 |
 . |
|
|
| Sri Lanka 446/3 Sanath (213), Aravinda (125 n.o.) bludgeon England attack Ranjan Paranavithana reporting from
England Jayasuriya made 213 inclusive of 33 boundaries and one six in a knock spanning only 258 balls and shared in a record partnership of 243, the highest for any wicket for Sri Lanka with Aravinda de Silva against England. In the process he eclipsed the longstanding record for the highest individual score in a Test match against England set up by opener sidat Wettimuny in 1982 at Lords. Jayasuriya struck the sixth double century for Sri Lankabe in the wake of his previous 340, the others being Brendon Kuruppu, Aravinda de Silva, RoshanMahanama and Marvan Atapattu. Jayasuriya, who resumed from an overnight 59 with Sri Lanka on 79 for 1 wicket, treated all the England bowlers with scant respect as he found an able partner in Aravinda de Silva after the early loss of Mahela Jayawardena’s wicket as Sri Lanka made a strong reply to England’s first innings of 445 all out. De Silva himself reached a personal milestone when he became the first Sri Lankan to pass the 5000-run mark in Test cricket. When Jayasuriya departed soon after tea, the left hander had won the hearts of the packed Oval stadium in what was a marvellous innings that dispelled any doubts that he was only a one-day player, underlining class temperament and strokeplay that bewildered the eye and had observers ranking him as a batsman of the highest calibre at whatever level of cricket. England’s long frustration on the field after the early wicket of Mahela Jayawardena for 9 and the total on 85 when the crowd were given an exhibition of power play by the Jayasuriya-de Silva alliance as the third wicket pair tormented the 4-man pace attack of Angus Fraser, Darren Gough, Dominic Cork and Ben Hollioake with the solitary off spinner Ian Salisbury also failing to deliver the goods on a perfect batting strip. But the Sri Lankan pair made England’s batting look hollow with a 4. 17 run rate in comparisson to the hosts 2. 8 as Jayasuriya and de Silva transformed play into what seemingly looked a one-day match before the opener departed caught behind by Alec Stewart off the bowling of Hollioake . De Silva was on 72 at the time. Aravinda de Silva passed 5000 runs when he reached 23 thus becoming the first Sri Lankan to do so in what his 74 th test appearance and 128th innings . He infused all his experience in playing the support role to Jayasuriya who broke his long drought with the bat bringing up his century, the fifth in his career, off only 124 balls and in 162 minutes spraying the field with 17 scorching boundaries . He soon brought up his 150 in majestic style with an effortless flick off his toes for six off Dominic Cork as the home crowd simply marvelled. His double century came with a single when he drove Fraser through the covers. It was his second double century and came in 318 minutes and contained 31 fours and one six. What lent to that great partnership was de Silva’s uncharacteristic subduedness as he watched from the other end his partner smash the bowling which was reflected by the master batsman willing to wait on 49 for quite sometime before moving on to his 19th half century off 87 balls with a boundary. It contained 8 fours. Sri Lanka passed the 245-run follow on mark off only 370 balls with Jayasuriya and de Silva in total command. Right arm off spinner Salisbury, in comparisson to Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan who reaped 7 wickets, was in the shade being clobbered for 17 runs by Jayasuriya in his 17th over. The Jayasuriya-de Silva 200-run alliance came off just 267 balls as England Captain Alec Stewart had to dip into his reserves calling Mark Ramprakash in a vain efort to break the partnership as Sri Lanka’s 300 came off 433 balls. Jayasuriya and De Silva broke the third wicket stand of 101 between Roy Dias and Sidath Wettimuny in 1984 while also eclipsing their own record of 218 for the third wicket against any country at the SSC. Ranatunga retained as captain for World Cup COLOMBO, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Arjuna Ranatunga has been retained as Sri Lanka’s captain for the 1999 World Cup in England, the cricket control board said on Saturday. Ranatunga, currently in charge of the team playing England in a one-off test at The Oval, led Sri Lanka to victory in the last World Cup. |
