.

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Kandy-‘we are the Champions’

by Hafiz Marikar
Yes, it is Kandy Sports Club, the 1999 League Champions. Class and experience will tell every time in any game. From what was seen on the Bogambara Stadium, on Saturday, in the deciding game where Kandy Sports Club ruggerites led by Haris Omar, immensely superior in all departments, scored a clear cut victory over their arch rivals CR and FC.

They won and won handily by 35 points (three goals, a try and three penalty kicks to 14) two goals, leaving no doubt or room for argument.

Flashing a brand of play not seen for sometime by the Nittawela boys, the Kandy SC must sure have warmed the hearts of many an older timer watching the game.

The happiest at the stadium was their President Chandra Wijenayake who is celebrating his 50th year with Kandy SC. Fast, open and ever ready to fling the ball about, the Kandy SC players showed a marked superiority over CR and FC in every department of the game.

Kandy Sports Club forwards using their superior weight and binding much tighter and lower, had the ball back far more often. Which speaks volumes for the speed and anticipation of the Kandy SC halves and wing forwards.

It was indeed a heartening sight to see such hard and low tackling with players, especially senior hands, putting everything they had into it. Here too the Kandy SC players had the edge on the opponents.

The opening back divisions were rather a marked contrast to each other. The Nitawella boys in possession always looked dangerous while the CR and FC threes appeared flat-footed displayed a distinct distaste for hard running, when in possession.

In this game the Kandy SC lads played more as a combination than their opponents. It is hardly fair to pick out individuals. However, in any game the potentially great player who is very obviously talented, makes his presence felt.

Haris, Indragith, Asoka, Lasantha Swarna and Nalaka were such players in this game.

Specially Nalaka Weerakkody played one of the best games, for instance, some of Nalaka’s kicks to touch had the hall mark of class particularly one delightful screwkick through Nalaka’s kicks Kandy SC gained lot of ground on many a times.

There was Asoka and Suranga of Kandy SC who jumped well in the lineouts, even the CR and FC ball they won.

The laision between outsides and forwards was admirable. Where an outside flaterred, there was not one forward but several, to carry the movement on.

The Kandy SC halves worked well, scrum half Nilufer Ibrahim slinging out his passes accurately and stand off Sajith Mallikarachchi opening out the game and also finding good touch. The most dangerous player in the game was fullback Nalaka Weerakody. This speedy fullback did his part brilliantly. The Kandy SC centers Lasantha and Indrajith impressed. They made several openings and also tackled well, catching the CR and FC threes in possession time and again, the two wingers Sameera and Radika also impressed. The CR and FC fifteen could not match the Kandy SC fifteen and this cost them the game. In the loose CR and FC forwards failed to combine and their play was ragged.

The CH and FC threes failed in attack but they tackled well, Kandy’s SC took play into the CR and FC territory several times with long kicks off the boot of Nalake.

Kandy SC dominated play from the first whistle CR and FC never had a chance of doing well due to the superb team effort coming from the Kandy SC lads.

Kandy SC started off with a penalty coming from Nalaka, and later a superb try from winger Radika this gave them 8 points, then came a excellent try from second rower Suranga, which was goaled by Nalaka to give them 15 points, to nil at half time.

After the turn, Kandy SC played a faster game, and their forwards played hard and had the better of the lineouts and loose maul, they were on the ball like a cat pouncing on a mouse, wherever the ball, there were the Kandy SC players. And the way they stuck to their guns in the game certainly stamped them as players of class.

In the second half it was Lasantha, Indrajith who scored the tries both were goaled by Nalaka and also a penalty kick at goal. For CR and FC it was Savanth and Champika, both were goaled by Zulfikar.

So, Kandy SC ended up as the champions with this win.

Michael John Hall referred.

C O M M E N T
A DIFFERENT BALL GAME

by Srian Obeyesekere
He did not emerge on the international scene with a bang. He was just out of his teens on his debut for Sri Lanka in a one-day international. It was against India and he came in for some stick. But he was soon back. Gone was the early waywardness. The young bundle of energy had settled for right line and length with the remarkable ability to deliver a perfect inswinger.

With every given opportunity the youngster began to develop his game. That cricket was in his blood was unmistakable. Not only did he start knocking the stumps. He also displayed a fine eye to middle the ball. Above all the gutsy temperament to go after the bowling.

Indeed young Suresh Perera, a former product of Isipatana College and Sinhalese Sports Club player had shown great promise.

