Lankans move to UAE still looking for answers
After an exhausting several months of cricket at home, Sri Lanka will leave for UAE today in a state of flux and disarray. The team has little idea of what its best side is or even how to combat the opposition, Pakistan, which is now a formidable team in their “adopted” home, even without the [...]
All set for more surprises
With some new features to the existing components, the much anticipated Most Popular competitions of the Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2018, will officially commence from October 1. In addition to the All-Island Schools and the Emerging Schools categories, the organisers have decided to make room for a new category — [...]
Lankans through to the quarters
The Sri Lanka ruggerites experienced the highs and the lows on the opening day of the Asian Rugby Sevens series (second leg) at the Nam Dong Asiad Stadium in Seoul, South Korea Pitted against the Asian power-house, Japan in the first game, the Sri Lankans made hardly any impression while suffering a 5-47 rout. Happier [...]
A super Sports Festival without a Games Torch
The 43rd National Sports Festival organised and conducted by the Ministry of Sports hit a new low when the traditional Games Torch failed to light up throughout the second day of the meet at the Kotawila National Stadium in Matara yesterday. Even during the opening ceremony of the Sports Festival on Friday, two former athletes [...]
Devinda and Herath emerge Dambulla Leg champions
Aurapada Vidyalaya Mawanella’s L.R. Devinda and H.M.B.A Herath of Kuliyapitiya MMV emerged champions in the boys and girls categories of the second stage Mini Marathon which was held at Dambulla yesterday. In the boys event G.D.C.D. Alwis of Sri Rahula MV Katugastota, K.D.S.K. Siriwardena of Heseth MV Nikaweratiya, R.A.L. Rukshan of Horombawa MV and W.A.M.S.P. [...]
Joseph Vaz crush Dharmaraja by an innings and 96 runs
Joseph Vaz duly completed an innings and 96-run win over Dharmaraja at Lake View yesterday. This was on the cards from the time when the visitors ran up a massive 300 runs. The Rajans, 12-0 at the end of day one, lost all twenty wickets on day two for 192 runs. Nipun Dhananjaya failed with [...]
Navy dominate at Diyawanna Oya
Rulers of the waters, Sri Lanka Navy proved their might at the 32nd Sri Lanka National Rowing Championship, clinching the overall title on the closing day of the three-day event at the Diyawanna Rowing Centre in Rajagiriya yesterday. The Navy oarsmen and oarswomen maintained an overwhelming performance through the three days and rightfully claimed what [...]
Uva Rhinos take home the Signature Cup
Uva Rhinos scored a close 1-0 victory over Colombo Dragons to carry away the glittering Signature Cup at the inaugural Masters Hockey League 2017 at the Astro Turf Hockey Complex, Colombo seven, yesterday. Over 100 legends of yesteryear were in action in the tournament organised by the Sri Lanka Masters National Hockey Association and main [...]
Quarter-finalists found after day one
The teams to qualify to the quarter finals of the Cup, Bowl and Shield categories of the Milo All Island inter-schools U14 Division Two Ten a Side rugby tournament were found after the completion of the round robin matches that was played on day one at the Ruwanwella Public ground yesterday. The two day tournament [...]
Nimnaka spins St. Anthony’s to innings victory
Fifteen-year-old left arm spinner Nimnaka Jayatilleke produced a yet another impressive bowling spell, claiming 13 for 88 runs to guide St. Anthony’s College, Kandy to an innings and 13-run win over Wesley in their U-19 cricket match concluded at Campbell Park yesterday. In his first match with the senior side, he picked up ten wickets [...]
Chamindu’s ton help Central Province win
An allround performance by Chamindu Wickramasinghe who slammed 117 off 110 balls inclusive of 16 boundaries and two sixes and grabbed three wickets helped Central Province coast to an easy 120-run win over North Central Province in the Under 15 Inter-Provincial cricket encounter played at Anuradhapura. Chamindu was supported by Abishek Kumar who hit a [...]
MAS, Keells and Teejay home for tea
MAS Unichela, John Keells and Teejay Lanka PLC were at home for tea, scoring easy victories over Hatton National Bank, Dimo and LB Finance respectively in the 25th Singer MCA Premier League 2018 cricket matches yesterday. At The Colts Grounds HNB batsmen found spinner Duvindu Thilakaratne too hot to handle as he captured 6 for [...]
