The Netball Federation of Sri Lanka will conduct the Junior National Championships '98 at the Kandy Police grounds on 24th and 25th October 98.

Players over 18 and under 21 years as at 25th October 1998 will be eligible to participate. Combined team names from each Association comprising not more than three players from each club, should be sent together with an entry fee of Rs. 150/= to the Tournament Secretary, NFSL, No. 26, Reid Avenue, Colombo 07, not later than 10th October 1998.

The tournament will be conducted on a league and knock-out basis.

By Althaf Nawaz

Wattala Football League which celebrated its Golden Jubilee has organised a soccer tournament among the league which commenced recently.

Twelve teams out of fifteen affiliated to the League has entered teams for this tournament. The participating teams are Adventure SC, Dalugama Catholic Youth Association, Evergreen SC, Express SC, Football Club Fortuna, Kelaniya, Kiribathgoda SC, Mahara Youth SC, Makola UDC, Old Mazenodians SC, Raddoluwa SC, Thunders SC and Young Bees SC.

All matches are played at four venues and teams from five A. G. A. Divisions Wattala, Ja-Ela, Kelaniya, Biyagama and Mahara. This tournament got off to a start in September and the final is scheduled to be held in January next year and the venue is likely to be Sugathadasa Stadium.

The winners of this tournament will receive a free tour to Madras, India, where they will be playing three matches. Runner-up will receive Rs. 10,000/= while Best Player, Best Goalie of the final too will receive awards.

This tournament which is well organised by Wattala Football League is fully sponsored by Lions Club International 306 B.

Several coaching programmes for young cricketers under the National Development Plan of Regional Boards of the Cricket board has been organised in the following Districts Colombo, Gampaha, Puttalam, Kalutara and Ratnapura.

The programmes will be conducted by past cricketers Hemantha Devapriya, Asoka de Silva, Brendon Kuruppu, Champaka Ramanayake and Don Anurasiri.

The junior cricketers who are in Sri Lanka will receive a tremendous boost and will get the opportunity to share their experience with outstation cricketers through these programmes.

The team will be headed by Malcom Perera, Director Development accompanied by Lal Thamel, physio-therapist / trainer of the Cricket Board will carry out the physical fitness lessons in all programmes.

The programme schedule is as follows:
Oct. 22 - minar coaches and masters in charge - Gankanda MV (Rtanapura)
Oct. 28 - Coaching programme - De Mazenod, Kandana (Gampaha District)
Oct. 30 - Coaching Programme - Kalutara District (AN)

Nayanaka Arjuna Samarakoon

H. E. Nishantha Royal College Union created a new National record in the 200m. Back Stroke on the first day of the National Swimming and Diving Championships sponsored by Bank of Ceylon which got underway at the Sugathadasa Stadium swimming pool complex yesterday.

Nishantha whose time was 2.2244 broke the exsisting record 2.23.88. which was held by Tivanka de Alwis (Royal College).

Nishantha who works for the Fisheries' Corporation was followed in at second place by Asela Pradeep of Ananda College who clocked 2.29.96 and in third place by Rukshantha Fernando of St. Joseph's College whose time was 2.35.67.

800 m. Free Style (Women)
(1) Radeesha Daluwatte (Colombo International School) 11.08.72. (2) Chami Wickramasinghe (Visakha Vidyalaya). (3) Onita Ranasinghe (Bishop's College),

1,500 m. Free Style (Men)
(1) Sean Lee (Asian International School) 17.58.94 (2) Marlon . S. Delano (Royal College Union) (3) Pasan Muthumala (Trinity College Kandy)

200 m. Butterfly (Women)
(1) Natasha Kodituwakku (St. Bridget Convent) 2.56.10 (2) Nadien Senaratne (Ladies' College) (3) Muni Gunasekara (Gothami Balika Vidyalaya)

200 m Butterfly Stroke (men)
(1) Ghefari Dulapandan 2.14.38 (Royal College Union) (2) Gihan Ranatunga (S. Thomas College) (3) Prateesh Sivaratnam (Royal College).

100 m. Breast Stroke (women)

(1) Melanie Baumann 1.23.89 (CIS) (2) Theekshana Ratnasekara (Musaeus College) (3) Chandri Haputhanthree (LC)

100 m. Breast Stroke (men)
(1) Duleeka Nanayakkara 1.14.02 (STC) (2) U. K. Silva (Sri Lanka Army) (3) Jayamal Wijeratne (RC)

200 m. Back Stroke (women)
(1) Radeesha Daluwatte 2.51.74 (CIS) (2) Melissa Boange (BC), (3) Ruchira Manie (BC).

200 m. Back Stroke (men)
(1) H. E. Nishantha 2.22.44 (RCU) (2) Asela Pradeep (AC) (3) Rukshantha Fernando (St. Joseph's College).

200 m. Individual Medley (men)
(1) Gihan Ranatunga 2.19.22 (STC) (2) H. E. Nishantha (RCV) (3) Eranga Fernando (STC).

4x200 m. Free Style (men)
(1) Royal College Union (2) St. Thomas College, (3) Trinity College, Kandy.

The four inter -school cricket fixtures scheduled to commence yesterday in Colombo Royal College Vs. Richmond, St. Peters College Vs President's College. St. Joseph's College Vs. St. Anthony's College and Wesley College Vs Thurstan College were abandoned after umpires decided to call off due to bad weather. If weather permits the matches will be played today.

Sanath Jayasuriya, the Sri Lanka run machine has joined hands with his employer Union Bank to develop sports in an island wide basis. At present the Bank concentrates only on cricket.

Union Bank presented Rupees one million to this project and so far funds to the value of Rs. 2.5 million have been raised in this manner. The money which is collected has been deposited at the Union Bank on a Savings Account. The interests gained will be utilised for promoting cricket.

The development project has already begun in Southern Province and deserving schools are funded by the development project. (AN)