But alas! Not soon after didn’t a different ball game take shape. The youngster was suddenly not considered for selection. Branded a chucker, he failed to find a place even in his club XI, let alone the national team. Here was worthy material which should have been nurtured to the World Cup team. But it was not to be as did so many other deserving youngsters find the doors shut out on them.

Lo and behold! Come the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team’s tour of England, and did not the ‘chucker’ emerge. Weren’t cricket fans indeed taken for a ride while worthy talent was shut out?

This is one of the few cases of discrimination that has blocked deserving young talent from finding just reward. Another such player is Indika de Saram, the youngster from Matara who now at 26 years could consider himself unfortunate not to have made the national team when he was in peak form. T. M. Dilshan, who has made quite an impact with the bat for the Lanka second string team in England, is another player on whom the doors were shut. Word has it that he was selected to represent Sri Lanka during the Asian One-Day Championships last year, but was shelved with pressure having been brought on to include Hashan Tillekeratne instead of him.

As it is, the performances of the youngsters in the second string team has been very inspiring. Suresh Perera has returned and once again made quite an impact. He underlined his growing talent stroking his way to a top score of 75 runs coming in at number 8 when his side was in the doldrums against Durham last Wednesday.

De Saram too has impressed so far with some telling knocks including a match winning 85 in a one-dayer. Unfortunately for the Tamil Union Cricket Club batsman he has been laid off having contacted chicken pox just when he was beginning to bloom.

The Sri Lanka ‘A’ team might have lost a few matches. But that is no yardstick to write off the young talent that has been quite pleasing. What cannot be forgotten is that they have won and the individual performances are continuing to show promise. Opening batsman, Avishka Gunawardene, another unfortunate World Cup discard, having infused into his batting the experience he has gained more than the others on the international circuit with some fine knocks.

Whatmore due today

Dav Whatmore, the newly appointed coach of the Sri Lanka cricket team is due to arrive from England today.

He is expected to meet the media on Monday.

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Surrey recover to 322 vs. Lanka ‘A’

From Sujeeva Nivunhella — Our London Correspondent
Sri Lanka ‘A’ lost the initiative they had as Surrey recovered from 119 for 5 wickets to 322 allout on the opening day of their 4 day being played. at the Oval on Friday. Ben Hollioake(69) and Garry Butcher(54) led the recovery after Surrey won the toss and elected to bat.

For Sri Lanka ‘A’, off-spinner Russell Arnold bowled well to capture 4 wickets for 74 runs.

SCOREBOARD

SURREY
First Innings

D. BICKNELL         ct Jayawardane b Boteju             18
I. WARD                  ct Jayawardane b Arnold            50
A. STEWART        ct Jayawardane b S. Perera          19
RATCLIFFE            b Arnold                                         00
A. HOLLIOAE       st Jayawardane b Arnold             16
B. HOLLIOAE        ct Jayawardane b N. Perera          69
G. BUTCHER          ct Arnold b Herath                       54
J. BATTY                 ct Dilshan b Arnold                      21
G. BATTY                not out                                            25
GREENIDGE           lbw b Gallage                                 14
BISHOP                   ct Boteju b Gallage                        00
Extras (1W, 16NB, 10LB, 9B)                                       36

TOTAL (all out, 102.5 overs)                                     322

Fall: 1-55, 2-92, 3-94, 4-102, 5-119, 6-237, 7-268, 8-284, 9-322

Bowling: Gallage 12.5-2-43-2, S. Perera 15-2-46-1, N. Perera 24-6-89-1, Boteju 7-1-16-1, Arnold 29-5-74-4, Herath 15-6-35-1.

Kulawansa spectacular as Lankan athletes lower 3 more records

by Shirajiv Sirimane
Leading Sri Lankan athletes once again signalled they are in good trim for the September SAF Games when three more national records were bettered on the second day of the three day 77th national athletic championship at the Stadium yesterday.

Sriyani Kulawansa one of Sri Lanka’s most experienced athletes came up with a spectacular performance in the 100m hurdles when she ran a dashing 13.25 seconds run to set up a new record.

Kulawansa coached by Derwin Perera and had gained tremendous international exposure taking part in the world circuit Grand Prix event bettered, her own national mark of 13.27 seconds set up last year.

Kulawansa who is racing on Sri Lankan soil after a long lapse due to busy international schedules went flat out for the record despite not having any competition. Inoka Umayani of Sri Lanka army who was her closest rival finished way behind her (14.53 seconds). Kulawansa also holds the SAF Games record (13.34 seconds) in this event.

