Pramodya cracks whip as selectors look to 2023 World Cup
Sri Lanka cricket selectors are typically a secretive breed, reluctant to explain their decisions to players or the public. This has often left players deeply frustrated with some even announcing premature retirements. It’s admirable, therefore, that the current selection committee headed by Pramodya Wickramasinghe met with seniors who are facing the axe from limited over [...]
Avishka fails fitness test, dropped for Bangladesh ODI series
Dashing young opener Avishka Fernando has been dropped from the 18-man squad named for the Bangladesh series as he has failed a fitness test. Fernando, 23, missed the limited over leg of the West Indies tour after he failed to attend the mandatory 2km fitness test due to an injury. SLC has set a time [...]
Players call for transparency in performance-based fee structure after agreeing to pay cut
Despite a significant pay cut, national cricketers have in principle agreed to a new performance-based contract fee structure but have insisted that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) be transparent through the process to avoid anyone being unfairly affected or feeling hard done by. Representing the players, Attorney-at-Law Nishan Sydney Premathiratne held discussions with SLC on Thursday [...]
Mathivanan camp back out of seeking legal redress over backdated gazette
An intention of seeking legal action against a backdated gazette notification that helped outgoing Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) administration has been put off by the intended complainants according to reliable sources. The Sunday Times learns that former SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga, former vice president Kanganathan Mathivanan and Sri Lanka’s first Test skipper Bandula Warnapura, who [...]
Pandemic forces SLSCA to call off Division III tournament
The remaining quarter-final matches of the Schools Under-19 Division III Cricket Tournament had been called off due to the spread of COVID-19, according to an official of the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA). The SLSCA had already completed its Under-19 Division I and II competitions, and were left with the Division III tournament, which [...]
UK-based Hamilton ‘super excited’ to play for Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka will be boosted by three overseas stars based in the United Kingdom for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers and Asian Cup Qualifiers round 2. The trio are Marvin Hamilton, Reef Sebastian Peries and Dillon de Silva, who were named in a 23-man squad which began the fifth phase of residential training for the [...]
High Performance cannot flourish without imaginative thinking!
The acute focus that has been generated by the Ministry of Sports (MoS) through the underpinning of the NSC on a High Performance trajectory geared to produce top international athletes and the noble quest for medal winners, is not out of sync; it is extremely laudable. Over the last six months or so, this gambit [...]
Government Servants’ Tennis Club successfully conducts mega prize money tournament
The Government Servants Tennis Club, popularly known as GSTC, has successfully completed a ranking tournament with mega prize money, while strictly following all COVID-19 protocols. The GSTC Prestige Prize Money All-Island Doubles Tournament attracted a record number of entries in the Men’s as well as the Women’s categories. The prize money was the biggest ever [...]
Oarsman Mahesh Jayakody qualifies for Tokyo Paralympics
Sri Lanka’s Mahesh Jayakody secured a direct entry to the Paralympic Games to be held in Japan this year after finishing first in the PRI Men’s Single Sculls at the Asia and Oceania Olympic and Paralympic rowing qualifier in Tokyo.The 6th Summer Paralympic Games is scheduled to be held between August 24 and September 5. [...]
Dulanjan dives bronze in Victoria
Champion diver Dulanjan Fernando, domiciled in Australia, is keeping alive his dreams of representing Sri Lanka at the 2022 Commonwealth Games after winning a bronze medal at the 10-metre platform event at the Victorian State Open Championship last weekend. Representing Mel Am Diving Club from Melbourne, he competed in the 1m springboard and his favourite [...]
Bangladesh Series win provides a benchmark for the future
Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne said that the positives they gained from the West Indies tour paved the way for their Test series triumph against Bangladesh to record their only win in the inaugural edition of the ICC World Test Championship. The stalemate in the Caribbean provided a sigh of relief to the cricket adoring [...]
