Royal, Thomian: big match spirit

By Ravi Nagahawatte

The Sinhalese Sports Club grounds will come alive as in a carnival when the 'The Battle Of The Blues' cricket encounter between Royal and S.Thomas' unfolds another chapter -the 120 th encounter - commencing March 11.'Big guns' are sure to boom when the schoolboys of both teams pit their skills against each other in the true big match spirit. Tempers have rarely flared among players in past encounters and everything which leads to healthy competition is taken up with a sense of camaraderie.

The never say die approach by both schools have often left sports journalists in a fix, specially in instances where the stronger team is highlighted as the favourite.However given the statistics of both schools the scales tilt slightly in favour of the lads from Mount Lavinia who have had a better season this year. The Thomians have the edge in this encounter , though not a cutting one ,with two solid wins from fourteen outings.The Royalists ,who have come close to victory on many occasions , have been left to be satisfied with their drawn encounters exept for the solitary defeat which they suffered in the hands of the mighty Peterites.The Thomians too were forced to 'bite the dust' against the same opposition and lost by eight wickets.

The Royal skipper, Thushan Amarasuriya, however was brimming with confidence when he spoke to "The Sunday Times " a few days before the big match."We are very confident and are going flat out to win this encounter .All departments in the team are doing well .The Thomians are a good side . We know that we have to play well on all three days if we are to win this game" said Amarasuriya .

The Royal flag is sure to flutter when openers Ravi Peiris and Malinda Thotuwilage get cracking against the Thomian bowlers.The right handed Thotuwilage will be the one to watch and the Thomians could be in a spot if he succeeds with his usual exuberant style of batting.Thotuwilage has been the find of the season and has accumulated 748 runs with a personal best of 92 against Trinity.His partner Peiris has showed all the will to play a supportive role and has been often seen just prodding along and occuppying one end. The left hander who is playing his second big match has 'topped' over two hundred runs .

The experienced Thushan Amarasuriya bats at number three and should bolster the batting with a sound knock. Four years of hard work with the bat has made him blossom into becoming one of the most reliable batsmen in the side.He also tops the batting averages and has 84 (Prince Of Wales ) as his highest score among fourteen innings which has given him a total of 669 runs for the season.The lanky Ruchira Jayasuriya can be a treat to watch if he settles down and plays a big innings.

The deputy skipper of the team,who holds the reputation for having a knack to get quick runs , has played in all the matches this season and has surpassed the five hundred run mark.Anjelo Perera ,Andrew Perera and Harith Rajakaruna are also batsmen who can chip in with useful contributions.The lads from Reid Avenue have their total of 270 for 6 declared against St.Benedict's as the best batting purformance this season.

Left arm paceman Sanjeewa Udumalaga and fresher Harshana Rajakaruna will add the fire power to the Royal bowling attack with their quick-sharp deliveries. Udumalagala, the senior of the two, will be left to take the initiative in this two man pace attack which has given the side seventy one wickets.Udumalagala leads the bowling with 36 wickets. Harith Rajakaruna , Freshers Fazal Ahamed and Ranga Rajapakse add spice to the bowling department bowling spinners.

The Thomians could be the side which can make a match of this encounter , having the services of seven experienced players.Fourth year coloursman Naren Ratwatte leads the side this season and has yet another fourth year coloursman in Suranga Peiris as his deputy.The team exudes confidence and the player's all round capabilities have always been displayed in encounters which have given them a 'testing time'.Gihan Fernando, skipper Ratwatte Lakmal Fernando and Suranga Peiris have stood as solid rocks in the face of demanding situations. However the Thomians had their morale shattered just before the 'The big one' when they were sent crashing to defeat by the Petertites.It need not be told what effect such a result can have on the players. But the Thomian skipper looks at the lost match as a blessing in disguise."Only good can come out of this defeat.It opened our eyes and helped us realise our weaknesses" opined the S.Thomas' skipper.