In contrast Damayanthi Dharsha, who is also in the Europian circuit Grand Prix events ran a somewhat relaxed race in the 200 m final to finish in 23.61 seconds. Tamara S. Deepika was second (24.96 seconds) Susanthika Jayasinghe who will run for Sri Lanka for the world championships end of this month in Spain and thereafter the SAF Games in Nepal holds both the SAF (22.95 sec) and national records (23.23 sec) in this event.

As expected Ruwan P. Perera once again lived up to his full potential to win the pole vault event bettering his own mark of 4.85 metres. Coached by Derwin Perera his achievement overruns the former Sri Lanka record of 4.80m and the SAF record of 4.80m (M. A. Eldo India 1989) as well.

Anusha Kariyawasam who took time off and flew from Italy cleared 12.81 m to set up a new Sri Lanka triple jump record. Anusha who excelled in the Long Jump event on the first day bettered Thushani Ariyaratne’s national mark of 12.53m in 1998. Newcomer A. A. D. Dinesha of Air Force also did well to overrun the former record with a leap of 12.56 m.

The much looked forward to 10000m women’s national record from Sujeeva Nilmini was not to be yesterday. She felt short by nearly one minute to better her own mark.

Record holder, Nelson Siriwardane once again took the top slot in the mens triple jump event 15.75.

SAF Gold Medallist and most experienced jumper Chandimal Niroshan (fifth 14.65m) was very disappointing.

The National Championships will conclude today.

Results:

110 M. Hurdles (Men) Final

1. J. M. A. K. Jayasundara (Track Master SC) 14.64, 2. Kenneth Perera (SL Army) 14.79, 3. T. M. Nawagamuwa (SL Army) 14.83.

100 M Hurdles (Women) Final

1. M. A. Sriyani Kulawansa (Ace AC) 13.25*, 2. W. K. Inoka Umayani (SL Army) 14.53, 3. T. Rukmali Dissanayake (SL Schools) 15.75.

*New Sri Lanka Record

Pole Vault (Men) Final

1. Ruwan Pradeep Perera (SL Army) 4.85M, 2. A. P. Somaratne (SL Army) 4.10, 3. N. K. S. Fernando (Lanka Lions SC) 4.00.

Discuss Throw (Men) Final

1. K.Gayan Upendra (SL Navy) 46.32M, 2. A. M. N. Jayakody (SL Army) 42.59, 3. R. Jayakody (Lanka Lions SC) 36.25.

200m (Men) Final

1. P. Ramachandran (India) 21.67, 2. K. S. Mendis (SL Army) 21.69, 3. A. R. M. C. B. Ramanayake (SL Army) 21.93.

200 M (Women) Final

1. K. V. Damayanthi Dharsha (Track Master SC) 23.61, 2. K. G. H. T. Saman Deepika (SL Army) 24.96, 3. N. Shashikala Nimmi De Soysa (Sri Lak AC) 24.97.

800 M (Men) Final

1. V. Ratna Kumara (Lanka Lions SC) 1:50.64, 2. P. M. G. A. Dharmasena (SL Army) 1:51.55, 3. K. P. K. Vajira Lankanath Kularatne (Lanka Lions SC) 1:52.38.

800 M (Women) Final

1. C. Latha (India) 2:10.19, 2. D. H. M. Priyadharshani (SL Army) 2:10.67, 3. K. I. Gunawardane (SL Air Force) 2:11.93.

Triple Jump (Women) Final

1. Anusha Kariyawasam (Sri Lak AC) 12.81*, 2. A. A. D. Dinesha (SL Air Force) 12.56+, 3. R. Thushari Ariyaratne (SL Army) 12.27.

*New Sri Lanka Record

+Previous record

10000 M (Women) Final

1. Sujeewa Nilmini Jayasena (Ace AC) 35:57.55, 2. D. A. Inoka (Lanka Lions SC) 37:18.75, 3. Shamen Stauter (Lanka Lions SC) 37:37.98.

Javelin Throw (Women) Final

1. Anne Maheshi De Silva (Lanka Lions SC) 45.84M, 2. G. Ranasinghe (SL Air Force) 44.23, 3. B. L. Nadeeka Lakmali (Galle DAA) 40.47

Triple Jump (Men) Final

1. Nelan Siriwardane (Nationalised SAA) 15.75M, 2. L. S. Damith De Silva CT & FC 15.00, 3. S. D. C. Sampath Weerasinghe (Puttalam DAA) 14.84.