| Priyantha Ekanayake hangs up his boots by Althaf Nawaz Thirty-three-year-old Ekanayake donned the National jersey for more than a decade while leading the country for 10 years. Regarded as one of Sri Lanka's most illustrious player's produced in the game, Ekanayake, speaking to the 'Sunday Island' said that he had quit playing at all levels, domestic and international. The main reason offered by him for hanging up his boots, while conceeding he had atleast 3 more years in him, was to make room for younger players. "Young players must be given an opportunity", was how Ekanayake put it. Under Priyantha Ekanayake's captaincy Sri Lanka enjoyed its best chapter in rugby at international level in 1990 beating the strong Taiwan at home in the 12th Rugby Asiad. He had the distinction of leading Sri Lanka to its first major international championship title since 1974, annexing the Neighbours Trophy Quadrangular Tournament in March this year. The Kandy Sports Club player, who also brought a great change to Kandy rugby, was regarded as one of the most versatile player's during his time having excelled as a pack leader. His skill lay in his ability to adopt to any pivotal position, his main positions being second row and No. 8. Asked what he felt was the best period in his career, Priyantha replied, "In New Zealand when I was called to play for Otago 'B' which was very impressed with my play". Otago is seen as one of New Zealand's premier rugby clubs which feeds the National team. This year Ekanayake was on a low profile, missing most of Kandy's matches. His final appearance was in the Kandy SC - CR & FC President's Trophy final a fortnight ago which CR won 30-26. He said he had spent most of his time coaching his club this season, and looked to continue his services to the game by coaching Kandy SC which he represented from 1992 to '98. He launched his career with CH & FC in 1985-'86 before turning out for CR & FC from 1987-'91. A product of St. Anthony's College, Katugastota, he cut his teeth in rugby at that level having also shone in cricket and basketball. At age 20, Priayntha found his talent rewarded when he was called to represent Sri Lanka in 1986 in the Asiad under Rohan Gunaratne. |
| WP U-24 RUGBY TOURNEY Moratuwa Undergrads fail to turn up The ruggerites from the University of Moratuwa seemed to have got cold feet just like in the face of an examination when they failed to turn up in the curtain raiser fixture of the Western Province under 24 Rugby Tournament against Old Patanians which was scheduled for yesterday. This unsporty incident has given rise to a big question as big as the oval shaped ball itself as to whether this educational institution really encourages sports activities. One wonders whether the old saying, "a healthy mind and a healthy body", is outdated or simply does not exist in the minds of the present lot. The match was to be played at Havelock Park. Their opponents, who received a walk over, now meet CR and FC at the same venue on September 2. Kandy Sports Club who did not send in their entry along with the others, have officially confirmed their participation at the last minute. (RN) |
| One ‘curious’ decision to field and
on umpiring By
Mahinda Wijesinghe My guess why the England selectors on the seamers is that they just do not have the spinners to pick! In fact, their selectors would have opined that the current England spinners would not trouble our batsmen. The only option available for them is to contain the attractive stroke-playing Sri Lankan batsmen with seamers. So, it appears that both sides want to play the waiting game. Let us wait and see, though Arjuna with all his experience behind him, will make use of any opening from this point onwards. Suresh Perera and Wickremasinghe sprayed the ball all over with their first spell. A basic mistake of not making batsmen play at the new ball. However, Suresh Perera does show glimpses of potential and the ability to partner Vaas when the latter returns. But, it must be a worrying thought — with the absence of Vaas — that except for good old Muralitharan there isn’t any bowler of international level presently in the current Sri Lankan Test side. But, that is another story. Of umpiring and on
umpires Does past players make competent umpires? In theory it should. Venkat himself has not fared adequately on all occasions, as we all know. For that matter, does even Tendulkar or Aravinda for that matter sparkle every time they go to the crease? A former player, having gone through the mill himself, has a distint advantage when he becomes an umpire. The current players, that is, those on the field, will automatically have respect towards him — at least at the beginning. But, the moment he falters, he is a goner. Whereas, an umpire who has had no previous playing experience, is immediately subject to player-pressure. So the chances of a non-player succumbing is, theoretically, higher. On the other hand, two of the greatest umpires, Englishmen, Frank Chester and the man who overtook his record of having stood 48 Test, Dickie Bird, did not play Test cricket, though having played first-class cricket. Chester played 54 matches for Worcestershire before World War I where he lost an arm, forcing him to don the white coat. Don Bradman rated him as the best umpire he has encountered. Bird played in