Further speaking in his interview with "The Sunday Times" he went on to state that the team which plays positive in this big match will come out on top."It is most unlikely that there will be no result in this match " said Ratwatte.

Second year player Zakir Kanake and fresher Heshan Peiris opens batting for S.Thomas'. Kanake, who is also the wicket keeper of the side , has settled down well in this relatively new position to him as opener and has accumulated over 400 runs this season.

The fifteen year old Peiris too has lived up to expectations of the skipper who terms his performance as satisfying.

The second year coloursman , Shanaka Caldera , comes in at the fall of the first wicket and is depended on heavily for a big contibution.He has amassed over five hundred runs this season and made a sizzling unbeaten 98 against Ananda. Caldera who failed to impress in his debut big match last year is probably out to make an impression as well as a sound knock in this hundred and twentieth encounter between the two schools.

All rounder ,Gihan Fernando , bats at number five and is known for his belligerent batting displays. He played his first big match last year and made it all the more memorable with an impressive duel role with both bat and ball .Fernando has topped the four hundred run mark this season.

Another second year player Meshad Peiris also adds strength to the Thomian batting department. Batting at number six the right hander has passed the four hundred run mark and has top score of 75 against Prince Of Wales.All rounder Lakmal Fernando is another batsman who has scored constantly and has accumulated over four hundred runs this season.

Skipper Ratwatte and Lakmal Fernando will be the opening bowlers for S.Thomas' while Gihan Fernando will operate as the first change bowler.Sixteen year old Rajiv Gunawardane spearheads the spin department , being the highest wicket taker this season.

The final place in the Thomian team will be filled by either Sudharshan John, Ravin Perera or Harshana Rajakaruna after the pitch is inspected on the day of the match. John is a capable pace bowler who came in to the limelight with a telling bowling feat in the St. Peter's match.

Come March 11 'The Battle Of The Blues' encounter will be sans some of its glamour with the entertainers Upeka Fernando (S.Thomas' and Jehan Mubarak (Royal) missing the match due to commitments with the junior national team.The Thomians are coached this year by Dinesh Kumarasinghe while Royal are guided by Nihal Koddithuwakku.

The strong, silent Greg

By N.T.Kumarasinghe

There is a certain mystique about the man that is hard to define. And the enigma of his personality seems just as hard to resolve in your mind. Somehow, you always thought of him as a loner, almost reclusive to the point of being unsociable. He always struck you as the strong silent, leave-me-alone type, one you'd hate to want to seek answers from, consult or be forced to do business with.

Looking at his pictures - tall, rangy, a thick mop of curly black hair crowning ruggedly handsome and often unsmiling face - you somehow always associated him with Clint Eastwood's man with no name from the pop western films of another era. But, then, the image we've lovingly nurtured in our minds goes for a six-over mid wicket, to be sure. For that's where the man loved to place them the moment you meet Gregory Stephen Chappell, the most prolific of the Chappell brothers.

The mystique remains, but the person seems much less enigmatic on the whole. He may still be something of a loner, but he is hardly a recluse. He may not be loquacious but turns out to be a brilliant converstionalist. As outstanding analyst of the game as he was a performer out in the middle for a decade and a half.

Suddenly, the leave-me-alone batting genius of your memory becomes remarkably friendly, easily approachable man with whom every moment spent in conversation is as invigorating as listening to a brilliant retired Field Marshal talk about battle strategy and epic wars gone by.

He doesn't take long for you to realise that the man is special, that his understanding of the game and its nuances, its pitfalls and its highs, its rewards and its demands, is nothing less than extraordinary.

Then again, even in a country - Australia - whose sporting love is filled with cricketing heroes, Greg Chappell is very special. The most hardened of critics often find themselves seeking special adjectives to describe the experience of having watched him bat. In a game where more often than not, numbers define the man and establish his status in the history of the sport Greg Chappell made even the die-hard numbers addicts - cricket's dominating tribe of statisticians - ignore the figures and turn their attention to matters more sublime. Such was the majestic quality of his batting.