Daniel beards them

By Ranjan Paranawithana
Colombo North Region gained a seven wicket victory over Colombo South Region to clinch the Inter-region Under 19 Championship on Friday at NCC grounds. The tournament was conducted by National Development Committee of the BCCSl.

Ian Daniels was adjudged the Man-of-the final for his classy performance with bat and ball.

Colombo North who won the toss in vited their opponents to take first lease oft the wicket and dismissed them for a total of 165 in 47.2 overs. Upeka Fernando top scored for Colombo South while Ian Daniel claimed 3 for 17, P. Jayasundera and skipper Arshad Junaid captured two wickets each,

Colombo South reached the target in 38.5 overs losing only three wickets in the process. Ian Daniel was at his best scoring 78 with 10 fours and two massive sixes. Lakshan Fernando made 37 while Malintha Gajanayake was not out on 23 at the end.

Scores

Colombo North 165 in 47.2 overs (Nilakshan Abeyratne 22, Upeka Fernando 36, Gihan Fernando 32, Pubudu Ranaweera 31, Ian Daniel 3/17, P. Jayasundera 2/15, Arshad Junaid 2/28)

Colombo North 166 for 3 in 38.5 overs (Lakshan Fernando 37, Ian Daniel 78, Malintha Gajanayake 23 not out, Nimesh Perera 16)

Jamaldeen junior cue champion

Master M. H. Jamaldeen of Muzammil Moors Sports Club beat Nishan Fernando Otter Aquatic Club by four frames to nil in the final of the 1999 Junior (Under 21) National Snooker Championship, conducted by the Billiards and Snooker Association of Sri Lanka was held yesterday at the Association Headquarter tables.

Master M. H. Jamaldeen is an up and coming young player who started playing snooker at the age of 15 years. He is an old boy of Colombo International School and presently studing at the University of Warwick in United Kingdom.

He was the semi-finalist at the Junior National Snooker C’ship held in 1996. He represented Moors Sports Club at Inter-Club Division "D" and Moors Sports Club, became the D Division champions.

Muzammil and two runners-up is likely to represent the country at the 1999 Under 21 World Snooker Championship to be held from September 25 to October 9 in Cairo, Egypt, which will be conducted by the International Billboards and Snooker Federation.

Chief referee D. G. Daluwatte refereed the finals.

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What about action against the wrong-doers?

by Mahinda Wijesinghe
The medium of Television has been regarded both as a been and boon. On the one hand, it provides students a medium of education and entertainment - when wholesome - to the public, while on the other, the invention of Scotsman John Logie Baird is sometimes called opium to the impressionable. Recently, for instance, a TV programme was telecast to explain Sri Lanka’s cricket woes. Majority opinion however was that it was a ‘home-and-home’ affair. No wonder, television is sometimes referred to as an ‘idiot box’, not to educate or enlighten but to paint the truth.

PAINT THE TRUTH IN 6,134 SHADES?

Being the Sri Lanka correspondent for Cricketer International, England, the other day, I filed a report based entirely on what was originally published in the local newspapers about a reported incident of alleged assault by a senior cricket official to an expatriate Sri Lankan in England. In fact, the victim made a statement to the Rupavahini giving a blow-by-blow account of the incident, the complaint he made to the Police, and about the medical treatment he received. Fearing the adverse publicity the internationally popular magazine would create, the official in question apparently had not refuted the original, local newspaper report that appeared here nor the Rupavahini news item telecast during prime time news. Instead, he somehow succeeded in creating doubts in the mind of the editor of Cricketer International in England, about the veracity of my report. It was, to repeat, a mere reproduction of what was published in the local newspapers. An apology was procured and the official crowed about it in a TV talk-show which is, by the way, sponsored by the institution he works for! No wonder it is said that who pays the piper calls the tune - on television or elsewhere. But the truth, like murder, will one day out. Though, attempts are made to paint it in 6,134 shades, even if the one who pays the piper is a self-proclaimed Christian Minister!

RASPUTIN AND OTHFR CHARLATANS

Some people refer to religion, like TV, as the opium of the masses while for others, religion is a means of seeking release from human suffering. But, just like in the abuse of the television, the Rasputins and other charlatans who manipulate the cassock or the robe for their own ends, gives religion a bad name. Of course, there were the real McCoys like England’s classy batsman David Sheppard who eventually became the Bishop of Liverpool in 1974 after having played 22 Tests for his country. Obtaining an apology for a wrongful act endured is one thing but to crow about it on TV and give a tongue-lashing to anybody not having an opportunity to reply at that time is simply ‘not cricket’. Especially, having got the apology, after what now seem under questionable circumstances is tantamount to false pretences. As they say in the tabloids, watch this column for further details.