the decades of the fifties and the sixties for both Yorkshire (14 matches) and Leicestershire (79 matches). Considerable first-class experience without doubt. Of course, Bird’s job was more difficult given the current technology which snoops over the umpires’ shoulder in super-slow motion and the high financial stakes involved. Chester had no such problems. During his time, the players had a different approach. For instance, once a player very cutely greeted the umpire on the morning of the match with the comforting words: "So nice to see you Fred" and the umpire answered: "I hope you feel the same at the end of the game." However, if an umpire possesses a steady head and discharges his duties in an impartial manner, he will be accepted by the majority. Mistakes are bound to happen, after all, just as a batsman, bowler and a fielder, they are bound to occur sooner than later. As Dr. W. G. Grace wrote many, many years ago — around the turn of the century, in fact: "It is not always recognised that the duties of an umpire call for uncommon intelligence, decisive judgement and initiate acquaintance with the laws and customs of the game. It is too often assumed that because a man has been a good cricketer, he is sure to make a good umpire, but I contend that this is no criterion and that a more necessary qualification for an umpire is that he should have a good head on his shoulders and should have had common practice at this special branch of work." Yet, it was Frank Chester himself who wrote in his autobiography, published in 1956 — an year before his death, aged 62 — as follows: "An umpire must be strong enough to stand by his own opinions and on his own judgement, but his task would be considerably simplified if all players, particularly bowlers, remembered and followed the true spirit of the game. Nothing violates it more than spurious and ostentatious appealing." Words that still ring true after all these decades. |
| Special to the
Sunday Island Now the pundits sing a different tune By
Kirthie Abeyesekera in London Now the pundits and the press in Britain which once ‘ruled the waves’ and often waived the rules, are singing a different tune. Sri Lanka, the reigning champions of one-day international cricket are feared if not respected. Arriving in England from across the Atlantic, I was just in time to hear British commentators hail Arjuna Ranatunga as "among the best captains in the world". The bouquet came during play in the first of the Emirates Triangular Tournament games at Nottingham, August 14. The ‘Daily Telegraph’s’ Christopher Martin-Jenkins said, "The Sri Lankan cricketers make a long overdue appearance on a major English stage at Trent Bridge," West Indian commentator Michael Holding said that Aravinda de Silva is "a brilliant bat who can come out with flying colours at any level of the game." Holding also observed that the Sri Lankan fielding has vastly improved since the time they were relatively unknown. "The are brilliant fielders who have improved in every aspect of the game," Holding said. Yet, two days later at Lord’s when Sri Lanka succumbed to England by 36 runs in the Emirates Triangular Tournament, Skipper Ranatunga attributed the loss to Sri Lanka’s poor performance in every field — batting, bowling and fielding. "We bowled badly and our fielding was terrible", he said at the awards-ceremony. Said Martin-Jenkins of the now emerging enlargement of the international cricket scene: "Although the Sri Lankans are suddenly going to face more demanding opposition than they have so far law against county sides, they have a good chance of reminding everyone of their worth." "Cricket students should know all about the quality of the veterans, Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda de Silva — a batting genius — and Sanath Jayasuriya. But some of the names in the current side, like Marvan Atapattu and Mahela Jayewardene, both, Test centurians, have yet to become figures of substance in public consciousness." "The Daily Telegraph" said: "All the Sri Lankans will still be keen to show once more, why it was that a country considered a cricket outpost a quarter of a century ago, surprised Australia by scoring 276 for four against them at the Oval in the first World Cup in 1975 and won the competition outright 20 years later." England coach, David Lloyd sees Sri Lankans as ‘a crack side,’ he was looking forward to seeing in action. The "Express Sport" cricket correspondent, Colin Bateman says, "Sri Lanka introduced ‘pinch-hitting’ as it had never been seen before there, in the shape of Sanath Jayasuriya." Bateman sees Jayasuriya as the man who "revolutionised one-day batting." He adds: "with Kent old boy, Aravinda de Silva and the new Slim-line captain, Arjuna Ranatunga also among the batsmen, Sri Lanka are one of the most dangerous sides in the world." Yet, he says, they are "still treated as poor relations once again." He bemoans the fact that "England have granted them only one Test this summer." Geoffrey Dean of the ‘Daily Telegraph’ says that "It did not take Muttiah Muralitharan long to make an impact against international opposition.’ Tracing the history of controversial calls of ‘Chucking’ by Darell Hair in the Melbourne Test of 1995/96 and more infamously 10 days later by Ross Emerson in the Brisbane World Cup series match Dean says Muralitharan is "a magician with a rubbery wrist and a maturely bent bowling arm who could turn the ball off marble." He adds that although Saqlain Mushtaq’s wicket-taking for Surrey and his "wonderful variety of delivery have caused many to laud him as the master of his craft, he has yet to emulate Muralitharan’s performances in Test cricket." — 187 victims at four-and-a half per match. "Nor does the Pakistani spin the ball as much." Dave Whatmore, former Sri Lankan coach told the ‘Daily Telegraph’ that, "If you study his (Muralitharan’s) action closely, you’ll be amazed. His wrist rotation is unmatched in the history of the game." Says Dean; "Thanks to his wrist rotation he can extract extraordinary bounce for a man of his height." Jon Dakin, who made a fifty against him for Lancashire, recalls one ball Muralitharan bowled. "It was almost hop-length and I was shaping to pull it, when it suddenly jumped at me and I was forced to play it defensively in front of my chest." "The Daily Telegraph" carried a picture of Muralitharan in action, with the caption. "Sri Lanka’s key bowler in both forms of the game." Here in England, the Sri Lankan cricketers’ name and fame have preceded its arrival, there’s tremendous admiration and support for the team. At a social gathering the day after my arrival in London, I asked Eric Humphreys, an Englishman, whom he was supporting Sri Lanka’s match against England. "Sri Lanka, of course," he beamed. He’s married to a Sri Lankan. |
| COMMONWEALTH
GAMES Rifle shooters carry Sri Lanka's gold medal hopes by Shirajiv Sirimane Other than the cricket team, none of the other Sri Lankans are expected to strike gold. The Rifle Shooting team Coach Daya Rajasingham promises the nation that they will bring atleast two gold medals among other medals, 'our prime target is to win a couple of medals at the 2000 Olympics. At the Commonwealth, Mali Wickremasinghe and Pushmapamali Ramanayake are strong contenders for golds. Newcomer, Ruwani Abeymanne too may be the dark horse for a gold', he said. "The rifle shooting picked up momentum after the 1991 Colombo SAF Games and since then the standard never went down', he observed. Daya said that Sri Lanka has won a total of 24 gold medals from around 8 competitions. Since 1991 and no sport has achieved that success. "I have only around 30 or 40 shooters whereas athletics cricket, soccer and volleyball have over two hundred thousand players to select their national outfit,' he said, adding, 'so you can just imagine what we could do if we have 100 shooters.'
Both Mali and Pushpamali, who joined in the interviews, were quick to second his words. 'We will get married after the 2000 Olympics,' they said. The coach also disclosed that they are the only gold medal winning Olympic sport without sponsors. 'We find our own fuel. We must thank Army Commander Rohan Daluwatte for freely releasing ammunition and Sports Minister, S. B. Dissanayake for providing finances to go abroad," he said. He also disclosed the fact that the success story behind the shooters lay in their hard practice at two shooting ranges put up in 1991. 'Switzerland has 1,600 shooting venues,' he pointed out. We are pleased to note that there is a range coming up at the stadium,' he further commented. The Malaysians have built four new shooting ranges for the Commonwealth at a cost of Rs. 17.5 billion US dollars. These four ranges are as good as the Olympic ranges in Atlanta. The Commonwealth Games rifle shooting events will be held at Langkawi International shooting range from September 7 to 20. In 1993 and 1997 the international governing body reduced the shooting times and targets. But the Lankan shooters took only a very short time to adjust and were back on top again which signifies the standard of the sport. Following is the Rifle Shooting team and the events: PUSHPAMALI RAMANAYAKE - 3 X 20 Sports Rifle - Individual & Team, 40 Shots Air Rifle - Individual & Team, 60 Shots Prone - Individual & Team MALINI WICKRAMASINGHE - 3 X 20 Sports Rifle - Individual & Team, 40 Shots Air Rifle - Individual & Team P. K. A. LEELANI - 60 Shots Prone - Individual & Team RUWINI ABEYMANNE - Sports Pistol - Individual & Team, 40 shots air pistol - Individual & Team SOMA KUMARASINGHE - Sports Pistol - Individual & Team GAMINI WALGAMA - 60 Shots Free Pistol - Individual & Team, 60 Shots Air Pistol - Individual & Team