So, here comes the Test. What comes to your mind first, the moment you think of Greg Chappell? The 7,110 runs and 24 centuries he made in 87 Test matches? The 122 catches that the remarkably safe pair of hands held? Or, perhaps the fact that he became the first Australian to surpass the legendary Sir Don Brandman's Test aggregate of 6,996 runs.

Well, if your answer is "None of these," then you have passed the test and you are eligible for membership to the connoisseurs' Club. For, figures are pedestrian prose compared to the poetry of Greg Chappell's batting.

Once, at the Taunton Pavilion, the irrepressible Ian Chappell wanted the most famous of the Australian cricket writers - Jack Fingleton to meet his younger brother.

"Yes of course" said Fingleton and then, the shy youngster walked up to him and shook hands with the sage among cricket writers, who had played under the Chappells' maternal grandfather.

Vic Richardson, on the tour of South Africa in the 1930s, told the youngster that he had a great future ahead of him.

Years later, with hardly a touch of the I-told-you-so slant that lesser writers often betray, the great Australian critic recalled his first meeting with Greg Chappell at Taunton while evaluating Chappell's role as the captain of the Australian team.

Seldom was there an awkward moment when Greg was at the crease. His batting was the very definition of grace. He surveyed his world from an upright stance regal and self-assured. Playing his shots, he was perfectly balanced and never once inelegant.

As he leaned on to his on drives, the bat seemed no more than an extension of his dextrous pair of hands. It is said that Greg did have a few problems outside the off stump in his early days but the seasons spent in Somerset stood him in good stead as he learnt to adjust to the prodigious swing and seam movement that English country conditions often offer bowlers."

That was in the late 60's and even in those early days when Greg was just out of his teens knowledgeable critics saw a great future for the slender young man.

By then, of course, the shy, pimply faced youngster Fingleton had met in 1968 was being spoken of in the same breath as Vivian Richards, Barry Richards and Sunil Gavaskar. In the 70's these were the four names that cropped up more than the others when one wanted to pick the world's best batsman.

this, not without reason not only had Greg marked his Test debut and captaincy tenure with brilliant centuries but the gifted batsman had also become a true master of the game. Given in the worst of conditions, Greg made batting look so easy with his classic approach and his brilliant repertoire of shots as he upheld a glorious tradition carried through by such men as Victor Trumper, Clarles McCartney, Stan McCabe and Neil Harvey (the omission of Don Brandman's name is deliberate it's just that there are two names in cricket Bradman and Sobers, that are beyond compare).

This apart, Greg Chappell's accomplishments as a batsman would have been considerably greater but for the fact that he was constantly plagued by ill-health-glandular fever for one and was away from the Test scene during the Packer revolution in the game. Also, he was never a very happy tourist and he chose to make himself unavailable for a tour or two during his peak years.

Unlike the flamboyant Ian, whose inspired leadership helped revive Australia's cricketing fortunes after the low of the 0-4, Greg was never quite comfortable with stardom. (whitewash in South Africa in 1970).

He couldn't come to terms with his celebrity status and the constant attention that it brought, in the event, there were times when he might have felt the urge to run away from it all.

If Ian and Greg were different as personalities then as captains too, the younger Chappell was not in the same mould as Ian, who was such a great motivator of men. Yet Greg turned out to be a wonderfully successful captain, leading Australia in 48 Tests and earning the respect of all his men through all the years.

The men who played under Greg nicknamed him God and in the attitudes of his players there were shades of the kind of reverence in which men hold their Creator.

However a flesh and blood God is not infallible. Greg certainly wasn't. He had his lows as a captain and touched the nadir when he asked his brother Trevor Chappell to bowl the last ball underarm when New Zealand needed six runs to tie a match in the Benson and Hedges World series.

That to be sure, was first an aberration when the great man allowed his mean competitive instincts to get the better of his common sense. For the most part, Greg was a fair competitor and a man who respected the great traditions of the game as much as one who spoke his mind when he thought the game had to keep pace with the day and age.

