Richard Peiris first to enter netball semis

By Annesley Ferreira

Richard Peiris was the first team in the C Division Mercantile Netball Championships sponsored by Masons Mixture Limited for the 10th successive year to enter the semifinals in the tourney worked out at the Sports Ministry grounds yesterday.

Richard Peiris who finished as Group A champions beat Tri Star B by 27 goals to 5. In the three quarter final matches fixed for today at 9 a.m. at the Sports Ministry grounds, Dainichi will meet Hayleys, Reckit & Colman will take on Union Assurance and Singer will battle Commercial Bank. The semi finals will also be played this morning with the finals of the C division B division and Mixed to be played on Friday March 3 at the Sports Ministry grounds at 4.30 p.m.

Third JMC Sports meet

The JMC College International, Colombo 9 will hold its sports meet on Tuesday (February 29) at the Prison Grounds, Borella. The meet will commence at 2.00 p.m.

26th Battle of Kotte on March 3 and 4

The first of the inter school big matches, the 26th Battle of Kotte will be played between Sri Jayawardenapura MV and St. Thomas’ Kotte on Friday and Saturday March 3 and 4 at the R. Premadasa International Stadium.

Play will commence at 10 a.m. on each day and will be played for the Dr.G.N. Perera Trophy.

Sri Jayawardenapura MV triumphed last year.

Wasantha Silva will captain SriJayawardenapura MV while John Stork will lead St. Thomas’ Kotte.

With last year’s win behind them Sri Jayawardenapura with this year’s performance will go all out to win this twenty sixth encounter too.

Mendis’ double highlights Thomian-Peterite game

Match reports by Bruce Maurice, Champika Fernando, S.M.D. Sirisena, Aubrey Kuruppu and Marcus Joseph

Good bowling and batting by fresher Jeevan Mendis, who captured six for 43 and scored 37 with three fours highlighted the drawn Inter-School cricket game between S. Thomas’ and St. Peter’s at Mount Lavinia yesterday.

St. Peter’s who batted first totalled 139 and in the second essay were 187 all out while S. Thomas’ declared at 217 for 8.

Draw at Kotahena

The inter-school cricket encounter between St. Benedict’s College Kottehena and Kingswood College Kandy ended in a draw at Kotahena yesterday.

Continuing from their overnight score of 36 the hosts were just able to reach 170 for the loss of eight wickets. A. Wickramasinghe (40) and B. Fernando with an elegant 43 were the only batsmen to give support to the home side.

Kingswood taking their second turn at the wicket were 104 for the loss of eight wickets before they invited the home side to take second lease. However at close the home lads were well ahead with 101 for the loss of 2 wickets.

Kingswood taking the first lease scored 202 runs for the loss of eight wickets.

St. Sebastian’s win

St. Sebastian’s College Moratuwa recorded a morale boosting 83 runs victory over St. Anthony’s College Katugastota in their inter-school cricket encounter played at Moratuwa yesterday.

The Antonians continuing from their overnight score of 93 for the loss of four wickets were shot out for 176 in their first innings.

The Sebastianites batting a second time scored 125 for the loss of five wicket giving a target of 177 to win for the Antonians. (SMD)

Moratu V triumph

Moratu Vidyalaya obtained a 7 wicket outright victory in their inter-school cricket encounter with Gurukula Vidyalaya Kelaniya played at Moratuwa (on 24 & 25) for the winners Lakruwan Fernando missed a well deserved century by 3 runs, and Niroshan Chintaka scored a quick half century.

In the department of bowling Skipper Manoj Deshapriya bowled well to claim 4 for 18 in the first innings.

Tall scoring

Tall scoring was the order of the day in the drawn Lemonade Trophy inter school match between Dharmaraja and Zahira. A career-best, unbeaten 166 by Rajan Skipper Asanka Marapana helped the visitors to run up an imposing 305/9. Not to be outdone, the Zahirians replied strongly with 276. Allrounders Imran and Zubair batted best for Zahira.

Another regular Rajan contributor, opener Haresh Ratnayake made an entertaining 90 (7 fours, 3 sixes) in the second knock.

Sri Rahula on top

Sri Rahula Katugastota turned in a superb all round performance to dominate their Lemonade Trophy match against Lumbini MV at Katugastota.