J. PODDALGODA - 60 Shots Free Pistol - Individual & Team, 60 Shots Air Pistol - Individual & Team LUCKY RAJASINGHE - 60 Shots Prone - Individual & Team H. WIJESINGHE - 40 Shots Air Pistol - Individual & Team D. H. CHANDRASIRI - 60 Shots Prone - Individual & Team LT. COL. DAYA RAJASINGHE - Coach MR. RUSSEL GREY - Official/Judge at games. Achievements Gold Medals - 60 Rifle Prone Men - Individual (Lucky), 60 Rifle Prone Men - Team (Lucky, Dassanayake & Chandrasiri), 40 Air Rifle Women - Team (Mali, Pushpamali & Wickramaarachchi), 3 X 20 Rifle Women - Team (Mali, Pushpamali & Wickramaarachchi), 60 Air Rifle Men - Individual (H. G. L. Rangith), 40 Air Pistol Women - Individual (Shamelie Wijesuriya). Six Silver Medals and Six Bronze Medals SAF SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIPS 1992 Six Gold Medals - 60 Rifle Prone - Individual (Lucky), 60 Rifle Prone - Team (Daya Lucky & Dassanayake), 40 Air Rifle - Individual (Pushpamali), 40, Air Rifle - Team (Mali, Pushpamali & Wickramaarachchi), 3 X 20 Standard Rifle - Individual (Pushpamali), 3 X 20 Standard Rifle - Team (Mali, Pushpamali & Wickramaarachchi) Five Silver Medals and Six Bronze Medals SAF GAMES 1993 Four Gold Medals 60 Rifle Prone Men - Individual (Daya Rajasinghe), 60 Rifle Prone Men - Team (Daya Lucky & Chandrasiri), 40 Air Rifle Women - Team (Mali, Pushpamali & Wickramaarachchi), 40 Air Rifle Women - Individual (Pushpamali) Five Silver Medals and Five Bronze Medals COMMONWEALTH GAMES 1994 One Gold Medal - 40 Air Rifle Women - Team (Mali and Pushpamali) Two Silver Medals - 60 Rifle Prone Men - Team (Lucky Rajasinghe & Chandrasiri), 40 Air Rifle Women - Individual (Mali Wickramasinghe). SAF GAMES 1995 (ONLY SHOOTING AND ATHLETICS WON GOLD MEDALS) Five Gold Medals 40 Air Rifle Women - Team (Mali, Pushpamali & Leelani), 3 X 20 Rifle Women - Team (Mali, Pushpamali & Dewika Ranasinghe), 40 Air Rifle Women - Individual (Pushpamali), 3 X 20 Rifle Women - Individual (Pushpamali), 40 Air Pistol Women - Individual (Soma) Seven Silver Medals and Seven Bronze Medals COMMONWEALTH SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIPS 1995 Two Gold Medals: 40 Air Rifle Women - Team (Mali & Pushpamali), 3 X 20 Rifle Women - Team (Mali & Pushpamali) Four Silver Medals (Daya Rajasinghe, Mali, Pushpamali & Chandrasiri) and One Bronze Medal (Pussella) WORLD CUP HAVANA 1996 Sri Lanka Shooting History was created when two of rifle shooters Wickramasinghe and Ramanayake qualified for world cup finals and were placed fifth (Mali Wickramasinghe) and Eighth (Pushpamali Ramanayake) OLYMPIC GAMES 1996 Sri Lanka shooting history was created when two of rifle shooters, Wickramasinghe and Ramanayake qualified for World Cup finals and was placed fifth (Mali Wickramasinghe) and Eighth (Pushpamali Ramanayake) OLYMPIC GAMES 1996 Two Sri Lankan rifle shooters achieved Olympic qualifications for two events and represented Sri Lanka at Olympics and shot best scores at Olympics. They were placed 23rd and 24th. COMMONWEALTH SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIPS - MALAYSIA - 1997 01 Silver Medal - 40 Air Rifle Women - Individual (Mali Wickramasinghe) 01 Bronze Medal - 40 Air Pistol Women - Individual (Hemantha Wijesinghe) WORLD CUPS, ATLANTA, MUNICH, MILAN AND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - 1998 The following reached Olympic qualification for the year 2000 Olympics from above World Cups: Malini Wickramasinghe - 8 Times - 40 Air Rifle, 3 X 20 Sports Rifle, Ruwini Abeymanne - 7 Times - 40 Air Pistol, Sports Pistol, Pushpamali Ramanayake - 5 Times - 40 Air Rifle, 3 X 20 Sports Rifle, Hemantha Wijesinghe 2 Times - 40 Air Pistol, Nilanthi Chandrasekera - 1 Time - 40 Air Rifle. |
| REFLECTIONS C'wealth Games should draw most of the one-day stars By Srian Obeyesekere Interestingly, some countries are not fielding their full strength sides. South Africa, whose squad has already been announced, will be led by all-rounder Shaun Pollock. Australia, under its new umbrella of a separate one-day side from the Test side, will be led by Steve Waugh. England, West Indies, India and Pakistan have not yet announced their squads. However, the championship might be without some of its glamour in this first of its kind to be worked out with the inclusion of team events if India and Pakistan do not field their full sides. Both countries had reportedly indicated that second string sides might be sent to the Commonwealth Games in view of the Sahara Cup in Toronto between these two countries which takes pride of place, being worked out at the same time. Nevertheless, the championship would draw much interest with each country looking to further develop their one-day prowess in view of the World Cup next year in England where team building for the biggest event of its kind is now being given priority. Stars like Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya, Aravinda de Silva, Arjuna Ranatunga, Australia's Mark Waugh, West Indies Brian Lara should create quite a draw in bringing out a feast of cricket in this novel concept at the Commonwealth. |
