Aussies fingerprint Mahela, Sanga et al Tough visa regulations hurt SL cricketers
The new visa regulations introduced by the Australian High Commission in Colombo have inconvenienced Sri Lankan cricketers scheduled to leave for Australia on Dec. 02 for an eight-week-long tour consisting of three Tests, five ODIs and two T-20s.
The selectors should have waited till the ongoing Test series against New Zealand was over to name the squad for the cricket summer down under, but they were compelled to name the squad last week itself. The opening Test in Australia starts on Dec. 14 in Hobart, Tasmania.
Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene, asked what had prompted the authorities to name the squad so early, said, “One of the reasons was that we had to apply for visas in advance; there are many restrictions for Australian visa these days.”
A Sri Lanka Cricket official said that world-class players like Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene were household names in Australia, but the new visa regulations demanded that all players be physically present at the Australian visa office, at Union Place, to be fingerprinted! He said the players had been left with no alternative but to comply with the visa requirement. “They should not treat our cricketers like illegal migrants,” he said. “We know the boys are hurt but, sadly, we have to play according to their rules.”
Although the Sri Lankans were previously able to obtain the Australian visa within a matter of hours, the current regulations mean that the processing of visas takes at least 15 working days.
Courtesy: The Island
Latest Headlines in Sri Lanka
- Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne passes away April 16, 2024
- Palitha Thewarapperuma passes away April 16, 2024
- Sri Lanka debt restructuring stumbles as government rejects bondholders’ proposal April 16, 2024
- Sri Lanka must stay neutral in world conflicts – Harshana Rajakaruna April 16, 2024
- Sri Lanka commences IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings with positive bilateral talks April 16, 2024
No big deal. Just comply with their visa requirement.
So, why not we adopt the same measures when they come to play in SL? If it is good for us, it should be good for them too.
Nihal You are an idiot. What do you mean comply with the rgulation? It is insulting to treat our cricketers like boat people.Indira you are right but if we do that they will boycot the trip. These countries are so cocky. Unfortunately our people don,t retaliate the way they should when they should. And then you get the Sri lankans who bend in two when they see a suddha. Irs about time that we learn that we do not play second fiddle to tese suddhas. Yes we need tourist and we should treat any one who comes to our country very well so they will spread the word but we certainly don’t have to worship them.
Well, if they boycot the trip fine. We have other subcontinent teams to play with even if all of those do not come. If we comply with their rules, they have to do the same with ours. We are not talking about tourism here, but a cricket team.
Indra and Sisira are correct. Australia is in league with the imperial West to keep us trampled down as in colonial times. This is neo-colonialism, old colonialsim re-packaged. They perceive us as uncivilised and undeveloped.
Sports should bring nations together, ever closer. But the spirit of white Australia, New Zealand and England is different. They look down upon us. Hence all these obstructions. I think we should pay them back in the same coin, when it is their turn to play in SL. Let them also be all fingerprinted and even their irises photographed for a iris print, as done in USA today.
Procedues to follow both the contires, whatever cousntry system says. Is the Sri Lankan Govt ready to introduse the system as Australia. We just argue each others, none of political leaders worry for this, its really shame for us as Nationa. Let’s we pay the price as far as lacking with right people on top.
Out of all of you ,Nihal,you are the only person with the correct judgement.Rules are rules.Wakeup selecters,
Milinda,
Rules are not necessarily rules for all the time. Rules are there to be bent and twisted by the rich and powerful.
For only the rest, the rules are rules.
any way as nihal and milindu said rules are rules not to break any moment to anyone,they may need finger prints for any reason and this is not insulting anyway.rules are so differ from country to country as a tourist,migrant,or player even a minister they should have to have their own legal procedures to follow when the enter to another nation.no big deal.
These rules were not there earlier and hurriedly imposed on us by the White worshippers of the imperialism perhaps as a punishment..Our selectors were forced to select a team on earlier performances and the upcoming newcomers were denied a chance to prove their mettle.We are being treated as second class citizens.The sad part of the episode is we cannot protest and keep away or try to impose the same rule on them also.We shall be the losers.
Hi Nicholas and AUJ,
If Sri Lanka has the courage to stand up this “neo-imperialism” they should promptly pull out of the Australian tour.
Sri Lanka should only be playinf with friendly countries, ie Bangladesh, Pakistan and Zimbabwe.
C’mon, let’s do it.
To CP, I have provided a reason as to why we cannot protest or boycott such countries.You don’t cut your nose to spite the face or do a ‘hara kiri’ to teach the aggressors.Please read my last and the penultimate sentences on my relevant blog.