Put into bat, the home team totalled 173. Skipper Amila Ilangakoon struck an entertaining 88 which contained 3 massive sixes and 7 fours. Left arm medium pacer Buddhika Gunasena and Asitha Kumara accounted for the first six wickets when Lumbini batted. Marooned at 70/8, Lumbini’s ninth wicket pair of Kumara and Maduranga helped them reach 121/9.

Richards’ talents

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Viv Richards will not be lost to West Indies cricket despite being overlooked for the job as team coach, according to the game’s leading Caribbean official.

West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president Pat Rosseau said Richards’ talents would be utilised “in another critical area of West Indies cricket development”.

Thurstan favoured to bag schools rugby tens c’ships

By Ravi Nagahawatte

Hosts Thurstan sounded a warning to all teams partcipating in their Under 19 invitation schools rugby ten-a-side tournament when they recorded the highest score of 65 -0 against S.Thomas’ Bandarawela at Longden Place yesterday.

The team had their own way in this match and booked a place in the prestigious Cup competition along with Isipatana, St.Peters, Kingswood, Dharmaraja, St.Anthony’s, Wesley, and Isipatana ‘B’. Thurstan however had it tough against Science College who held them to a draw in Group G. Science made it to the Plate competition.

The most interesting match of the day was between two home town rivals Dharmaraja and Vidyartha with the former recording a hard fought 14-5 victory. Isipatana too registered a smashing 27-0 win over St.Benedict’s in Group A on their way in booking a berth in the Cup championship.

Cup championship line up- Isipatana A vs St.Peters, Kingswood vs Dharmaraja, St.Anthony’s vs Thurstan ‘Blue’, Wesley vs Isipatana ‘B’. Plate Championship line up: St, Benedict’s vs Mahanama; D.S.Senanayake vs Vidyartha; Ananda vs Science College; Royal Panandura vs Nalanda.

Bowl Championship line up: Sabaragamuwa (bye); Carey vs Thurstan ‘Red’; Asoka vs S. Thomas’ Bandarawela; Richmond (bye)

Open Pairs bridge: March 4

An open pairs event sponsored by Asia Apparells Holdings (Pvt) Ltd. will be held on March 4 at the Bridge Federation Headquarters at the Race Course at 9.15 a.m.

T. Shanmugalingam who was selected as the player of the year by the Bridge Federation, won the first bridge event of the year 2000. He became the winner of the Individual event sponsored by N.Saravanapavathan, Mrs. Watsala Ganesan was the first runner up, with Dr. Rose Peiris third, followed by P.S. Rodrigo, Brian Rodrigue, Mrs. Cera Fernando, H.A.Weerasuriya and M. Chelliah, tied for the ninth place.

School cricket scores at a glance

St. Peter’s vs S.Thomas’ ends in draw at Mt. Lavinia

St. Peter’s - 139 (A. Dissanayake 15, M. Perera 23, M. Silva 17, A. Gallage 41; Jeevan Mendis 6 for 43) and 187 (J. Jayasuriya 37, A. Dissanayake 17, M. Perera 29, M. Silva 23, S. Fernando 16, C. Peiris 22; D. Nanayakkara 3 for 15, L. Wickremasinghe 3 for 63).

S. Thomas’ - 217 for 8 dec (S. Peiris 22, Peiris 25, Jeevan Mendis 37, L. Fernando 49; K. Lokuarachchi 3 for 59)

St. Benedict’s vs Kingswood ends in a draw at Kotahena

Kingswood - 202/8 and 104/8 ( M. Vithanage 47, S. Fernando 3 for 71, S. Perera 4 for 66)

St. Benedict’s - 170/8 and 101 for 2 ( A. Wickramasinghe 51)

St. Sebastian’s beat S. Anthony’s Katugastota by 83 runs at Moratuwa.

St Sebastian’s - 228/9 and 125/5 ( S. P. Perera 37, S. P. Silva 42) St Anthony’s -176 and 94 ( D. Wickramapala 25, S. Banagala 35, D. Fernando 4/37)

Moratu Vidyalaya beat Gurukula Vidyalaya Kelaniya by 7 wickets

Moratu Vidyalaya - 235 (L. Fernando 97, N. Chintaka 50, A. Indrajith 25, S. Nilantha 4 for 80, H. Dilruk 3 for 48) and 130 for 3 decl. (H. Indrajith 50 not out, L. Fernando 36, C. Niroshan 23, C. Tharanga 2 for 33).

