Congratulations and Jubilations! Now we're all at one from jack to king!

By Rypvanwinkle

My Dear Murali,

I thought I must write to you to congratulate you on becoming a world champion and it is not that often, that Sri Lanka produces someone that special!

As far as I can remember, we produced the world's first female prime minister in the sixties and we had a world champion billiards and snooker player in the seventies. Then, in the nineties we became world champions in cricket.

But since then, Murali, we only became world champions in having the highest suicide rate on the planet and thereafter, we have become world champions in having the highest number of cabinet ministers. So, after these two achievements your feat becomes all the more special!

But of course, Murali, your success is unique due to a different reason-because of the many obstacles that were placed against you on your way to stardom and because of how you overcame all those barriers with sheer determination.

I noticed, Murali, that when you were asked about who helped you most to get to your world record you did not hesitate to mention Captain Cool. It was Captain Cool's finger wagging against the umpires in Australia that saved your career and it is nice to know that you still remember those who helped you in your early days, with gratitude.

But that brings us to another reason why we should celebrate your achievement, Murali. Whenever you bowled and took a wicket and whenever your bowling action was questioned by someone, it would be correct to say that the whole of Sri Lanka stood behind you as one, regardless of which community you belonged to.

It is indeed a reflection of our times that you were therefore one of the few unifying factors in our country where everyone is so divided on party and communal lines and where everyone suspects everyone else. Wittingly or unwittingly, you and your fellow cricketers seem to be able to get the entire country to support you despite their differences and for that alone, we must be grateful to you.

But Murali, you need to be careful too. We hear that everyone wants to congratulate you. Why, even that car that was gifted to you had to be brought down to Colombo to be presented to you by you-know-who. And then we heard that they even want to get you in to Parliament to felicitate you!

Of course Murali, there is no harm in visiting Parliament to get some free entertainment and to enhance your vocabulary but I hope you will have the good sense not to accept a seat in it. The way events are unfolding and with the final vote on the budget due in a few more days, I won't be surprised if they offer you the portfolio of confectionery development and invite you to join the government!

Anyway, Murali, I suppose your next target would be a thousand wickets. There is no reason why you won't be able to achieve that too, considering the courage and determination you have shown to come this far. So, best of luck and more strength to your elbow-and wrist too!

Yours truly,
Punchi Putha

PS- By the way, do be careful when you travel from Kandy to Colombo for the second test match against the Englishmen. After all, they have all these checkpoints on the way and who knows, we might have to come all the way to Boossa to get a glimpse of you!