WHAT ABOUT THE WRONG-DOERS?

There was also a news report that five clubs playing in the P. Sara Trophy (which is now Segment II of our first division) had been promoted to the Premier League, that is to Segment I. Well, if stipulated conditions have been fulfilled, a club gaining promotion - as opposed to being relegated - is something all sports-lovers should extol. The question here is, there do not seem to be any accepted norms for the promotions to have been made by the previous Tournament Committee. This problem was brought to the notice of the Interim Committee by the other affected clubs. The Interim Board immediately appointed a committee to probe this matter, and indeed did discover that the previous Tournament Committee had made a decision not based on the usually accepted principles regarding promotions. Thankfully, the promotions have now been aborted.

FROM MARADANA TO MARADANKADAWELA

Yet, see the damage such ad hoc decisions have caused. The clubs that were promoted, it has been reported, now claim that based on the elevation they have incurred considerable expenditure in contracting top players to play for their clubs. What are they to do now? Obvious question, and the answer is, bad luck. More importantly, the question that arises is, by indulging in this type of ‘loose’ administration, look at the precedence set. What is it going to be next time? There must be certain criteria set as guidelines in any form of administration, whether it be in a high-tech nuclear submarine manufacturing company in the US or in one of the numerous pharmacies that dot our environment from Maradana to Maradankadawela. Surely, did we not have tighter administrative disciplines in the Cricket Board. Here is an organisation that dealt in millions of dollars and was responsible recently in negotiating a deal described as the biggest-ever in the history of sports in Sri Lanka worth half a billion rupees, did they conduct their business in this manner? What more will surface in the future?

ANYBODY FOR CRICKET COMMENTARIES?

Many questions were asked about this massive Sony TV deal. Not only in the manner how tenders were called for, but how the deal was signed at a five-star hotel, hours before the issuance of the Court injunction. The Interim Committee has now stated that it seems OK and the deal has been ratified. So long as there aren’t any blemishes such as conflicting interests, and if the deal is most beneficial to Sri Lanka, well that is what matters. Did any official of the Cricket Board, from the previous lot or from those in the Interim Board gain any advantage by this new arrangement? For instance, did Sony hire any official of the Cricket Board who was directly involved in the signing of the deal, to do cricket commentaries for them? Time will tell.

QUESTION OF RESPECTING THE RULES

Section 31 (b) of the Cricket Board Constitution very clearly precludes anyone who is an employee or writes to a newspaper or is a Director of a newspaper from holding office. Section 31 (d) further states that no official or a member of the Board should "write articles or grant interviews to the Press or Radio, or speak over the Radio on cricket matches conducted under the aegis of the Board, without the prior consent of the President of the Board." Of course, those concerned will loudly claim that rules have not been broken. But, the point is, these rules have been enshrined in the constitution so that such situations must be avoided unless under extenuating circumstances. It is not a question of going around the rules - as in avoiding the taxman! - but respecting the legislature. That is the conduct expected of cricket administrators.

Sri Lanka cricket needs better planning

by Mahinda Wijesinghe
The August edition of the London Cricketer International has, albeit unwittingly, rubbed further salt into Sri Lanka’s wounds by publishing the Top 20 performers each, in bowling and batting, during the 1999 World Cup. Alas, not a single Sri Lankan - remember, we were the defending champions - made it to the 40. In this line-up, were featured members of every Test-playing nation, and includes even two Scotsmen, G. M. Hamilton in the batting list and J. A. R. Blain in the bowling honours. Figures like photographs do tell a story. In this instance, quite graphically too. Sri Lanka, from the position of defending champions was unceremoniously hustled out in the first round, tumbling like Humpty-Dumpty.

Compare this with our performance in 1996. Arjuna Ranatunga, with a batting average of 120.5 and Aravinda de Silva with a batting average of 89.6 headed the list while Hashan Tillekaratne sporting an average of 63.5 stood at No. 11. This is not all. In the quarter-finals. Sanath Jayasuriya became the Man of the Match (against England) while Aravinda de Silva won the award in both the semi-final and the Final. Sanath Jayasuriya also won the coveted Most Valuable Player award. Accolades fell thick and fast in 1996 but 1999 was a blank, despite a lot of inputs. A psychologist was summoned, a media hype was introduced involving much expenditure, an overseas fielding coach was employed, brave promises were made to plug the gaping holes but all to no avail.