Gurukula Vidyalaya - 136 (I. Nandasiri 24, A. Sudesh 20, M. Deshapriya 4 for 18, N. Chintaka 3 for 22) and 137 (S. Nishantha 34, H. Dilruk 22, V. Mendis 5 for 34, D. Martinus 3 for 36).

Dharmaraja-Zahira draw

Dharmaraja - 305/9 in 81 overs ( Asanka Marapana 166 n.o., H. Ratnayake 41, A. Silva 23, M. Imran 2-63, A. Zubair 4 - 56, and 192 - 3 in 36 overs (H. Ratnayake 90, A. Marapana 38, N. Ekanayake 23)

Zahira - 276 in 73.4 overs (M. Mujahid 44, M. Imran 61, S. Faris 32, A. Zubair 44, N. Wickremaratne 3-35, K. Weerasuriya 2-38, C. Koduruwewa 2 -14.)

Sri Rahula Katugastota dominate match against Lumbini MMV at Katugastota

Sri Rahula - 173 (A. Ilangakoon 88, C. Ratnayake 14, J.B. Ekanayake 12, A.S. Kumara 10, N. Champika 3/15, A.H. Krishantha 2-16) and (108/8) C. Ratnayake 21, P. Vishnaka 16, V. Samankumara 23, M. Damakage 14, U. Indrasiri 4 - 18, M. Maduranga 2-18.

Lumbini -121/9 (L. Kumara 53 not out, S. Senanayake 19, M. Maduranga 12, B. Gunasena 3/30, A.S. Kumara 3/23, N.P. Pieris 2/18)

Bradman, Lanka clobber centuries

CCC hit up the highest total of 311 for the loss of two wickets aided by two centuries from skipper Bradman Ediriweera and Lanka de Silva in their Premier Division limited-overs cricket encounter against Singha SC at Braybroke Place yesterday.

At Havelock Park too the Colts hammered 327 losing five wickets with Duleep Samaraweera leading the way with a stroke filled 132.

At Maitland Place SSC beat Matara by four wickets

Matara - 164 for 9 in 50 overs (Primal Liyanage 42; Tilan Samaraweera 5 for 25).

SSC - 165 for 6 in 36 overs (Avishka Gunawardena 23, Upeka Fernando 32, R. Galapatti 46 n.o; S. Kelum 2 for 32)

At Reid Avenue Bloomfield beat Galle by 22 runs.

Bloomfield - 138 all out 43 overs (Saman Jayantha 28, Duminda Perera 20, Priyankara Wickremasinghe 20, Roshan Weerasinghe 10; P. Wanasinghe 3 for 38, Gamini Perera 2 foe 18)

Galle - 116 all out in 38.5 overs (Dhammika Sudarshana 24, Pasan Wanasinghe 47, Primal Buddhika 10 n.o; Kumar Dharmasena 4 for 24, Roshan Weerasinghe 2 for 15)

At Havelock Park Colts beat Police by 233 runs.

Colts - 327 for 5 in 50 overs (Dulip Samaraweera 132, Sajith Fernando 24, Jeewantha Kulatunga 44, Eric Upashantha 82; G. Gunawardena 2 for 32, N. Soysa 2 for 75).

Police - 94 all out in 31.1 overs (R. Fernando 12, S. Silva 15, K. Mahinda 15; Dinuk Hettiarachchi 4 for 29)

At Maitland Place NCC beat Kurunegala YCC by 5 wickets.

Kurunegala YCC - 170 all out in 48.2 overs (R. Kariyawasam 18, J.K. Ranaweera 50, J. Pradeep 24, M.Y. Abdeen 2 for 38, Ruwan Kalpage 2 for 25, M. Bandara 2 for 25)

NCC - 171 for 5 in 47.1 overs (Sanjeewa Weerasinghe 14, Pradeep Hewage 45, Naweed Nawaz 49, Kumar Sangakkara 16; Ajith Ekanayake 2 for 21)

At the P. Sara Stadium Tamil Union beat Sebastianites by 104 runs.

