Boost for agriculture

The presentation last week of a Rs.15 billion Supplementary Estimate in Parliament for the promotion of Agriculture is certainly a prudent move especially in the light of the Government’s food production drive to off set challenges posed by world food crisis.

In addition another Rs.11.8 billion too had been earmarked for the continuation of the fertiliser subsidy which is a salutary move that would allay the fears of the farmers and provide an impetus for the food production drive.

This coupled with the Government’s decision to acquire all neglected land in the provinces for agricultural purposes would no doubt set in motion its plans to make the country self sufficient in food.

Past Governments too started food production drives which halted mid way. There was the famous ‘grow more food campaign’ undertaken by the 65-70 Dudley Senanayake Government followed by a similar enterprise of the UF Government all of which failed to sustain themselves.

The biggest blow to these endeavours was dealt by the open economy which put paid to all indigenous ventures to enthrone unbridled Westernisation that left no room for agricultural pursuits.

Now that the Government has undertaken this exercise with all seriousness it behoves on those spearheading this drive to pursue it with single minded purpose to ensure the project achieves the intended results.

Spin masters

It was another red letter day in the annals of Sri Lanka cricket at the SSC grounds on Saturday when Mahela and his boys flattened the mighty Indians in no uncertain terms to reinforce the country’s reputation as a world cricketing power.

The victory was all the more sweeter since the Indians arrived on our shores carrying an aura of invincibility and boasting a line up that included exponents who would remain in the pantheon of all time greats.

Also what marks this victory as being unique is the success of the Lankans in beating the Indians at their own game. That the Indian batsmen were done in by spin - a diet on which they are brought up in the sub continent and considered masters at dealing with the art - is itself a mind boggling achievement.

That spinners Murali and new kid on the block Ajantha Mendis accounted for 19 of the 20 Indian scalps itself is an unprecedented feat bringing to mind the exploits of legendary England spin bowler Jim Laker in the mid fifties when he had the identical match bag against arch enemy Australia.

One needs to dwell into records to ascertain if this really is world record by a twosome. The spectacle would no doubt have fascinated the cricket fans the world over watching the action on satellite TV as the duo wove their magical spell round the hapless Indian batsmen - perhaps an experience never experienced by many Indian teams since their induction into Test cricket.

Our cricketers deserve all the praise and accolades showered on them following the historic victory. Cricket is one of the saving graces for us Sri Lankans that has given the public something to cheer about amidst the various conflicts and vissicitudes we are caught up in.

For this, praise should go to all those present and past who have striven to bring the game to the dizzy heights it has reached today.

One recalls the instant fame we gained during the World Cup victory over a decade ago when the world sat up to take note of little Lanka which until then was much known outside a few countries and that too on account of its famous tea.

It would also not be out of place here to mention the name of the late Gamini Dissanayake whose diplomacy, skilled advocacy and cogent arguments convinced the lords at Lords to accept Sri Lanka into the big league.

Hopefully this success of our boys on the cricketing field would rub on the other fields of endeavour that would take Sri Lanka to even greater heights.