Eric Vanshel Boin of Spain annex the boy’s title
Ukrainian Eric Vanshel Boin, who is based in Spain, annexed the Boy’s title at the ITR Junior tournament worked off at the SLTA counts. He beat Sri Lankan Avindra Perera 6-4, 6-2 in a match that didn’t excite and enthuse all the way. Eric is vastly more experienced and has been weaned on clay. However, [...]
Sri Lanka Cricket to take Pramodya files to CID
Sri Lanka Cricket will make an official complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) requesting an investigation into some ‘serious’ allegations made by former national cricketer Pramodya Wickramasinghe against the national cricketers. Speaking to a private TV channel, Wickramasingha recently questioned former captain Angelo Mathews’ tactics during the ODI series against Zimbabwe and also the [...]
SGM clash with national Aquatic events
The Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU) has scheduled its Special General Meeting (SGM) to approve accounts to be held this morning at 10:00am while the national championships in synchronized swimming and water polo are being simultaneously held throughout the day at the Sugathadasa Stadium pool. The scheduling of the meeting raises doubt whether the [...]
Football Finances – So much money, but the game gets poorer!
In this feature, we zoom in on the FFSL finance which is once again in the news for the wrong reasons. Indeed it is laudable that the FFSL can persist with their programs given the grand larceny that it is subjected to from time-to-time. More in question is the pontification of the FFSL President who [...]
Is this the answer to cricket’s impasse
Former Sri Lanka skipper Aravinda de Silva is tipped to be Vice President of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), but the cricket legend says he still has not decided on the matter. Speaking exclusively to the Sunday Times, the doyen of cricket says, if he decides to take up the responsibility, he would need an efficient [...]
Cross Country Horse Riding on October 1
Of the 25 slots that will be open for the inaugural Cross Country Horse Riding Competition to be held at the Victoria Golf and Country Resort (VGCR) on October 1, the organisers, Sri Lanka Equestrian Association (SLEA) revealed that already 12 have been taken by top riders. The SLEA President, Suranjith Premadasa told the Sunday [...]
Former Shuttle Queen Chandrika De Silva wins Over-40 Silver
Former Sri Lanka Shuttle Queen Chandrika de Silva proved she had not lost her touch in Badminton, when she won Silver at the World Senior Badminton Championships in Kochin, India, recently. Chandrika was the Women’s National champion for 11 consecutive years, and represented Sri Lanka at many international events. In age categories ranging from 35 [...]
Darin wins C’wealth power-lifting gold in Protcherfs troom
Sri Lankan Power-lifting champion Darin Weerasinghe won gold at the Commonwealth Power-lifting Championships held in Protcherfstroom, South Africa. Darin, who was a member of a team of nine that represented Sri Lanka, had stiff challenge from competitors of other countries such as New Zealand, Great Britain, India, Pakistan and South Africa. Darin took part in [...]
St. Anthony’s, Vidyartha and Kingswood in focus
St. Anthony’s College Katugastota, one of the leading cricketing institutions in the island, will continue to languish in Division ‘B’ for a third year. After the experiment with old Anthonian coaches failed, the school turned to the respected coach Sampath Perera. His first year was not that successful. They started the new season with a [...]
Royal’s memorable Rugby excursion in the land of All Blacks
Royal’s senior rugby squad returned to Sri Lanka this week after a tour to Auckland, New Zealand. Besides playing two games against Rangitoto and Kings’ Colleges, the other highlights of the tour were the exclusive session with former All Blacks head coach Graham Henry and the opportunity to watch the All Blacks-Springboks game live at [...]
Not-so-Fair-and-Lovely weather hampers start of tourney
The maiden ‘Fair and Lovely Men’ MCA ‘B’ Division 50-Over League Tournament 2018 commenced on Sept.9. Of the 7 fixtures scheduled for the 1st weekend, only 3 had gone the full distance, while all 3 matches scheduled for Sept.13, were washed off. In one of the matches played on Sept. 17/20, a 146-runs, 9th-wicket stand [...]
SL Automobile Sports on the threshold of FIA membership
The country’s controlling body for Motorsports, Sri Lanka Automobile Sports (SLAS) is on the verge of obtaining membership of the Federation Internationale de L’Automobile (FIA), the global governing body. SLAS has the affiliation of 9 local Motorsports clubs, actively engaged in conducting events throughout a calendar year, but strangely, the SLAS is not an FIA [...]