Tamil Union - 290 for 9 in 50 overs (Nuwan Shiroman 60, Indika Galagoda 24, Ruwan Peiris 40, Indika de Saram 30, Brijesh Jeganathan 23, D. Rajapakse 34 n.o, C. Fernando 25; D. Fernando 2 for 56, H. Silva 2 for 53).

Sebastianites - 186 for 7 in 50 overs (M. Fernando 33, Ranga Yasalal 47, N. Wijesinghe 24, L. Fernando 32; C. Fernando 2 for 22)

At Havelock Park BRC beat Moors by 76 runs

BRC - 174 all out in 47.2 overs (Chaminda Handunnettige 39, Manoj Mendis 16, Malintha Warnapura 25, Chinthaka Jayasinghe 29, Swangi Madanayake 12; S. Rajapakse 2 for 29, Ashan Ranaweera 5 for 29)

Moors - 98 all out in 34 overs (Heshan Tillekeratne 10, Ashan Ranaweera 12, Rasika Priyadarshana 23, Swangi Madanayake 2 for 17) At Braybrooke Place CCC beat Singha SC by 202 runs.

CCC - 311 for 2 in 50 overs (Bradman Ediriweera 118 n.o, Lanka de Silva 101,Damitha Hunukumbura 45) Singha SC - 109 all out in 40.2 overs (Hemantha Boteju 3 for 22, Bathiya Perera 4 for 30)

Australia win New Zealand series in record style

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, Saturday- Steve Waugh’s Australians won their limited overs series against New Zealand on Saturday with a record-breaking performance. Australia won the fourth match by 48 runs, taking a winning 3-0 lead in the six-match series, the rain-hit first game having been abandoned.

Waugh’s side piled up 349 for nine off the 50 overs - their highest total in a one-day international - and New Zealand replied with 301 for nine in their 50 overs.

Australia have now set a record of 12 victories in a row in completed one-day internationals, beating the previous mark of 11 shared by West Indies and England.

Opener Adam Gilchrist, who hit a brilliant 128 for his sixth one-day century, and Mark Waugh, who stroked 70, laid the basis for Australia’s record total by putting on 189 off 170 balls for the first wicket.

Australia beat their previous one-day highest of 337 for seven, set 22 days ago against Pakistan in Sydney. New Zealand’s creditable 301 for nine, their highest limited overs total against Australia, featured 82 from skipper Stephen Flemming.

Upul Bandara bags two swimming titles

By Annesley Ferreira

G.G. Bandara showed his class by winning two swimming events at the 1X National Sports Festival of the disabled at the meet held at the SSC pool sponsored by G.S.M. Dialog.

Upul won the 50 metres free style, the 50 metres butterfly and also won the TT title for arm amputees participating for the commando Regiment.

Also winning two events each were, R. M. Jaysundera Banda of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry, W.N.G.S. Wanniyanayake of the Navy, K.B.R. Jayaratne Commando Regiment, G.W. Dhanasena commando Regiment, K.N.O. Priyadarshana Sri Lanka Light Infantry W.P. Warnakulasuriya of Gemunu Watch, P. Wijetunga Gemunu Watch, S.C. Vijayabahu Regiment, Dhammika Dickson de Silva School for the Blind.

Results

50 metres free style class s-7. R.M. Jayasundera Banda (Sri Lanka Light Infantry), K.L. Thusitha (Rehab. Hospital Ragama), D.G.U. Waidyaratna (Sri Lanka Light Infantry).

Class S - 8: G.G. Upul Bandara (Commando Regiment), G.L. Dhanasena (Commando Regiment), S.K.G.N. Wijeyakumara (Sinha Regiment).

Class S-9: W.N.G.S. Wanniyanayake (Navy), R.M.U.L. Rajakaruna (Sinh Regiment) P.G. Amarasiri Gemunu Watch).

Class B-1: H.G. Asanka Kumara (Gajaba Regiment), K.S.K. Silva (Vijyabahu Regiment), C.S. Mayura Kumara (Siviraja Deaf & Blind School)

Class B-2: K.B.R. Jayaratne (Commando Regiment), S.D. Thaminda Darshana Saviraja Deaf & Blind School).

