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SAF cycling championships in Colombo
next March Sri Lanka will host the inaugural SAF Cycling championships next March in Colombo. The Cycling Federation (Karunaratne Fraction) expects riders from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to take part in this event. The Ceylon Tobacco Company is expected to be the principal sponsor of this historic event. The CFSL (KF) has already informed the Sports Ministry in this regard. Sri Lankans only international Cycling Commasaire, N. Karunaratne who was in Bangkok for the Asian Games last month brought up this idea at a UCI congress meeting in Thailand. Karunaratne said that the annual "Tour-De-Lanka" to be held in an International standard in future in co-operation with the Asian Cycling Federation, with foreign participants. At the discussion Karunaratne stated that a panel of judges to be trained under the International rules, to officiate in cycling meets, local and abroad. This includes cycling commisaires. The CFSL President Karunaratne, had an opportunity of observing the Asian Games Road races both men and-women. Before coming to Sri Lanka Karunaratne observed the International Indoor Cycling Velodrome in Bangkok. At the Asian Games Road cycling event ‘99 the average speed was 42.09 K.M.P.H. Lankan leading cyclists too could achieve better performances if they were to be looked after better. It clearly shows, in 1966, at the same Asian Games in Bangkok, our cyclist Trevor De Silva (now in Australia) won (2) two Bronze medals. While Mourice Coomarawel had attended the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. Recently our top cyclist Kamal Palitha had won the third place in an International event (Road Race) held in Dubai in 1993. A rare first Meanwhile Karunaratne also earned a rare honour when he was invited by the Asian Cycling Federation to officiate in the Tour de Saudi Arabia event. This event will be held from March 14 to 20 and Karunaratne will be the President of the Commissaires Panel. This is the first time that such a honour has come this island’s way. Controversy However the activities of the CFSL (KF) has come in to question with the Sport Minister S. B. Dissanayake issuing a personal letter that he does not recognise both fractions of the sport. He has stated that he is not recognising both the Karunaratne and Minister Fowzie fraction. There is a court case about this issue and I do not want to recognise any body till that is over", he had stated. Premier Division Cricket Championships Moors SC skipper Chandika Hathurusinghe (49) and Charitha Bandaratilleka (46) put in a fighting knock of 72 runs for the 8th wicket which enabled them to gain first innings victory over Colts CC in their Premier championship cricket fixture concluded at Braybrooke Place yesterday. Colts CC were 94 for one after the first day’s play and not a single ball was bowled in the second day. In the final day Colts were 133 all out, yesterday. Moors were 92 for seven wicket at one stage but skipper Hathurusinghe and young Bandaratilleka guided them to first innings victory, over the fancied Colts CC. Meanwhile, SSC recorded a first innings victory over BRC while NCC vs Bloomfield game ended in no decision at NCC grounds. Tamil Union, CCC match at Sara Stadium, too ended in stalemate. SCORES • At Braybrooke Place Colts 94 for one wicket continued 133 all out in 41.3 overs (Sujith Janaka 39, Sajith Fernando 45, Chaminda Mendis 23, Kesara Jayasinghe 3 for 31, Chandika Hathurusinghe 4 for 31. Moors 200 for nine wickets at close in 60.1 overs (Asela Jayasinghe 20, Chandika Hathurusinghe 49, Primal Salgado 21, Sampath Perera 13, Charitha Bandaratilleka 46, Eric Upashantha 3 for 36, Dinuka Hettiarachchi 2 for 24, Ishara Amarasinghe 2 for 54. At SSC grounds SSC 304 all out and 160 for four wickets declared. (Upeka Fernando 22, Malintha Perera 66 (n.o) Sanjeewa Ranatunga 35 (n.o), Mahela Jayawardana 23. BRC 196 all out and 100 for eight wickets at close (Mahela Jayawardane 3 for 39, Dilhara Fernando 2 for 36, Harith Jayasuriya 2 for 7. At NCC grounds. Bloomfield 238 all out. (Batheesha de Silva 52). NCC 191 for five wickets at close. (Russel Arnold 82 (n.o), Ruwan Kalpage 46). At P. Sara Stadium. Tamil Union 146 all out. CCC 133 for three wickets at close in 31 overs. (Damitha Hunukumbura 47, Lanka de Silva 31). (DR) Tame
draw at Moratuwa The Premier Division Cricket Championships encounter between Sebastianites CC and Panadura CC played at the De Soysa Stadium Moratuwa ended in a tame draw. Continuing from their first innings overnight total of 200/6 the Sebastianites declared at 226/8 and sent in Panadura CC and curtailed them to 183/7 at close. Chief Scores: Sebastianites SC 1st Innings 226/8 declared. (Panadura SC 1st Innings 183/7 at close Sarath Jayasundera 89, Chamara Silva 25, Nimesh Perera 4/53). Lumbini MV scored 258 for eight wickets declared while Isipatana were 60 for three wickets at close in their inter school cricket fixture worked off at Colts grounds yesterday. Manjula Priyantha (102) and Nilakshan Abeyratne (77) made 130 run liaison for the third wicket, for Lumbini MV. A Atapattu (4 for 51) bowled well for Isipatana. Scores: Lumbini MV 258 for eight wickets declared. (Nilakshan Abeyratne 77, Manjula Priyantha 102, Ranil Dhammika 39, M. Manoj 2 for 67, A. Atapattu 4 for 51). Isipatana 60 for three wickets at close. (Manoj Fernando 21 n.o.). (D.R.) The SLTA (Playing Section) has entered a record 12 tennis teams for the 1999 Inter-Club Doubles Tournament. This is the largest number of teams any club has ever entered said Tennis captain Arjan Perera when contacted by ‘The Island’. Most encouraging is the fact that a large number of our young members ranging from 10 years and above will participate. They have a lot to gain when they take on much more experienced players, he said. Sahan
PoW’s best find Prince of Wales College’s most outstanding Under-13 Cricketer for 1997 Award was presented to Sahan Wijeratne the skipper of the Under-13 team at the time. Sahan holds a unique record of having skippered the under-13 side for three years and still at the age 14 represents Under-15 team. His prowess as a good all-rounder has helped him to play in this year’s 2nd-XI team. Already Sahan has scored 79 against Ananda, 56 against St. Sebastian’s and an unbeaten 56 against Nalanda. Sahan Wijeratne excels not only in cricket but in athletics too. Participating at the 1996 Piliyandala District Athletic meet he was awarded the Best Athlete’s Award having won the 100 metres, 200 metres and the Long Jump events. At the Milo All-Island Inter-School Athletic meet he was placed 3rd. The untiring efforts of Bandula de Silva the Prince of Wales College coach has helped Sahan to reach these heights. |
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