After retiring as performer signing off with a manificient 182 against Pakistan at Sydney in January 1984 Greg Chappell soon became a national selector "It is a good way of keeping in touch with the game" he said then. For Indian fans, especially for the lovers of classic batsmanship, he will always be a great disappoinment that Greg Chappell never played in this country during his career. Videotapes, after all, are no more than consolation prizes. Yet, for this reason, the mystique endures.

Facts & Figures

Test: 87 matches, 151 innings. 19 not outs 7110 runs, 247 not out highest, 53.86 average. 24 hundreds, 31 scores of 50 and above. 122 catches 5327 balls. 1913 runs 47 wickets. 40.70 average.

Breakup of Test hundreds: Vs England (8) 108, Perth 1970, 71; 131, Lords, 1972; 113, The Oval, 1972; 144, Sydney, 1974-75; 102, Melbourne, 1974-75; 112, Manchester, 1977; 114, Melbourne, 1979-80 117 Perth, 1982-83; 115 Adelaide, 1982-83, Vs West Indies (5) 106, Bridgetown, 1972-73; 123 and 109 not out (same Test) Brisbane, 1975-76, 182 not out. Sydney 1975-76 124, Brisbane 1979-80. vs New Zealand (3): 247 not out and 133 (same Test) Wellington 1973-74; 176 Christchurch 1981-82 vs India (1); 204, Sydney 1980-81 Vs Pakistan (6) 116 not out, Melbourne, 1972 - 73, 121, Melbourne 1976-77; 235, Faisalabad, 1979-80, 201, Brisbane 1981-82, 150 not out Brisbane 1983-84 182 Sydney 1983-84.

Greg became the first batsman to score a hundred in his first and last Test innings. He began with 108 against England at Perth in 1970-71 and ended with 182 against Pakistan at Sydney 1983-84. During his last innings he bettered Don Brandman's tally of 6996 runs. - (Courtesy, Sportstar/Wisden)

In brief...

Amali champ at Sujatha meet

Seldom has an Inter-House sports meet attracted so much attention as Sujatha Vidyalaya's annual event which took place amidst pomp and tradition at the Chandra Silva Stadium in Rajagiriya last Tuesday.

March pasts, a western and eastern band display, cycle races, a prefect's race and novel events by the youngsters such as the duck and horse races and a highly competitive fancy dress parade, which kept the judges guessing for a good part of an hour, were some of the highlights of an eventful day.

Kalyani House with 575 points carried away the championship title while Swarnapali House was second with 515. Hemamali took third place with 460 followed by Rathnavali who collected 360 points.

Amali Peiris of Rathnavali House was adjudged the champion athlete in the under 19 events. The under 17 title went to Ruchini Nagodawitharne of Kalyani House. Pravoda Jayasekera (Kalyani) took the under 15 title while the under 13 title went to Rishani Arabakadagedera of Rathnavali. The under 11 title was awarded to Fazumi Adjuman of Hemamali House. Natasha Jayatilleke won the popular teacher's race. Mrs. M.N. Edussuriya, Principal Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo was the Chief Guest while the Guest of Honour was Miss. E.M.N.N.Rodrigo, Directress - Physical Education Sri Jayawardenapura University. Principal Mrs. Asoka Ariyapperuma gave the welcome address.

During the course of the chief guest's address, Mrs. Edussuriya, said that Sujatha Vidyalaya's Director Mr. Lakshman Kuruppu had indicated that the school's aim is to improve the quality of education whilst at the same time encouraging extra-curricular activities. - RA

Formula 1 Grand Prix

Whether Schumacher is to win or not, is only a wild guess. You don't have to think you are going to miss out on it, because you can catch the excitement in fun surroundings on a live screen at the Echelon Pub at the Colombo Hilton when the Grand Prix goes live today (March 7). Reportintg live from Melbourne, join the crowd and cheer your favourite as they spin by 7 a.m. onwards, with a special power breakfast, the survival of the fittest will be the ultimate criteria.

