President felicitates Sri Lankan sports stars who brought fame
By Walter Nanayakkara

Our cricketers have proved they could play this English game of gentlemen better and according to the rules of the game too, said President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga who, on Sunday evening, felicitated Sri Lankan sportsmen, sportswomen and athletes, who, in the recent past, won international fame for the country.

The Sri Lankan Cricket team led by Captain Arjuna Ranatunga, which in 1996 won the Wills Limited Overs World Championship in Pakistan, Sri Lanka's first World Championship in one day cricket, the Sri Lankan Net Ball team which in 1997 won the Asian Championship in Singapore, and the three Sri Lankan athletes who won medals at the recent Commonwealth Games in Malaysia received bountiful gifts from the President in recognition for their outstanding performance in the international arena and fame they brought to the country.

President said that in the most recent cricket series in London many commentators never believed that our team could play the game so well specially against their English counter-parts. But final results of the matches proved they were wrong. Many were astonished. They had to make a complete revaluation of cricket in Sri Lanka, she added.

" Cricket has put us on the world map. During my recent visit to New York I met many world leaders who attended the United Nations General Assembly sessions. Most of them asked me about cricket in Sri Lanka. Cricket has made Sri Lanka so famous that the moment I mentioned about my country they talked about cricket and our cricketers. Some of them new our cricketers by name,' the President said.

Today, she said, cricket is a synonym for Sri Lanka. There was a time when Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike's name was so linked with Sri Lanka that the moment you mentioned her name people used to ask whether it was the country of Mrs. Bandaranaike. It was so because she was the world first woman Prime Minister, she added.

"Our country's history is rich with people whose names have been identified with Sri Lanka. Today, sportsmen and athletes are doing a great service to the country by carrying our flag to the world cities across the many frontiers,' the President added.

Cash awards of Rs. 10,000 were paid to each of the 13 members of the Net Ball team which won the Asia Championship in Singapore in 1997 and the team's coach Yasa Ramachandra and Manager June Perera.

A land was gifted to the proposed Arjuna Ranatunga Cricket Academy, an institution conceived by Ranatunga to give facilities to cricketers of less privileged rural areas to improve their skills to world standards.

Participants at the function included Samurdhi, Youth Affairs Minister S. B. Dissanayake, his Deputy, Jeewan Kumaratunga, Minister of Urban Development, Housing and Construction Indika Gunawardane, Minister of Irrigation and Power and Deputy Minister of Defence Gen. Anuruddha Ratwatte and Mrs. Ratwatte, Minister of Industrial Development C. V. Gooneratne and Mrs. Gooneratne, Minister of Plan Implementation and Parliamentary Affairs Jeyaraj Fernandopulle and Mrs. Fernando-pulle. Minister of Posts, Telecommunication and Media Mangala Samaraweera.and officials.

The lands gifted to the cricketers and the three athletes and the land gifted to the Arjuna Ranatunga Cricket Academy have been made available by the Urban Development Authority on the instructions of the President and the recommendations of the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports S. B. Dissanayake.

The presentations was followed by a dinner for the sportsmen, women and the invitees which included minister, and officials.

The members of the cricket team who received presentations were Arjuna Ranatunga (Captain), Aravinda de Silva (Vice-Captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Romesh Kaluvitharana, Roshan Mahanama, Asanka Gurusinghe, Hashan Tillekeratne, Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Dharmasena, Muttiah Muralitharan, Upul Chandana, Pramodya Wickramasinghe, Chaminda Vaas and Ravindra Pushpakumara,

The netball team which received cash prizes comprised Sandya Jayasuriya, Deepthi Alwis, P. D. N. Prasadi, Thilaka Jinadasa, Deepthi Rupasinghe, Damayanthi Jayatilleke, Gayathri Lankatilleke, Sujeewa Anuruddhika, Asha Siriwardane, Harshani Priyangika, Jayanthi Somasekaram de Silva (Captain), Sanjeewani Wanasinghe, and Vajira Pushpakumari.

Junior Squash nationals on October 18
By Dhammika Ratnaweera

Hirantha Goonasena is the hot favourite for the boys under 19 title of the Junior National Squash Championships which will commence from October 18 to 24 at Trans Asia Hotel

Goonasena the 17 year old from Stafford International School has won the under 19 title in last two years.

However Thomian Navin Samarasinghe the 16 year old player, is bound to make a tough challenge to Goonasena.

Samarasinghe is the top seed player in the under 17 boys section and he has more chance to win the under 19 title. He is expected to enter both finals.

According to the President of the Sri Lanka Squash Federation Rohan Perera, Junior Nationals is more important, because juniors are performing well. 'They even beat seniors in the domestic tournaments. They are always in the front-foot,' he said.

