Intel and Kumar
Grasp of reality. Very poor. Photo by Podtech
I was at this Intel press conference, poking away on the cell-phone trying to look occupied even though no one’s calling me. The interview was interesting but I’m getting a little naush of press conferences, at least the beginning. That damnable orange drink just makes me more thirsty and sitting there feels like school. Then I see this guy that looks vaguely familiar. I thought he was from online or Scourge’s friend or something so I go say hi. So I’m like, ‘do I know you from somewhere? Are you a blogger or something?’ He says no so I ask him his name. It’s Kumar. Then I’m like ‘who are you with?’ and he’s just says ‘they called and asked me to come’. I really don’t get it now cause it’s not like this guy is going to buy that many chips. His English is impeccable and I ask if he’s travelled and he says no, spent most of the time in Kandy. Anyways, I’m really comfused and I say nice meeting you and he walks inside.
I’m sitting in the i-came-too-early blacklight reading the press release when it’s hits me. He’s Kumar Sangakkara. One of the biggest cricket stars in a cricket obsessed nation. I know him from a goddam billboard. Damn advertising making me feel like I know people. I think I should really cut back on the talking for a while.
I recently wrote about gay marriage, which is not even on the radar in Sri Lanka. But we have another type of marriage discrimination here as well. Foreign marriage. If you marry someone non Sri Lankan, they can never become a citizen. Their lives and their rights to even be in the same country as their children are permanently unstable, and it’s patently unfair.
When 
I started off not really liking General Sarath Fonseka, him being part of the aggressive war effort. I didn’t support the war (largely cause I thought it would fail), and I thought Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Fonseka were gleefully stomping everything. Fonseka even came out and said “I strongly believe that this country belongs to the Sinhalese but there are minority communities and we treat them like our people,” in 2008 (
General Sarath Fonseka was arrested on a bunch of trumped up charges, but mainly for daring to threaten Mahinda in a Presidential election. Despite his poor health, Fonseka was arrested in February 2010 and sentence to three years. Word on the street now, however, is that he’ll be released soon. Like any day now. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has told 
hehe that’s quite funny. im sure that would have punctured his ego a bit. sin!
Superb. He’s a great bugger though. Never rubs his importance in your face.
they thats the most interesting quality about his personality, never too proud or want to be adored as a hotshot. simple down to earth guy… and indi thts a suckur man!!!
he does seem quite cool, I felt really bad bout not recognizing him
hah! nice. he’s quite a looker, too. and yes, impeccable english. i don’t know much about cricket and i really don’t pay much attention to it at all, but i’ve found with this guy that whenever he’s talking, it makes you want to listen.
At least you didn’t mix him up with Aravinda de Silva!
MR greeted Sachin on his visit to Temple Trees as “Mr Ganguly.”
Now, that’s a faux pas befitting a commander in chief who claims to be a sportsman.
A funny video of Kumar and Shaun Pollock
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6KLq-3lzx0
heheh thats quite funny…
To be quite honest, i don’t think i would have recognized him either.. :-)
I take it you are not a cricket fan, Indi?
Its a good thing you met Kumar and not some of his more egoistic mates.
Kumar may have been happy that you didn’t know/recognise him and therefore treated like an ordinary person. Some celebs kind of like that.. as opposed to having people stare at them in a funny way an demand autographs or something. Just a thought.
Besides, at a certain level, NOT knowing popular people is considered cool. I’m sure you made his water cooler moment of the day.
Watch TV! Didn’t you see that milk powder advert with him saying in a pretty odd accent “Hey gaays! Gahamuda match ekak??” Never forgot him after that. If you had seen that you’d have straight gone up to him and parroted that!!
You’re clearly not gay or a heterosexual female or you would have recognised him instantly. He’s pretty much one of the hottest looking guys in SL. Yum. Lucky you.
Wonder if he got to finish his law degree. Sometime ago when I was in uni, he was barred from taking an exam for not having the required lecture attendance. Probably wouldn’t have had much use of a law degree on the field anyway…
scourge has a friend who looks like him? hmm maybe i can get an introduction… :)