| Brothers,
not brothers on the field By Ravi Nagahawatte COMMON BOND Bandula was the first to dabble in the sport in which he later went on to represent the country while being a schoolboy. The twenty-year old reminisced how a rugby crazy neighbourhood influenced him to take to the sport. "I was just nine years old when I started playing with my flat mates who were mostly Patanians. And after one year of rugby I made it to the school's under-thirteen team." Sajith, however, had had a different start all together. He puts his brother's involvement in the game as the main link to the sport coupled by the irresistible temptation to take to rugby - something which comes naturally to all students at Isipatana. Leaving school, their careers began promisingly, the young Sajith Mallikarachchi coming into the limelight as an imaginative fly half in a short period of twenty minutes where he substituted a regular player in the match against Taiwan. His efforts won him the 'Best Players' award - a World Cup Sevens tie - and the younger brother poured his heart out when asked for his own comments on that match in the World Cup qualifying tournament. "I was very happy to have won the 'Best Player's' award after coming in as a substitute. And I think that it was and still is the best game that I have played to date." The going, however, has been tough for Bandula who agrees that he has still to have a good season in the inter-club tournament. The two years that he turned out for his club looked very much incomplete with regular hamstring injuries crippling his powerful legs. Running had become an impossibility with both hamstrings gone, and there were times during the last two years when Bandula was reduced to a mere spectator. SAJITH SEES MORE
IN CLUB RUGBY MARKED EACH OTHER ANALYSE PERFORMANCES As if the competitive world they live in had made them ambitious enough, the two brothers have their eyes set on reaching the top in their sporting field. In fact, Sajith is almost there in emerging as the country's number one choice for the fly half's berth while Bandula is more than determined to make it back into the national side as a wing three quarter. When asked what they would have made out of themselves if they had not taken to rugby, the two brothers opined that they would have excelled in their academic fields. Bandula and Sajith took this opportunity to bank all their coaches who had offered valuable guidance to pursue their rugby careers. |
| Appreciation "BROOKIE" What an awful thing a failing memory is when one is 72-years old. When I read Brookie D’ Silva’s obituary notice, memories of some of those glorious days at STC flooded my thoughts. My mother was in charge of the tuck shop, my uncle was the warden and my sisters and I occupied Winchester Dormitory when we were on holiday from the Bishop’s College boarding. Brookie was a part of our lives (as was Torrington J. and the Thomian cricket team). I remember his enthusiasm, sincerity and boundless energy and the bond of friendship between him and my mother, who took to anyone who had spirit and enjoyed life. I remember his love of biology and the science subjects he taught and his great passion for athletics. If my memory serves me correctly, he was proud that he held the Ceylon record for the Javelin throw until he learnt that the women’s record at the 1948 Olympics was better than his! I wish I can remember more. We lost touch after he emigrated to Australia. My son and I attended his Memorial Service at the STC Chapel earlier this month but sadly I did not spot any of the old faces among those in the congregation. Pam Fernando |
| Kandy Wace Park Speed Hill climb on Sept. 13 by Hafiz Marikar Our Kandy
Sports Corr. This is one of the major events, and according KMSC Secretary, Ananda Krishnaratne, a veteran in this sport, entries closed on September. Entry forms are available for Colombo drivers and riders, at Park and Shop, Nugegoda, and at Queen's Laundry, Krishnaratne Garage, and Don Carolis. The Kandy Motor Sports Club had conducted this event for the past so many years. However, for the last couple of years there had been no Wace Park motor sports activities. So, this time Ruwan Ratwatte, President of the Club is going all out to make this event a success. This time, organisers say there won't be any public disturbance, as the new road which is just behind the Bogambara Stadium Pavilion leads to Wace Park and there wont be problems at all. The Kandy Municipal Council headed by Harindra Dunuwille, has given the Green light for the event. |
| NEWS | PROVINCIAL | POLITICS | EDITORIAL | DEFENCE | FEATURES | LEISURE | BUSINESS | ADS |