Also, on Sunday March 21 watch the action when the Grand Prix goes live from Zhuhai in China. For reservations call the Echelon Pub at the Hilton Colombo.

Manoharan takes Hill City Run

D. Manoharan won the Hill City Run for 12 kilometres in 35 minutes 56 seconds in the event conducted by Lanka Lions Sports Club concluded at the Bogambara Stadium last Sunday.

Finishing in second place was D. G. P. Wimalasena in 36 minutes 23 seconds closely followed by Velu Subramaniam in 36 minutes 35 seconds. S. Jeyakumar in 36 minutes 55 seconds and P. M. S. S. Bandara in 37 minutes 12 seconds.

Results of the other events.

Senior women - 7 Kilometres:

Y. G. Nayana Kumari 20 minutes 21 seconds, D.A. Inoka 20 minutes 31seconds, W.R. Nadhika Udagedera 21 minutes 22 seconds, D. M. Weerakody 22 minutes 37 seconds, N. N. K. Mapa 22 minutes 47 seconds.

Junior men - 12 kilometres:

Asoka Bandara 38 minutes 11 seconds, P. S. Ganekumbura 38 minutes 41 seconds, C.J.B. Abeyratne 39 minutes 03 seconds, S.M.K. Priyantha Bandara 39 minutes 34 seconds, M. M. S. B. Munasinghe 39 minutes 46 seconds.

Junior women - 7 kilometres

Nimali Kaluarachchi - 21 minutes 46 seconds, B. G. N. G. Rajasekera 22 minutes 29 seconds, T. Thushari. H. Peiris 22 minutes 56 seconds, K. Y. Chamila Thushari 23 minutes 10 seconds, N. G. D. T. D. Wimalasena 23 minutes 50 seconds.

The Sports Minister of the Central Provincial Council, A. M. L. B. Polgolla was the chief guest. Two hundred and fifty participated in the run.

Mohan wins sailing event

Well-known rugby player and coach Mohan Balasuriya took to sailing a few years ago and clinched first place together with his crew Gunathilaka (Navy) at the Intercontinental Sailing Regatta.

This annual sailing event is a fleet race for both classes of GP14 and Enterprises and 18 boats took part with the helm in the first race crewing in the second race.

Both races were sailed in very light wind conditions and at times there was no wind and this created interesting and very exciting sailing in two very keenly contested races.

In second place were Jeremy Boling and Reshan Muthukrishna and in third place were Devaka Balasuriya and Rajapaksha (Navy).

Full results of the first 10 places are as follows:

Mohan Balasuriya and Gunathilaka (Navy); Jeremy Boling and Reshan Muthukrishna; Devaka Balasuriya and Rajapaksha (Navy); David Blackler and Eva Hancock; Lena Kronham and Olof Kronham; Shehan and Avantha Tennekoon; WPK Janaka ( Navy) and Charlotte de Fraiture; Newton (Navy) and Per Svendsen; Devinda Wijeyratne and Joseph Kenny; Rob Antill and Anton Op De Beke.

In the afternoon an Optimist race was organised for the children between the ages of 5-14 and there were 8 participants and the winners were:

1 - Rehan Dias;

2 - Victor Op De Beke;

3 - Yannic Bischof

At the awards ceremony the Chief Guest, Mr Lal Leanage, General Manager, Ceylon Intercontinental Hotel congratulated the winners and mentioned that he was proud to be part of the development of sailing in Sri Lanka and was full of praise on the results achieved in this sport so far.

Intercontinental Hotel has been associated with Ceylon Motor Yacht Club for almost 25 years as sponsors for this annual regatta and every year the number of participants have increased. This looks good for the future of sailing in Sri Lanka.

Tough encounter for both teams

By Calistus Davy

One side is not second to the other and the two teams are short of nothing. For the moment, no one will be willing to predict the winner.