100 metres free style.

Class S-7: R.M. Jayasundera Banda D.G.U. Waidyarathe, A.W.K.W. Gunawardena (Sri Lanka Light Infantry).

Class S-8: G.W. Dhanasena (Commando Regiment), G.G. Upul Bandara (Commando Regiment), W.G. Udayakumara (Light Infantry).

Class S-9: W.M.K. Wanninayake (Navy) G. Samantha Kumara (Light Infantry), R.M.I.G. Lokubandara Light Infantry).

Class S-10: K.N.O. Priyadarshana (Light Infantry), W.P. Warnakulasuriya (Gemunu Watch) K.A.W. Perera (Gajaba Regiment).

Class B-2: Dhammika Dickson de Silva (The School for the Blind), S.D. Thaminda Darshana Siviraja Deaf & Blind School), K.B.R. Jayaratne (Commando Regiment).

Class B-3: S.C. Mallawarachchi, Sri Silva, A.G.L. Priyantha Kumara (Light Infantry Regiment). 200 metres free style.

Class S-9: C. S.Samantha Kumara Light Infantry), H.M.G.W. Saminda Bandara (Commando Regiment), M.M. Gunawardena (Gajaba Regiment).

Class S-10: W.P. Warnakulasuriya (Gemunu Watch), R.W. Perera (Gajaba Regiment), W.M.U. Gunawardena (Light Infantry)

400 metres free style: S.W.P. Warnakulasuriya (Gemunu Watch), T.D. Sujeewa (Commando Regiment), U. Jayantha Kulatilleka (Commando Regiment),

50 metres back stroke Class S-7: R.M. Jayasundera Banda A.H.K.Wijayagunawardena, D.G.U. Waidyaratne (Light Infanry)

Class S-8: G.W. Dhanasena (Commando Regiment), S.M. Seneviratne (Gajaba Regiment), W.G. Udayakumara (Light Infantry).

Class B-1: H.A. Asanka Kumara (Gajaba Regiment), C.S. Mayura Kumara (Siviraja Deaf & Blind School).

100 metres back stroke: Class S-9: G. Samantha Kumara (Light Infantry), H.M.W.G. Saminda Bandara (Commando Regiment) R.M. Sisira Kumara (Light Infantry).

Class S-10: K.V.C. Priyadarshana (Light Infantry), K.A. Chandratilleka (Commando Regiment), T.D. Sujeewa (Commando Regiment).

Class B-2: K.B.R. Jayaratne (Commando Regiment), Dhammika Dickson de Silva (The School for Blind) S.D. Thaminda Dharshana (Siviraja Deaf & Blind School).

Class deaf: P.K. Ruwan Priyankara (Siviraja Deaf & Blind School), N.S. Jayaratne (Ligh Infantry) R.P.N. Wijesinghe (Suviraja Deaf & Blind School).

50 metres butterfly: Class S-8: G.G. Upul Bandara (Commando Regiment).

Class S-10: P.Wijetunga (Gemunu Regiment), R.P.G.L.N. Rajapaksa (Commando Regiment), B.G. Janaka Padmakumara.

50 metres breast Stroke: A.H.Wijayagunawardena (Light Infantry). Class S-8: J.G.S. Nandana Kumara, M.B.P.O. Silva, D.U.B.de Silva (Light Infantry).

Class B-1: H.A. Asanka Kumara (Gajaba Regiment), C.S. Mayura Kumar (Siviraja Deaf & Blind School) K.M. Keerthisinghe (Gajaba Regiment).

Class B-2: Dhammika Dickson de Silva (School for the Blind).

Class B-3: S.C. Mallawarachchi, Sri Silva, Priyantha Kumara (Vijayabahu Regiment).

100 metres breast stroke: D.M.S. Kolongama, M.M. Gunawardena (Gajaba Regiment), R.M. Lokubanda (Light Infantry).

Class S-10: P.Wijetunga (Gemunu Watch), C. Gunawardena (Light Infantry), K.G. Dematage (Sinha Regiment).

50 metres breast stroke: Deaf - N.S. Jayaratne (Light Infantry)

TT title for Munidasa

J.K.W. Munidasa of Ranaviru Sevana won the Wheel Chair Table Tennis title at the IX National Sports Festival of the Disabled, played at the S. Thomas’ Indoor Stadium Courts sponsored by G.S.M. Dialog.

