An attack on the national cricket team has caused widespread dismay in Sri Lanka. The team was in Lahore, Pakistan when the attack took place. Six Pakistani police officers and two civilians were killed, while six players and a British assistant coach were injured. The Sri Lankan team was invited to play a match in Pakistan because the Indians had cancelled for security reasons.
Bedroom
Young player Rajitha, cricket bat in hand, is standing near the stall of a street vendor selling snacks.
Those in the stands are outnumbered by the players on the field. Padma, who is watching the match along with two other mothers, says:
"There is a school team playing now, and my son is in it. The match was planned long before today, so they just let it go ahead".Padma does not think it foolish that the Sri Lankan team travelled to Pakistan when the Indian team was afraid to do so because of increasing insecurity.
"What can you do against terrorists?".
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Padma is angry, though, but she is not quite sure at whom. It is not yet known who is responsible for the attack.
"Maybe they were people from the north, but it's just as likely they were Pakistani extremists. I don't know".
These "people from the north" are the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam, the movement which has been fighting for an independent Tamil state for decades. The group has recently been losing more and more ground to government forces. On Tuesday morning, Sri Lankan papers featured big headlines declaring that the A9, the main road to the Jaffna peninsula which for a long time was blocked by Tamil Tigers, has been re-opened.
Bad PR
And yet, the Tamil Tigers usually carry out most of their attacks in Sri Lanka rather than abroad. The suicide bomb attack on former Indian prime minister Rajiv Ghandi was widely condemned in ‘Tiger' circles because of the resulting negative PR.
He roundly condemns the attack in the Pakistani city of Lahore.
"This is just about sports. It does not have anything to do with any war whatsoever".He emphasises that cricket is the most important sport to Sri Lankans.
"You know, we were so happy when, for example, we won the world cup in 1996".He also feels there was nothing strange about the national cricket team travelling to Pakistan despite the dangers.
"Who could have known this would happen?"
Pride
Back in the stadium, the match is progresses steadily. Padma is proud of her son.
"Just like me, he hopes he will one day be chosen to play in the national team".
All photos © RNW/Hans Jaap Melissen
* RNW translation (gsh)
Tags: attack, Colombo, cricket, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tamil Tigers, terrorism