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FIFA World Cup honoured in stamps

Francis P. Gunasekera

The greatest sporting spectacle of the world is now in its full swing in 12 centres in Germany and millions of people enjoy the games personally or over the television network since June 9, 2006.

Held every four years in a country decided upon during earlier games, this is the 18th time the World Cup football is being played. In all 32 teams from 32 countries are taking part for the much coveted World Cup trophy.

The official mascot of FIFA World Cup 2006 will be a lion by the name Goleo VI who will be making all spectators beaming with laughter by his antics. Just as much as the sporting fans enjoy the thrilling games for one full month, stamp collectors stand to benefit with a hoard of new stamps issued in commemorating the event. There may be several countries not participating in the games which are anxious to come out with new stamps.

Many Postal administrations have in the past issued special stamps for FIFA World Cup, some of which are shown together with this article. All keen stamp collectors make it a point to gather as many stamps as they can on the theme of World Cup football.

Which is the lucky team (or the country) which will lay their hands on the glittering FIFA World Cup? All football fans are eagerly waiting to ascertain that. Soccer is the world's most thrilling and most enjoyable sport for the past several decades. We must agree with those who name it the "King of all sports."

It is good and pleasant to know that Joseph S. Blatter is the President of FIFA and Manilal Fernando is the vice President of the Asian Football Confederation. Football may be the only sport that has been honoured most in stamps during the past few decades.

FIFA World Cup trophy

What does FIFA stand for?

Federation International Football Association

This is the second trophy in the world cup's history. The original Jules Rimet trophy was permanently awarded to Brazil after their third victory in 1970.

Height 36 cm, weight 6.175 kg solid 18 carat gold, base semi precious malachite.

Nobel Laureate played for the Algerian national team

Do you know that the Nobel Laureate Albert Camus was once the goalkeeper of the Algerian national team, then a French colony, during the 1920s.

"All that I know most surely about morality and the obligations of man I owe to football" wrote Camus. Camus played football till he was diagnosed as having tuberculosis in 1930.

Sarala the celebrity

Popularly known as Sarala, little Jayani Sarala Kariyawasam acts as Chuyiya, the child widow in the film Water. Directed by Deepa Metha- Indian film maker Water was entirely filmed in Sri Lanka.

The film depicts the plight of widows, and the bane of child marriages in India, two maladies still existing in Indian Society.

Sarala as Chuyiya plays a key role in Water.

Chuyiya is sent away from her parental home to live in an ashram for widows, once her husband dies. In pre-independent India the wife had to leave the household at the death of the husband. She had to go to an ashram for widows.

In the case of a child bride who live with her parents till the right age for consummation of the marriage, she had to leave her parental home, for the Widows' Home if her husband dies.

Widows were not allowed to take good care of their bodies or tend their hair which would add to their good looks. Head shaven, clad in white rough cotton sarees, they were forced to live austere lives.

They were not allowed to have any enjoyment in food or clothing or any other pleasures in life. 'Living this way, they could expiate their sins' Indian society believed.

Sarala casts a role of such a widow in Water. Given in marriage in early childhood, but living at the parental home, she is sent to a widows ashram once her husband dies.

Water won the Best Film Award and several other Awards at the recently held Canada film festival. Sarala won many accolades for performance in Water.

Acting is only one of the many talents she is blessed with. Sarala has by now obtained many firsts to her credit: dancing, story telling oratory and compering to mention a few fields she has excelled so far. She is the Head of the Media Unit and the Prefect of the Primary Section of her school, Sangamitta Girls' school, Galle.

At the Year Five (5) Examination she obtained 159 marks. But she wouldn't leave her school for another because she likes her school, she says.

Now that she has travelled around, seen places, got offers to whet her talents in acting in films other than Sri Lankan or Indian, will she leave her country? She says, No. I love my country, she affirms.

(MG)

Folk Tales of Sri Lanka - 4

Tit for tat

Retold by R.S.Karunaratne

When Andare was appointed as the court jester, he used to visit the palace several times during the day. Sometimes he stayed late in the evening and returned home much to the annoyance of his wife.

Andare's wife, like most wives, did not tolerate his late arrivals in the night.

"I can't be waiting for you everyday like this even without having my dinner. If you are getting late, you had better stay at the palace. What's more it is dangerous to travel at night."

Andare gave various excuses but he could not please his devoted wife. At the same time, he found it extremely difficult to come home early as he had to please the king whenever he wanted. On the following day too Andare returned home rather late.

His wife who knew her husband's ways did not wait for his arrival to have her meals. She had her dinner, locked the door and went to bed quite determined not to open the door. When Andare came with a lighted torch, he found his house in complete darkness.

"Please open the door, dear. I'm tired and hungry. I'll not return home late hereafter." Andare's wife listened to her husband's pleadings. "I'm quite sick of listening to your pleadings. Everyday you promise to come early but you never do so. You have to sleep outside and I'm determined not to open the door."

Realising that she would not open the door, Andare thought of teaching her a good lesson.

Andare started running towards the well screaming, "My wife doesn't love me. It's useless living like this. I'm going to jump into the well".

Andare's wife listened intently. He picked a big stone and threw it into the well. Andare's wife heard a big splash and did not know what to do for some time. Something told her that Andare was drowning in the well. She opened the door and went out calling for help to rescue her husband.

Villagers started streaming into Andare's house carrying lighted torches. When they were looking into the well, Andare entered the house and closed the door with a bang. Everybody realised that Andare had played another trick on them. Meanwhile, Andare's wife started pleading him to open the door!