But the stage is set for the 65th "Battle of the Saints" big-match cricket encounter between arch rivals St. Peter's and St. Joseph's College at the Sara Stadium on March 12, 13.

The two teams possess top shelf schoolboy performers and are well complimented with experience and talent. Last year the Peterites took the major share of the honours with a new series record set by Malinda Warnapura who cracked an amazing 159.

But this year may not be a time for records. Both schools have remained unbeaten so far in the season with the Peterites recording five wins and the Josephians notching up four victories. And with no side in a position to dictate terms or play second fiddle, the scales tilt more towards a "no-result" situation unless one of the "stars" perform something extra-ordinary.

The Josephians have not lost a single inter-school match in four years and leading them is all rounder Roshan de Silva who has the services of no less than seven experienced players. The team will not have the services of star batsman Ian Daniel who is away on national duty in India with the under-19 side.

But one batsman the Josephians will be banking on is Johannes Jayasuriya, an opening batsman and one of the more experienced players.

The bowling department is packed with a mixture of pace and spin. Ishan Hettiarachie, a paceman is one of the key players . Roshan de Silva, Dilan Ramanayake and Sanka Rupasinghe are some of the other fast bowling contestants.

Dinraj Fernando is one of the most experienced spinners in the side while new-comer Anuk de S. Wijeratne is also vying for a berth.

The Josephians move into their most important match after scoring wins against Kingswood, De Mazenod, St. Benedict's and Joseph Vaz.

The Peterites for their part go in with five wins which include victories over Royal and St. Thomas' College. But like the Josephians, they will play minus the services of one of their key players in wicket-keeper batsman and skipper Jerome Fernando who is with the Sri Lanka under-19 side in India.

Leading the Peterites in the absence of Fernando is off spinner Dilshan Rupasinghe who also has at his disposal as many as seven experienced performers. One of them is batsman Mahesh Perera on whom much is expected. Others in the limelight are Angelo Fonseka, Surango Pinto and Jehan Jayasuriya.

The Peterites also have a good spinner is Chryshantha Pinto, another experienced campaigner in big-match cricket.

The Peterites are coached by former Test spinner Roger Wijesuriya while the Josephians are trained by Upali Ahangama.

Trinity-Antonian: a keen tussle

By Shane Seneviratne

The 71st big match between Trinity and St.Anthony's will take place at Katugastota on March 12 and13.

This much looked forward to social event has attracted a lot of attention this year as both teams are well balanced and a keen tussle is on the cards.

St. Anthony's have played16 matches this season and all of them have ended in draws.

Details regarding the Trinity side were not available at the time of going to press as their master-in-charge said that they do not need publicity.

Trinity has a rich tradition to standby even if they are not interested in publicity, they must remember we, The SundayTimes, has a responsibility to keep the readers informed of their strengths and weaknesses and the attitude of their master-in-charge is very discouraging.

St. Anthony's are led by Suranga Pinnaduwa and his deputy is Ravindra Wickremapala. The Antonian squad is as follows: Suranga Pinnaduwa, Ravindra Wickremapala,Nafees Nizam, Romesh Deen, Kasun Jayaratne, Samson Burke, Prasad Ranawaka, Prasad Jayawardena, Mohammed Fousz, Senarath Mudali, Ricardo Guneratne, Raj Wickremapala, Lahiru Fonseka, Susantha Basnayake, Jude Arnolda.

Miscellany...

All Black trialist to coach Army

The Sri Lanka Army rugby team, who enjoyed a successful season for 1998, are in lucks way in getting the services of an All Blacks trialist and level III coach Kelvin Farrington to coach them in the coming season.

Negotiations are under way thanks to the good offices of diehard Sri Lanka rugby supporter and rep. in Australia, Dilip Kumar. According to former rugby Union Secretary and Army player, Jayantha Weerasinghe, negotiations are under way to get his services which in turn could be a big boost for the battle scarred soldiers, to further improve their rugby skills.

