Why Mahinda Rajapaksa should thank President Patil

President Pratibha Patil and her Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa will watch the World Cup final match between India and Sri Lanka at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.

Rajapaksa had accepted President Patil's offer to watch the match.

According to top sources in the Centre, authorities in charge of security arrangements had asked the two presidents to cut down the size of their entourage from 40 to 20.

President Patil then intervened to save the government from a potentially embarrassing situation, said sources. She informed the organising officials that she would cut down the size of her entourage to 20 from 35.

President Patil urged officials of the Board of Cricket Control of India to offer the extra passes to the visiting dignitary, so that all the ministers and officials accompanying the Lankan president could get a chance to watch the match.