WTA, ATP grit for survival
WTA and ATP global calendar events with their ranked players make the flagships of modern tennis. Their influence prevails in maintaining the global popularity of the game. The prize money and ranking incentives are strong attractions to the best of global sporting talents. Keeping tennis attractive has been the responsibility of WTA and ATP, year [...]
From ‘nowhere’ to provincial rugby coach in NZ
Sri Lankans have the uncanny ability to shine in any sphere of activity overseas especially in countries where talents of individuals are recognised on merit irrespective of where you come from. Sri Lanka has a rich tradition in rugby, but it is almost unimaginable that a former national player would be considered to coach a [...]
Bertie Ekanayake – The versatile sports personality of Royal Ceylon Air Force
Flight Sergeant Bertie Ekanayake (Clk GD) is considered one of the finest sportsmen ever to be produced by the Royal Ceylon Air Force (RCyAF). Ekanayake was an old boy of Zahira College, Colombo. He represented Ceylon in Boxing from 1958 to 1964 and represented Defence Services in rugger, boxing, basketball and soccer. He represented RCyAF [...]
Yevan becomes first Sri Lankan karter to win internationally
Yevan Ranasinghe David, the 13-year-old, made history for Sri Lanka on Sunday by being the first Sri Lankan to win a European Heat karting race in Genk, Belgium. In the Champions of the Future, he competed in the OKJ category, which is the Junior World-Class category featuring the best 12 to 15 year olds in [...]
Thissapura Vidyalaya spikers honour contributor with volleyball statue
Thissapura Vidyalaya of Uhana, a school located in the Ampara region, which has a rich history of volleyball, has a student force of 250. The school has recorded numerous victories in the field of school volleyball, is however an institution that does not even possess the basic facilities to its students. Under such background, the [...]
Four players share top spot
Kosala Amaratunge of JMC International School, Kalutara won the championship after three others, Senuka Ahangama of D.S. Senanayake College, Bridjesh Saravanabhavan of Gateway International School and S.M.M.P. Kulathilake of Sangabodhi Vidyalaya, Nittambuwa, shared the highest points of 7½ out of 8 games. All four players were unbeaten where they just gave one draw to their [...]
Sri Lanka Cricket appoints 12 School Cricket Provincial Coordinators
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) appointed 12 ‘School Cricket Provincial Coordinators’ to find young talent in the country, covering all age groups. Accordingly, the appointed coordinators will represent the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA) at all age group selections, covering District and Provincial cricket. The coordinators will work with District and Provincial Associations, School Coaches, [...]
Fantastic upgrade of OSC Basketball Court
The Overseas School of Colombo (OSC) recently inaugurated its new and improved basketball court which has been resurfaced and redesigned, adding vibrancy and enthusiasm to the entire campus. The open basketball court – centrally nestled amidst the primary school, middle school and secondary school classrooms – is quite literally the heart of OSC. The decision [...]
Supuna and Ishara win Singles titles
Supuna Warusavithana and Ishara Madurangi bagged the Singles titles in Men’s and Women’s of the All-Island Open Ranking Table Tennis Championship 2020 conducted by the Sabaragamuwa Province Table Tennis Association (SPTTA). Supuna, of University of Moratuwa, beat up and coming star paddler Senura Silva of Ananda College 3-1 in the Men’s Singles final while Ishara [...]
The Sri Lanka National Chess Championships Cycle 2021
The Chess Federation of Sri Lanka is willing to start the Sri Lanka National Chess Championship Cycle 2021, Open and Girls, with the Sri Lanka National Novices Division Chess Championships from last weekend of May 2021. The event will be held as Swiss System events of five, six and seven rounds according to the number [...]
Sports Minister visits Polonnaruwa Girls’ Football Academy
A training programme organised jointly by the Football Federation of Sri Lanka and Polonnaruwa District Football Association was conducted at the Bandiwewa Vidyalaya ground from March 25 to 29, where female instructors and coaches were highly benefited. The youngsters of Polonnaruwa Girls’ Football Academy were also present on selected days during the five-day programme, to [...]