The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Please allow me one more minute, Hon. Presiding Member.

¶ 02 On cricket, I thank Mr. Gary Kirsten for accepting the position of Head Coach of our national team. Many issues have arisen in cricket, including misinterpretation over fitness criteria. Names of players who passed fitness tests are being erroneously portrayed as having failed. That is wrong and harms talented cricketers. I ask for a minute to read those names; this is a serious conspiracy. Several players have in fact passed the fitness test: Dinesh Chandimal, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Mageesha Pathirana (if intended), Prabath Jayasuriya, Akila Dananjaya, Lahiru Udara. Yet an attempt is being made to claim they failed. Some players have not even faced the test yet: Wanindu Hasaranga, Manisha Pathirana, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Binura Fernando, Lahiru Kumara. Creating a narrative that some players lack fitness and ruining careers is unacceptable.

¶ 03 Once again, I thank Mr. Gary Kirsten. When I spoke about fitness then, I was vilified. Today, across Sri Lanka Cricket, it is accepted that one cannot play without fitness. I again request the Sports Minister to act correctly. We need not only talent but the strength to play. Let us produce such athletes. I conclude.

¶ 04 Thank you.