K.S. Weerasinghe of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry won the second place with G.H.S. Fonseka of Gajaba Regiment third.

H.M.W.G. Saminda Bandara of the Commando Regiment won the TT title for Above knee amputees defeating T.M.N. Wickremasinghe of the Gajaba Regiment with D.M.S. Bandara of Sinha Regiment third.

D.K. Aludeniya of Vijayaba Infantry Regiment won the Below knee amputee title defeating his team-mate K. Ranil while S.K.A.L. Chandana Appuhamy of the Commando Regiment took the third spot.

K. Raja Rajasingham of Rehab Lanka won the Arm amputee title downing S.L.R. Karunadasa of the Gajaba Regiment and G.G. Upul Bandara of the Commando Regiment third. Vijebahu Infantry Regiment won the overall championships.

60 golfers vie for Donald Steel Trophy

The Victoria International Golf Club at Rajawella, Kandy, was the venue for the recently concluded Donald Steel Trophy and Ebert Pot Golf Tournament. The tournament was organised by Mr. Martin Ebert, Assistant to Mr. Donald Steel, course architect for the Victoria International Golf Club.

Over 40 golfers from the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan and Holland arrived in Sri Lanka to compete with their local counterparts. Players included members of the Oxford and Cambridge Golfing Society in the UK.

Sri Lanka’s golfing community saw plenty of action over five days of playing at this beautifully laid out golf course in the hill country. There were two days of qualifying rounds which produced a high standard of golf. This was followed by a scratch knockout with the top 32 players contending for the Donald Steel Trophy and the bottom 32 playing for the Ebert Pot.

The finalists for the Donald Steel Trophy were 19 year old David Griffith from the United Kingdom and Nandasena Perera, Sri Lanka’s national golf champion. David Griffith emerged champion winning the Donald Steel Trophy. It was a closely contested game for the first nine holes. Griffith then won four of the next six holes covering the holes in two under par to win on the 15th green.

The finalists for the Ebert Pot were Tony Whitham and Ajith Nishantha. The winner was Ajith Nishantha who beat Whitham by 2/1.

The success of this tournament augurs well for the future and the organisers look forward to this tournament being played at an international level in the years to come.

Two Yanks leave the golf scene

Almost two decades ago the bald American Robert McCarter of Tristar 1011 fame walked into the Royal Colombo Golf Club to register his membership and buy his first beer and I was most fortunate to meet up with him just at that very time. We sat, we talked, we consumed and then settled for a gorgeous curry lunch at the posh club restaurant.

Since then Robert, his wife Jeritza, my wife Jeanne and I have enjoyed and lapped up a jealously guarded and closely knitted friendship which was just recently shattered when they decided to pack and leave for greener pastures absolutely bitter that they were harassed in their country seaside home in Pamunugama. The popular couple loved Sri Lanka and they left behind very many near and dear friends.

Happy golfers

Robert was a tremendous 4 baller at the Royal Colombo Golf Club. Chris Yewdall, Lee Jacobsmulher, Nigel Driver, Ray Lapsley and I were regulars with him on most Sundays and our 19th hole gatherings were so pleasurable and elastic that it invariably stretched to late lunch time or early tea time and if it ever did shorten or got clipped it was response to the commanding calls from the domestic front.

Jeritza like her husband excelled on the stage in amateur theatricals. They produced, they directed and also actively participated in several top notch presentations and their audience kept increasing with each presentation. Theatregoers will miss them immensely.

Lee Man

The next to pack and move was Lee Jacobsmulhen and his gorgeous wife Marylyse the attractive daughter of Gabo Rockwood. Lee was a regular golfer and we enjoyed his company. Marylyse was probably the best dressed in the social scene of Colombo. She was also a gourmet cook with Gorden Bleu background. The McCarters and the Jacobmulhers were very close and as to be expected they live one block from each other in a posh suburb in Mexico. We miss them. They were great expats - warm and friendly they assimilated into our society quickly and strongly.

