RIGHT OF REPLY

The Editor                                
The Sunday Leader
Leader Publications Ltd
Katukurunda Road
Ratmalana.

Dear Sir,

I write with reference to the article published on the 11 cn of March 2012 under the caption “Holy War At Big Match” written by one Pelham Jurianz.
The statements made in the said article about my cricketing skills, attitude towards the team and the game are factually inaccurate, and has caused great pain of mind to myself and my family. I write to you seeking to correct these factually inaccurate contents that were published by you in the said article and request you to place the correct facts before the readers of your newspaper with the same degree of publicity that you gave the said article under the caption “Holy War At Big Match” so that my name which was tarnished by the factually inaccurate contents of the said article can be cleared.
Also, at the age of 19 years I have suffered immense pain of mind as a result of the publication of inaccurate facts by you in the said article.
The First paragraph of the said article refers to the head of the school, the Principal (Rector). The following facts will suffice to demonstrate that the head of the school acted in good faith to correct the many injustices that were caused to me and that his actions were that of a true catholic cleric and were taken in the best traditions of the Christian Church.
The said article specifically states that “a boy whose performance was below par, Dinal Fonseka , was drafted into the side after being left out originally” and further states that the original decision was made “not purely on the form of the lad”.
Therefore it is not clear whether the so called original decision to leave me out was taken on my form or on other extraneous reasons. Or was it on both ??
“For your information I dive below my achievements as a Cricketer
I have been a student at St. Josesph’s College, Colombo 10 for the past 15 years (including the days at the nursery) and Captained the College under 13 and 15 Cricket Teams. I have also played for the under 17 College Cricket Team and was the team’s Vice Captain. I played the 2”d XI Mini Battle of the Saints in 2008 and played the 50 over match for the First Eleven the same year. At the time I was 1 5 years. I first played for the 1 st XI at St. Josephs in 2008. Therefore it is not that this was my first year playing for St. Josephs I’t XI. Nor can I be labeled as lacking in experience since I have also played for the Sri Lanka Cricket’s District and Provincial squads.
I am also a 3`d Year Coloursman for St. Josephs. Your article stated that I was not a regular member of the team.
I could not play the entire ls` XI season this year since I was injured. My season was restricted to 10 matches. These injuries were caused during practice with the team, during a session of tap rugger where I was tackled by another player. However I did perform in the 10 matches I played for St. Josephs this season.
When I rejoined the squad in February, I was asked to prove my fitness in a 2ND XI match which I did. At this match which was against St. Anthony’s, I made use of the limited opportunities that came my way to score 30 runs and take 5 wickets. This was during the 3` Week of February. So one cannot be heard to say that my current form was not suitable to play in the Big Match.
After my performance against St. Anthonys, I attended the 1 St XI practices but the coach who seemed to have an axe to grind with me did not give me any opportunity to prove myself further. In fact on the 28th of February when I attended practices I was kept at the grounds doing nothing during the entire practice session, from 8.30 am to 12.30pm.
My Batting average, taking into consideration the limited occasions I got to play, was 20.82 and I had 16 wickets in 10 matches at a strike rate of 16.25.
Damith Weerasinghe, whose name is also mentioned in your article as the player whom I had kept out, had a batting average of 5.33 and had no wickets to his credit. This had not been mentioned in your article.
It is for the reader to compare and make his own decision on the cricketing abilities of both parties not to mention the experience.
Was there a conspiracy to keep me out of the team ??
Your Article also refers to me stating “the young lad on learning that he was dropped had left the dressing room with his kit much to the dismay of the administrators. It is the practice that those who do not make the eleven stay as reserves”.
The Coach Dilan Ramanayake seem to harbour some animosity against me the reason for which I am unaware of to date. However he has abused me in the most indecent language on many occasions and continuously harassed me when ever I went for cricket practice. There were many occasions at practice where I have not been given a single chance to bat or bowl. However I did carry on for what was important for me was to play for St. Josephs.
On the occasion mentioned in your article, I left the team and traveled home solely due to the fact that I was instructed by the Coach Dilan Ramanayake to do so. His conduct of first telling me that I was not needed and that I should go home, and after I complied with his directive, then complain that I had fought shy of being a reserve and left, clearly demonstrates his vindictive nature.
Some time ago the schools cricket advisory board started to recruit cricketers from other schools to bolster the college side. The present Captain and Vice Captain are such products brought in from other schools to bolster the college side.
Therefore the spirit and culture of St.Joseph’s may not have been fully inculcated in them, which is why according to the article they chose to defy the school head’s directive as to the composition of the team
That may be why there was reluctance to accept the decision of the final authority in charge of the school to which the team belongs as your article suggests.
I have been labeled as a middle order batsman in the Big match souvenir. The Coach and the college cricket committee seems to have missed out that I bowl too. At the Big match I was asked to open the innings. Unlike others I did not refuse but acceded to the request and did my best for the school.
If one can let down your school to convey ones dissatisfaction, then those players have been inculcated with the wrong values of sportsmanship. This reflects badly on the Coach and the cricket committee.
Throughout the last few years I have been continuously harassed by elements within the influence of the Coach and those around him. I have brought these to the attention of the Principal (Rector) and he after going into my grievances and realizing that I had been unfairly victimized, decided to correct this situation by including me in the team. I strongly believe that there were several attempts to mislead the Rector by providing him with wrong statistics about my performances. St. Josephs is a school and the Rector is its head. So he is the final authority on decision making in all spheres in the school. Putting right an injustice is the most normal and routine Christian Act and the Rector has not done anything more than what was expected from him.
Dinal Fonseka