The oil crisis

The breaching of the 100 dollar price mark for a crude oil barrel in the international market recently is certainly an ominous sign for Sri Lanka’s economy already reeling under the weight of repeated crude oil price hikes.

With the CEB too planning to drastically cut down on its power supply due to a snowballing fuel bill (65 per cent of power our generation is fuel driven) if its plans for conservation fail to bear fruit, prospects certainly look bleak for the new year.

With analysts forecasting more record highs in the near future the Government should take some drastic steps to cushion the impending blow on the economy.

With the CEB accounting for 30 pere cent of the country’s fuel consumption meaningful steps should be taken to persuade the general public on the urgent need for conservation.

We emphasise this, given the apparent failure of previous attempts by the Government in this regard. The Government should take the lead by issuing instructions to its own Departments on the urgent need of using electricity sparingly because some of the worst offenders are State institutions.

It should also do away with unnecessary illuminations on Government buildings and take measures to cut down on unnecessary travel by officials. True, these may not offer a remedy to the problem which had assumed gigantic proportions, but it could at least give the lead for the public to follow.

The Government will also have to brace itself to the consequences of a steep oil price hike on the prices of on essential goods. A safety net measure is called for to ensure that the poorer sections are not overly burdened by the impending fuel hikes.

The Government should also expedite the oil exploration process and seriously consider the wider use of renewable energy sources.

Echoes of Bodyline

The current imbroglio down under involving the Indian and Australian cricket teams has usurped even the popular programmes on Indian Television and has been occupying prime time slots ever since the end of the controversial Sydney cricket test.

Until yesterday the whole tour was in the balance after Team India expressed outrage and indignation at the blatant umpiring errors that was weighted heavily against the visitors that impacted on the result of the match which was won by the home side in the penultimate over after a pulsating final session.

But what incensed the Indian cricketing establishment more was an apparent biased ruling by the match referee given against one of its premier bowlers over an alleged racial slur cast on an Australian player with Caribbean origins.

Outraged Indian fans back home were shown on television burning effigies of the offending umpires and staging demonstrations expressing solidarity with their team with the same passion they usually display to attack the houses of the Indian players following defeats on the cricket field.

The Indian cricketing hierarchy was emphatic it was fighting for the honour of the country refusing to believe that an Indian would engage in racial abuse. What was clearly an on field dispute was threatening to blow over to diplomatic levels. At the core of India’s complaint was ‘unsportsmanship” by the hosts.

The whole episode smacked of the famous bodyline series between the England and Australia in the 1930s. Like the current denouement there too the tour was in jeopardy after England’s captain employed ‘unsportsman’ like tactics to thwart the run spree of the legendary Bradman.

Ironically at that time it was Australia who complained about ‘Unsportsmanship” -a label it is now being attached with.

Mercifully that tour went ahead stalling a major diplomatic row which threatened to sever cricketing ties between the two countries.

Similarly it is gratifying to note that the current tour is to proceed even though hiccups still remain. India may naturally feel sore at being deprived the chance of an unlikely victory due to blatant umpiring errors.

This perhaps in the first time faulty umpiring decisions had boiled over to diplomatic corridors souring bilateral relationships between two great sporting nations.

Fence mending have been proposed with seasoned Lankan match referee Ranjan Madugalle called in to bring to bear all his famed diplomatic skills to douse the fire and ensure that the tour goes ahead.

Of course there had been a lot of Aussies bashing with even Lankan fans making common cause with their Indian counterparts. No doubt the humilation and ignominy inflicted on the Lankan team by the Murali episode still rankle among many Lankans.

What one should realise is however the Australian cricketing ethos which is a single minded resolve for victory. This is why it has continued with its winning streak for such a long time. Any team competing with the Aussies have to be equal to the task and dish out as they get it.

Our own Arjuna showed the way how and it is widely believed that this formed the catalyst for the mental toughness acquired by the Sri Lankan team which eventually dumped the Aussies and brought home the World Cup.

The Indians will do well to take a leaf from him and toughen its resolve to beat the Aussies at their own game instead taking matters beyond the playing arena. After all the home team could not be blamed for the umpiring errors.

Cricket after all is only a sport and it does not pay to get emotional like most of us do in the Sub-Continent. Sports after all is a unique gel that binds many nations cutting across all race, religion and sectarian differences. It would be wise if all players in the current imbroglio take cognisance of this.