Winners to defend Regatta titles

Last year’s winners Gunatilleka of the Navy and Mohan Balasuriya will defend their title at the Hotel Ceylon Inter Continental Sailing Regatta today (February 27) at the Ceylon Motor Yacht Club at Bolgoda.

The first race will be held at 11 a.m.

Fifteen to 20 teams will take part and the one who helms the first race will crew the second race and a total result of the two races will be taken into account.

Lal Liyanage, General Manager of Hotel Ceylon Inter Continental will be the chief guest.

Caltex Ruhunu Millennium Run - 2000

The first ever circuit meet to be conducted in the South, will be run in the Koggala Export Processing Zone on March 5, commencing at 9.00 am. The trials will be held on Saturday the 4th.

This meet is organised by Ruhunu Motor Sports Club of Matara in association with the Upcountry Motor Sports Club, the Motor Racing Association and the able assistance of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka and is solely sponsored by ‘Caltex’ - Lanka Lubricants Limited.

Over one hundred entries have already been received for twenty two events that are to be worked off.

Among the renowned drivers who have entered are, Dilantha Malagamuwa driving a Nissan Skyline GTR and a Subaru Impressa, young Aravinda Premadasa driving his new Subaru impressa Turbo, Dinesh Deheragoda in his Mitsubishi Evolution, Rohith de Silva in his Mini Havoline, Ravi Iddamalgoda, Shanaka Ambrose, Nihal Weerasinghe, S.A. Harsha, Rizvi Farook, Hafiz Cader, S.A. Duminda and renowned riders namely, Dilantha Malagamuwa, Navin Dassanayaka, Prabath Perera and Damian Gunathilaka.

Rover pinpoints…

How true

A day before the Sri Lanka cricket team left for Pakistan for the one day series, a player dropped from this series had told the skipper over the phone ‘you can go to Pakistan but remember in about two weeks time we will take control and seven of the players will be sent packing’. Fat hopes?

Going Crazy?

Having already reduced the sport to bankruptcy, a leading official from the Sports Ministry was heard saying that he was going to contest the post of President of a leading sport at its AGM? Next month.

He was also heard saying: “:Time is running out for us and its good to make use of the opportunity to ‘make hay while the sun shines’.

Talking about others to contest this post he was heard saying, ‘how can mentally sick people control this sport’.

Up and quckly down?

A club house which was demolished recently for a new one, is yet to come up, since the structure which come up was quickly was brought down in double quick time, since the baas handling it now knows next to nothing. This baas has handed over the contract over to another, Rover learns, What a waste of money and time.

Blown off-side

Everything was in place for the Rugby Union to hold its annual election of office bearers for the year 2000. One former top official made sure he was not there to waste his time. For in a speech he rebuked the Rugby Referees Society for the many controversial deeds that have taken place in the recent past.

What’s cooking?

Still on the subject of the Rugby Referees Association, Rover learns that the “senior members” have again been sidelined for reasons best known to the hierarchy of the controlling body.

It is learnt that these senior members are playing no part in the affairs of the Association.

Working the line

Who is this member of the Rugby Referees Association who it has been alleged settles some of his private bills on the Association account?

Who is lying?

A big mouth official of the Sports Ministry who is in reality a ‘podian’ was given prominence over the news broadcast of a popular Radio station to the effect that Dr. R.M.K.Ratnayake has been appointed as the Cricket Board Interim committee Chairman.

In the second news broadest this news was nullified by the statement that Rienzie Wijetilleka had decided to stay on.

Who is siding whom?

The question posed here is whether this Sports Ministry employee can divulge information to the media in his capacity as a paid emplyee of the Ministry.

Why leave them out?

Two fast bowlers, Dinesh Fernando and Sujeewa Silva (both from Sebastianites) who were not selected to the Sri Lanka A pool had been told to bowl at the nets for the poolists while they practised. The reason being that some of the selected fast bowlers were sidelined with injuries. For justice sake why not select both Fernando and Silva into the pool? It would have been more meaningful.

Over to you Selectors.

What a let down?

Given to understand that he was to be appointed to the Interim Committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka, a person with the initials of TT threw a big party in the hill capital.

What a waste of money and time it was, to be told it was not so. This same official went for the World Cup with his wife and children and at whose expense. He was heard telling several persons, what’s to be done if given tickets why refuse this trip.

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