Kelvin has had coaching stints in New Zealand and in Australia. He is prepared to come to Sri Lanka with his family for a long stint. Besides coaching the Army his services could be made use to help the schools, too. Dilip Kumar when contacted confirmed to this effect. Weerasinghe, said he was in contact with the Chairman, Army Rugby, Brig. Jupana Jayawardena, to finalise the package which includes accommodations.

Sri Lanka Prop. Shanta Rohana, will be in Australia, during the latter part of this month, in time for the rugby season. He will turn out for Pirate Harbour, also being sponsored by Kumar.

Brig. Jayawardene who is the president of the Sri Lanka Rugby Referees Society, will be writing to the Aussie Rugby Union officially regarding referees to 'blow' and train the local referees to improve their knowhow, with regard to the latest fundamentals of the game. (BW)

Sri Lanka 4th in Wisden Test rankings

Sri Lanka may be at the bottom of the table in the latest one-day rankings, but the country is in 4th position in the latest Wisden Test rankings.

The Wisden Test rankings are based on the latest meetings home and away, between each pair of teams, provided they have met since September 1991.

Australia lead the rankings with an average of 1.79 points and are followed by South Africa (1.27), West Indies (1.21), Sri Lanka (0.94), India (0.93), Pakistan (0.85), England (0.71), Zimbabwe (0.70) and New Zealand (0.56). MF

UK Degree Programme for Martial Arts Practitioners

There is a good opportunity for Martial Arts Practioners. Students and Instructors will be able to obtain a Martial Arts University Degree from Great Britain. The degree programme has been designed by Dr. Eugene De Silva, a Sri Lankan National who has been living in Manchester, Great Britain. Anyone who is practising martial arts or interested can participate in this programme.

Today, there are several types of known martial arts which are being practised by artistes in Sri Lanka. The world famous Judo, Karate Taekwon-Do, Kungfu, Hapkido, Muay-Thai, Kick Boxing and Weapon Arts are some of the martial arts which are found among us. These martial arts have both theory and practical programmes for their students. The syllabus begins from History of martial arts, how it had begun, how it had been spread and its present position, the breathing system, control of breathing, exercise with and without equipments, yoga system, physiology, law and ethics, alternative therapy such as pressing system Acu-pressurer and massage therapy, control and analysis of movements, psychology, teaching of martial arts, research, statistics, theoretical analysis one form of Martial Art.

Master Cyril Anthony (FSMA) who pioneered Hapkido and Taekwon-Do in Sri Lanka is the Director and the Course Organizer of this programme. Qualified physicians, scholars, university lecturers will be invited to conduct relevant courses. Also, prominent martial artistes from Sri Lanka and abroad will assist to conduct this course.

When the participants complete this course successfully, they can obtain Diploma in Martial Arts and a First Aid Certificate which has international recognition and a Massage Therapy Certificate. Society of Martial Arts Officials from United Kingdom will handle the degree programme to award Martial Degrees. Once they complete the course, they can obtain a black belt in Taekwon-Do or kick-boxing. World-wide opening as instructors.

The degree programme could be followed full-time as well as part-time but each participant should follow 720 hours of training. After this a participant can become a graduate member (Grad. S.M.A.). There are three semesters in this full programme. At the end of each semester, there is a study leave. During this study leave participants could join educational tours to one of the countries like Thailand, China, Korea, Japan & India where some of the martial arts were born.

1. Student Membership

2. Graduate Membership (Grad.-SMA)

3. Full Membership (MSMA)

4. Fellow Membership (F.S.M.A.)

In 1988 Master Cyril Anthony obtained membership in S.M.A. and he became the first Sri Lankan to obtain a Degree in Martial Arts. He is also holding the fellow membership in (S.M.A.) U. K. which is the highest degree in SMA. The membership and graduate qualifications are stated in the British Qualification Book which has a worldwide reference.

The Registration

Applicants who are desirous of following this course should send in their applications with the membership fees to register their names to S.M A., Sri Lanka, No.14, Dewala Road, Hendala, Wattala.