"The classic example is young Hirantha Goonasena who is the bottom seed player in the National ranking. He made a good challenge against the experienced Gihan Fernando at the recently concluded Signature Cologne tournament, he added.

Goonasena made a good fight against former English ranking player Gehan M. Fernando, before going down 1-3.

Trans Asia Hotel has come forward to sponsor this Junior Nationals for the seventh consecutive year.

Leroy Hesse the Recreation Manager of Trans Asia Hotel said, that the entries will close on October 16 at 5.30 p.m. at Hotel Reception and all the entry forms are available at the Squash clubs.

Junaid leads team to Hong Kong
By Dhammika Ratnaweera

Arshad Junaid (D. S. Senanayake Vidyalaya) will lead the Sri Lanka Schools Under 17 cricketers to Hong Kong to play four friendly games in Hong Kong which commences on October 26.

Junaid the 17 year-old off spinner performed well during the Mini World Cup in South Africa and also extremely well for Sri Lanka 'A' against England 'A' at Uyanwatta Stadium, Matara. This is the first time young Junaid leads a National Schools team.

Anandian all rounder Muthumudalige Pushpakumara will be his deputy. The other allrounders in the tour party are Jehan Mubarak (Royal), Tilina Kandambi (Ananda), Mevan Porage (Nalanda), Chamara Lasantha Perera (Lumbani MV) a very useful spinner and a good stroke maker too will make the tour.

Junaid, Mubarak, Danial, Mahesh Perera (St. Peter's) and Kandambi participated at the last Mini World Cup in South Africa.

Secretary SLSCA B. S. Perera said the tour was organised with an invitation from Hong Kong Cricket Association. During their one week tour they play four matches which could give them lot of experience, said the secretary.

The squad:Arshad Junaid (Capt.) (D. S. Senanayake Vidyalaya), Muthumudalige Pushpakumara (Ananda, V. Capt.), Jehan Mubarak (Royal), Ian Danial (St. Joseph's), Tilina Kandambi (Ananda), Chamara Lasantha Perera (Lumbini MV), Chanaka Wijesinghe (St. Sylvesters), Kaushalya Weeraratne (Trinity), Mevan Porage (Nalanda), Andrew Perera (Royal), Danuka Pathirana (St. Joseph's), Malshan Fernando (St. Sebastian), L. Peramuka Sheaesh (Tissa MV Kalutara), D. A. Marage, (Raddoluwa MV), Mahesh Perera (St. Peters), Nirmal de Silva (St. Peters), Nihal Gunawardane (Coach), (Richmond), M. T.A. Rauf, Manager (DSS).

SLSLA gets new premises

Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association has got a permanent premises for its headquarters at Race Course Grand Stand.

This was made possible due to Cricket Board President Thilanga Sumathipala's untiring efforts. He had discussions with the Sports Minister S. B. Dissanayake regarding this issue. The building is well equipped and the Schools Association will have opportunity to carry out their duties smoothly.

Schools Association which produce cricketers to the National Pool conducts three tournaments in three different age categories.

The ceremonial opening will take place on October 16 with the participation of Sports Minister and Cricket Board President as special guests. (AN)

Trials for ruggerites

Ruggerites who toured for Australia are requested to be present for trials on Oct. 14 at Havelock Park. This trial will be held to select a pool in preparation for the 16th Rugby Asiad which is to be held from October 23 to 30 in Singapore.

The 25-members who toured Australia and the other ten reserve players too are requested to be present for practices. (AN)

Nanda Siriwardena will leave for United States today to officiate at the (Kyokushinkai - Kan) Karate Games to be held in New York. The international competition will be held in the presence of Kancho Matsui Matau who is the director of the International Association. The President of America Bill Clinton in a message wishes all success for games.

Nanda Siriwardene will undergo a special two day training programme soon after the games.

Lankan Kabaddi team beat Thailand: 38-27
By Shirajiv Sirimane

The Sri Lanka National Kabaddi team scored a convincing 38-27 victory over the visiting Thailand National Kabaddi team at Gampaha, last Sunday amidst a very large crowd.

The National team won the first half 23-8 and played a somewhat relaxed game in the second, losing it 15-19.

According to D. Prathapasinghe, National Coach, they rested their team in order to avoid injury, for their next two games.

Sri Lanka scored two 'Luna's (All Out) in the first half, while the Thais had a 'Luna' in the second.

This match was successfully organised by Gampaha District Kabaddi Association.

Reggie Ranatunge, Deputy Minister of Ports and Rehabilitation was the Chief Guest and gave away the awards.