Seylan Bank (Men), MAS Holdings (Women) ‘A’ Division Champs
Seylan Bank (Seylan) and MAS Holdings (MAS) emerged winners in the Men’s and Women’s ‘A’ Divisions at the Mercantile Table Tennis Association (MTTA) KnockOut Championship 2017 organised and conducted by the TT Association in its Diamond Jubilee year, at the S.Thomas’ College Indoor Stadium last weekend. This year’s championship conducted in 5 Divisions for Men [...]
Exhibition platforms of the Tennis world
The global inter-nation Tennis competition, the Davis Cup (DC) is played in 5 Groups. Only countries in the top Group, known as the ‘World Group’, are eligible to win the DC. This year’s finals for the DC will be in late November between France and Belgium. For all others, winning the Group means promotion upwards. [...]
In Lanka’s last desert storm Mathews shone
Unhonoured and unsung (at the present time) the Sri Lankan team will leave for the venues in the desert sands with a few things to prove. On a positive note, the trauma induced by the Indian clean sweep would have receded to the back of their minds. New opponents, fresh venues and playing away from [...]
Lankan Rugby a nine-day wonder that keeps repeating itself
Rip Van Winkle is the fellow who fell asleep and awoke decade later, with a long beard and tattered clothes. One minute he was a young man, and what seems to him a few hours later, he’s ancient! Psychologists believe that, something like that happens to us as we get older. Time seems to fly [...]
Rains in Nuwara Eliya reins in the RTC
Continuous rain in Nuwara Eliya has forced abandonment of Horse racing events planned for August and September, by the Royal Turf Club (RTC), according to its President, Panduka Keerthinanda. The last time RTC conducted races was in April, with the successful Selvaratnam Challenge Trophy, Magic Million Cup and the Governor’s Cup. The next Race day [...]
Good returns for achievers
The National Youth Service Council (NYSC) has decided that the best athletes in two categories – men and women – are to be awarded four motorcycles at the 29th National Youth Games to be held in Anuradhapura from September 27 to 30. If an athlete lowers a Sri Lankan record, he or she will be [...]
SriLankan Airlines undisputed Champs with flying colours
SriLankan Airlines (SriLankan), after a lapse of two years, flew high at the 22nd Travel Trade Sports Club (TTSC) Badminton Championship 2017 to bag the Open Team Championship and the Veterans Team Championship concluded at the S.Thomas’ College Indoor stadium last weekend. The Open Team Championship had 17 teams competing, while the Veterans [Men Over [...]
What is our real cricket structure and how effective is it?
Have you ever heard of the beggar’s wound? Seemingly, it’s bothersome but, the beggar does not make the slightest move to do something about it, and put an end to the misery. In short, the wound has come to stay. Our local cricket is facing a similar crisis at present. Yes, we had a perfect [...]
MAS Active Leisureline Katunayake (Men), MAS Holdings (Women) Super League Champs
Shehan Lakshitha (MAS) Men and Thakshila Madurangi (MAS Holdings) Women, were adjudged Most Outstanding Players at the Mercantile Volleyball Super League conducted by the Mercantile Volleyball Association at the National Youth Services Council courts, Maharagama. Shehan received a motorcycle and Thakshila received a Scooty. MAS Active Leisureline Katunayake and MAS Holdings clinched the Men’s and [...]
Southern Province paddlers win overall championship
Southern Province with a haul of 7 medals won the Overall Championship at the 43rd National Sports Festival Table Tennis Championship held at the S.Thomas’ Indoor Stadium tables recently. All 9 Provinces participated in the championship conducted by the Ministry of Sports and its Dept of Sports Development. Southern Province’s seven medals consisted of 3 [...]
Laffeer for the 17th time
At the 17th Annual General Meeting of the Veterans Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka held at the Otter Aquatic Club, Colombo 7, M.M.M. Laffeer was elected President uncontested for the 17th consecutive year. Other office bearers elected were: Secretary: Ira Ruwanpathirana Treasurer: Mrs. Pushpa Colombathanthri Vice Presidents: Dr. Nimal Lucas, Daya Samaraweera, Dr. Priyangani [...]