregone all bindings by the servant concerned. Viewed from such a perspective, the disabled war heroes have now gained a substantive privilege.

The protest of the disabled war heroes shows that they were lacking in their conduct and negotiation. They marched towards the Presidential Secretariat, overturning the police barricades when the discussions were nearing conclusion. The protest did not stop even though the success of the discussions was conveyed to the protestors. It showed that they have an intention to inconvenience the Government. Something is wrong if war heroes are used as cat’s paws of political parties. Yet, it is highly likely that it had been the intention of the whole process.

When this protest, its march and speeches are closely analysed, it becomes apparent that a substantive number of nationalist, religiously extremist organizations were behind it. Rawana Balaya, Patriotic Bikku Front, Sinhala Jathika Balawegaya and Sinhala Rawaya figure prominent among them. Generally, there is a high regard for war heroes irrespective of ethnic and religious differences. It is even so politically despite the divisions along party lines. Nevertheless, this protest had been led by other groupings. It must be pointed out that the general public resent political, religious and ethnic bias in war heroes.

As the Secretary of Defence states so far solutions have been granted to many of the demands made by the war heroes. Five out of the twenty-five demands have been solved at the ministerial level and another two have been resolved through the President’s mediation. The protest had been launched when a cabinet paper had been submitted to solve the demand of the disabled war heroes. The President had once stated that the Government acts to safeguard the honour and pride of the war heroes at all times despite the accusations levelled by various political organizations against the Government. The protest has been launched by the disabled war heroes disregarding even the President’s assurance.

It is not uncommon to observe social problems involving military in the countries affected by war. One such manifestation is the rise in violent acts, crimes and mental trauma. A higher number of criminal cases linked to deserters of our armed forces are also on record. Such instances can be attributed to the war and the consequent war mentality. The general public never approve of war. Nonetheless, in the countries of the rest of the world there are two groups who do not normally take part in strikes and protests. One is the health workers and the other is the members of the armed forces. In Sri Lanka, both groups stage protests and engage in strikes.

Sri Lanka look good to maul Zimbabwe for a second beating

Jubilant Sri Lanka, with a convincing 225-run victory in the first test, piled up 295 for 5 on first day as they took on Zimbabwe for the second beating at the Harare Sports Club. Hosts Zimbabwe, determined to square the two-match series with the Decision Review System in place for the first time, however drummed up stiff resistance, medium pacer Hamilton Masakadza taking two wickets for 18 and Captain Graem Cremer claiming the crucial wicket of Upul Tharanga.

Invited to bat first, Sri Lanka’s top order, despite the 62-run start, had collapsed for 112 for 4 when Dhananjaya took over. The right-handed middle order batsman went on to score his second test century, undeterred being let by Peter Moor off Graem Cremer on 64. Tharanga, who contributed 79, assisted Dhanajaya to build up Sri Lanka’s highest fifth wicket partnership against Zimbabwe. Dhanajaya remains unbeaten on 100 off 197 balls with 11 fours.

Sri Lanka mars Zimbabwe’s 100th test celebrations

Sri Lanka secured a 225-run victory against Zimbabwe in the first test played at the Harare Sports Club. The stand-in Captain Rangana Herath, 38, who in the twilight of his test career has been thrust to the top slot, would have heaved a huge sigh of relief for being able to steal a march on Zimbabwe, who were hoping for a win in their milestone test. Dropped catches and blunders in umpiring had helped Sri Lanka to amass 537 all out in their first innings of the two-test series. Despite the absence of a Decision Review System and their poor fielding, which boosted their rivals’ chances, Zimbabwe posted 373 in reply as Captain Graeme Cremer scored his maiden test century to avoid the follow-on.

Upul Tharanga, recalled after one year to fill in for the absence of injury-hit Captain Angelo Mathews and Vice Captain Dinesh Chandimal, made the most of his opportunity on the slow pitch on second day, scoring his second test century after ten years. Opener Kusal Perera, who had been dropped twice, dominated the first day with his maiden test century.

Sri Lanka, courtesy opener Dimuth Karunaratne’s 04th test century, were able to set their host a massive 411-run lead losing 6 wickets for 247 when rain and bad light forced to draw stumps in the last session of the penultimate day. The 28-year-old Karunaratne, who had hit a half century in the first innings, struck a well-crafted 94-run partnership with Dhananjaya de Silva, who scored his second test fifty, putting Sri Lanka in a strong position.

Zimbabwe, which went onto their 100th test with six consecutive defeats, lost all their wickets for 186 despite Skipper Cremer’s lone crusade to settle for a draw. The top order collapsed in quick succession until Cremer took on to continue his first innings’ heroics with the help of Sean Williams who struck a gritty 40 runs in bold defiance. The Zimbabwe Captain was named Man of the Match for his all-round performance studded with his century in the first innings, 43 runs in the second innings and

Elated by his side’s win, which incidentally was Sri Lanka’s consecutive fourth test victory and first such by a Sri Lankan test captain on his debut, Herath had attributed the credit to his fast bowlers, who had taken 08 wickets with test debutant Lahiru Kumara bagging 03, 01 in the first innings and 02 crucial wickets in the second innings. Kumara had removed Opener Brian Chari for 10 in his very first over and trapped Peter Moor, who had scored a half century in the first innings, lbw for 7 thus denying Zimbabwe’s chance of staying at the crease for their full quota of overs on the final day.

The Chevrons, coached by former bowler cum Captain Heath Streak, will host Sri Lankans at the same venue for the second test beginning on 06th November.