This Programme will be held in Wattala and Colombo.

For further inquiries, please contact:

Master Cyril Antony,
Principal, S.M.A. Sri Lanka,
14, Dewala Road,Hendala, Wattala.
Tel: 01-933111

2nd annual big match

By Ravi Nagahawatte

President's College Rajagiriya and Mahanama College Colombo will battle each other in their second annual Big Match which will come off at the Kettarama Stadium commencing on March 12.This two day encounter,which has replaced their traditional oneday fixture ,has given both schools an extra day of enjoyment,which in a way shows that this encounter too is growing in popularity like other big match encounters.

Both teams are packed with talented players and whoever makes it to the ground on these two days is assured entertaining cricket .Mahanama College could be the side which could come out on top in this encounter with a match winning bowler in the calibre of Pubudu Sathyapala. The team's bowling looks to be the strong point with skipper Dhammika Perera and Dinesh Bandara also having shown good form with the ball.

Fourth Year coloursman, Sathyapala ,will act as the main strike bowler and has snared 81 batsmen in the twelve matches which the school played this season.Perera and Bandara have also impressed this season and have taken over thirty wickets each.Their batting too has depth and contributions can be expected even from the late order batsmen.Second year player Lasitha Saumedha, who heads the batting averages , will open the batting with another senior ,Yasuntha Gamalath.Much is expected from Saumedha who has passed the five hundred run mark .Batting at number three will be the left handed Praneeth Jinasena who has reached fifty on four occasions.Chanaka Fernando ,Pubudu Sathyapala ,Damith Ratnayake ,Dhammika Perera and Dinesh Bandara are also depended on heavily to boost their total.

Allrounder and sixth year coloursman , Amila Gunawardana ,leads the President's College eleven. Gunawardana,who is known for his capabilities with the bat ,will be depended upon for a captains knock in this encounter.Fourth year coloursman Nimesh Nuwan with 600 runs this season will be the synosure of all eyes with his exuberent stroke play. He also had the honour of scoring two centuries against De Mazenod College this season.Another batsman who could make a solid knock for Mahanama is Dhammika Suriyaarachchi who has scored over three hundred runs this season.A personal score of 60 made against De Mazenod stands as his best performance .Deputy skipper Praneeth Chamara Jayasundare ,Charith de Silva , Sampath Kankanamage and Mohammed Al Fazzy are all capable of making sound contributions if given the opportunity.

Ravindra Jayawickrema and third year player Poorna Munasinghe will spearhead the Presidents College bowling attack. Munasinghe , a third year player , will be the main pace bowler of the side and will be supported by skipper ,Gunawardana , who is also a part time pace bowler.Deputy skipper Jayasundara will operate as the main strike bowler and should worry the Mahanama batsmen with his leg spin deliveries.He has bagged 52 wickets this season and has figures of 7 for 34 against Carey as his best bowling performance.

Last year's skipper and sixth year player Charith de Silva will be the other spinner who will add spice to the bowling department .The right arm leg spinner has bagged twenty wickets this season and bowled impressively in the team's fixture against Dharmasoka , taking 4 for 53.

The squads -

Presidents College cricket pool- A.Gunawardana (capt) ,P.Jayasundara, C. de Silva, S.Kankanamage, R.Jayawickrema, N.Perera,P. Munasinghe, P.Caldera, D.Suriyaarachchi, M.Al Fazzy, C.Hewamana, G.Kankanamage, D.Silva, M.A beysekere, M.Shash mile, K.Ratnayake, N.Jayawrdana, C.Kodithuwakku, L.Ananda .

Mahanama College cricket pool-D.Perera (capt), C.Fernando, P.Sathyapala, D.Bandara, Y.Gamlath, S.Rajapakse, P.Jinasena, L.Saumedha, D.Ratnayake, L.Sepala, L.Dilshan, R.Jayasinghe, N.Samarajeewa, L.Sanjeewa, P.Fernando, S.Ganganath, P.Lalanda

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