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Social media slams State Minister for ‘photobombing’

14 Sep 2022

BY Buddhika Samaraweera State Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Rohana Dissanayaka, who was at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake during the welcome of the Sri Lankan cricket and netball teams that won the relevant Asian Championships and subsequently posed for photographs with the sports champions, is facing great opposition on social media platforms, particularly on Facebook, over his alleged attempt to steal the limelight from the victors. The Sri Lankan cricket and netball teams who won the Asian Championships returned to Sri Lanka yesterday (13) from Dubai and Singapore, respectively. They reached the country from the BIA, at which time Dissanayaka had also visited the airport. Arrangements had been made for the reception of the netball players amid traditional dances and drumming. However, photos showing Dissanayaka in front of the players amidst the dancing and drumming are currently circulating on social media platforms. A number of posts criticising him for appearing in front of the players can be seen on social media platforms. The posts charge that Dissanayaka is attempting to gain positive publicity under the guise of the players who have secured their Asian titles amid many challenges. It was stated in several of the posts that Dissanayaka should have known it was inappropriate to appear before the players in this context, as it was their moment to be appreciated for their victories. Meanwhile, Dissanayaka also appeared in several photos with the cricket team that secured the Asian title for the sixth time by beating the Pakistan cricket team. Dissanayaka, who was newly appointed to his position as State Minister, is facing a lot of opposition on social media platforms regarding such photos too. In related posts, it is charged that he has not rendered any service for cricket or any other sport, and is engaged in political campaigns utilising others’ victories. The national cricket and netball teams who defeated the odds to secure the Asian titles were welcomed in a rousing reception at the BIA yesterday. The players were paraded on a motorcade escorted by the Police, in two open-top double-decker buses from the BIA. The motorcade travelled along the Colombo-Negombo Highway and reached the Sri Lanka Cricket Head Office and the Netball Federation Headquarters at the Sports Ministry Complex in Colombo 07. The Sri Lanka Cricket team made history by securing their sixth Asian title by beating Pakistan in the final played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, while the Netball team also secured its sixth Asian title by beating Singapore 63-53, in Singapore, at the grand final.  


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