There were and will be many a post-mortem on the World Cup debacle. But, the bottom line is, Sri Lanka failed despite the tell-tale signs being all so clear. The statistics for the past year before the World Cup read something like 18 of the 25 one-day games being lost. The writing on the wall was obvious. As events proved, the media hype, the efforts of the psychologist and the fielding coach and brave promises sounded so hollow when the real business began. Sri Lanka, the defending champions, exited ignominiously from the first round itself.

No intelligent cricket follower will blame only Arjuna Ranatunga and his deputy Aravinda de Silva for the catastrophe that befell Sri Lanka. Of course, everyone remembers that both of them played material roles in the 1996 victory. At the same time, one must also keep in mind that players age with time. Even thoroughbreds get long in the tooth. The fact that the 1999 World Cup was to be staged was known three years ago. We now know that the next World Cup will be staged in South Africa in 2003 and the one after in the West Indies in 2007. These are not secrets. So, proper planning must take precedence over all else. Knowing that some of the players will be hard-pressed to retain their vitality, infusion of young blood should have been done earlier on. Perhaps this is being wise after the event. But, the officials who are around and who have a say in these matters should have known better. This is why as much as top-class umpires must officiate when the best are at play, quality administrators are needed to manage the game at the highest level. Sadly, the administrative set-up in Sri Lanka does not permit the best to get in. The biggest stumbling block is the system of voting which is by a show of hands - whilst many watch with interested eyes!

Going back to the lack of planning. Recently, a senior official of the suspended administration, said in a TV interview (after having dutifully sung the praises of his contemporaries} that the actions of the previous selectors were justifiable. His naive contention being that since hardly any changes were made to the new team - to meet the Australians next month - that played in the World Cup, the actions of the earlier selectors were vindicated. The man forgets that players cannot be blooded overnight to meet the rigours of international cricket that fast. It takes time. Hence the current selectors had no choice but to persist with the old lot for the moment.

In other words, due to lack of forward planning Sri Lanka is presently in a rut. In fact, one of Sri Lanka’s best prospects, Mahela Jayawardena, was not in the original squad for the last Australian tour. It was an injury to Aravinda that enabled him to go as a replacement. The blazing century at Adelaide was his answer. Still, he was not included for the first game, against England, at the World Cup.

The wondrous deeds of the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team currently in England is proof that we have enough talent in Sri Lanka. They may not be yet ready to cross swords with Australia, the current World Champions. But, it seems patently clear, at least to those without prejudiced eyes, that had some of these been blooded earlier, Sri Lanka would have not only given a better account of themselves at the World Cup but also the country’s cricketing future would have been better served.

We cannot win every time. Nobody expects that. But, we should not lose so abjectly simply because we do not know how to plan.

Athlete Riyaz excels in Darwin

by Hafiz Marikar
Trinity College athletics Captain M. H. M. Riyaz excelled in the recently concluded Arafura Games at Darwin, Australia, where over thirty nations took part. Riyaz pocketed the bronze medal in the 400 meters hurdles clocking 54.5 seconds just behind Papua New Guinea and Philippines hurdlers.

Riyaz, the second Trinitian to win a medal at an international event, after the late Duncan White. Today over here in the hills Riyaz can be rated as the best in this sport. A big future lies ahead of him as the lad sets his sights on bigger quests.

The history of athletics at Trinity is somewhat chequered, but it has in it one glorious moment of supreme triumph for the greatest achievement in sport that this school and country as a whole has had in the field of athletics. Trinity boasts of the only Asian to win a silver medal at the Olympics. The only Asian to break an Olympic and world record in such an event. This phenomenal performance was put up by Duncan White in the London Olympics in 1948 when he ran second to Cochran in the 400 meters hurdles event, he nevertheless broke both existing records.

Athletics was the first organised sport at Trinity dating back to 1883. In the case of Riyaz, he is in the hands of coach H. Gamage Ariyaratne who is the athletics coach of the Central Province Sports Ministry who is assisted by G. R. Dhanapala. Riyaz is a national coloursman in athletics, and also a talented ruggerite. The present principal of Trinity College, W. R. Breckendrige sports lover is all out to give of his best to seeing this budding athlete climb up the ladder.

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