Golf to be upgraded

By Tita Nathanielz

Massive fires were lit under a few seats and at long last there has been response to the repeated appeals for professional assistance to upgrade golfing skills. It must gladden the hearts of our aspirants that very soon they will be under the wings of an expert of international repute Nandasena Perera, Willie Barsenbach and Pferoze Billimoria I suppose will also move in to reap the benefits from the skills of this expert. Sunil Jayakody the President of the Sri Lanka Golf Union must be congratulated for making all this possible.

Digana recognised

The Victoria Golf Club at Digana an absolute beauty by all standards has been recognised and identified as fully qualified to match with the demand of International Competitions. The Asian Circuit is a tremendous event in this part of the world and reliable reports have it that Sri Lanka and Victoria will be included in the Circuit and now you are talking of at least 100 competitors from about 10 countries competing and bringing with them at least 500 followers and rabid spectators. Tony Whitham is ready to handle the international event and knowing his skills success is assured.

UAL sponsors golf

Sarath Wickremanayake the CEO of UAL moved in with a most encouraging offer to help Golf and the Royal Colombo Golf Club. They reached agreement with the Club to have funds available to upgrade standards of the course and the Clubhouse.

Surath Wickremasinghe, President and Haris Serasinghe, Captain negotiated the most rewarding agreement. Sarath Wickremanayake was lustily applauded at the 19th after the agreement was sealed, signed and lodged in the vault.

New Team

Dian Jayasuriya and Lalin Samarawickrema took over from Surath Wickremasinghe and Haris Serasinghe at the Annual General Meeting of the Royal Colombo Golf Club. Wickremasinghe and Serasinghe teamed superbly to dovetail all the arrangements connected with the development of the Course and the Clubhouse. Now Jayasuriya and Samarawickrema will have to continue the good work and there is no doubt that their efforts will be immensely successful. Both are past masters with tremendous administrative skills and they have Lionel Almeida a dependable Executive officer.

Visakha,S.Thomas' excel at TT

Visakha and S.Thomas' Mount Lavinia bagged the girls' and boys' under 16 A division TT championships in the Western Province inter schools tourney conducted by the Old Boys Association of St. John's Nugegoda.

St. Joseph's BMV and Royal finished as runners-up respectively.

The other champions and runners-up in the other divisions were:

Girls' under 16-

B division - Samaudradevi BMV Nugegoda, Holy Cross Gampaha; C Division - Holy Cross, Gampaha, St Pauls' Milagiriya; D division - Visakha, St Pauls' Milagiriya; E division - Sirimavo Bandaranaike MBV, Holy Cross Gampaha; F division - Sirimavo Bandaranaike BMV, Grils' High School Mt Lavinia; G division - Sirimavo Bandaranaike BMV, St Lawrance School, Wellawatta.

Grils' under 12

A division - Musaeus, St. Joseph' BMV Nugegoda; B division - Girls' High School, Mt Lavinia, Musaeus; C division - Devi Balika, Visakha; D division - St Josephs' BMV Nugegoda, Girls' High School Mt Lavinia; E division - Sirimavo Bandaranaike BMV, Princess of Wales, Moratuwa; F division - Holy Cross Gampaha, Sirimavo Bandaranaike BMV.

Boys under 16-

B division - Royal, St Johns' Nugegoda; C division - Prince of Wales, Wesley; D division - Bandaranaike MV Gampaha, Prince of Wales; E division - St Peters' Ananda; F division - St John's Nugegoda, Nalanda.

An evening with Susie

By Bernie Wijesekera

The Sri Lankans in Melbourne, Victoria held a reception in honour of sprint Queen Susanthika Jayasinghe, at Cretan Village Sri Lanka's H.C. in Australia, H.K.J.R. Bandara, who headed the organising committee proved an instant success. According to sources from Victoria the entire proceeds and profits of this reception, will be diverted to the Susanthika for Gold Fund, for the purpose of financing her quest for a Gold Medal at the Athens Olympics in 2004.

It was a well attended get - together where the Lankan community was their in their numbers and wellwisher's too graced the occasion.

Evergreen Eddie Gray played a sheet anchor role with other members of the committee supporting. This great happening was followed by a dinner dance.

Jayasinghe was fortunate to meet the Australian Minister for Sport, Jackie Kelly, who was also an Olympic Silver Medallist at the XXth Games in Rowing.

Picture shows - Susanthika with Minister Jackie Kelly at a reception in Sydney.

Dr. Quintus De Zylwa Sri Lanka's Rep. for Cricket in Australia, was here to mark the opening ceremony of the new Dambulla Stadium. The first international match was staged here between Sri Lanka and England, (one-dayer). The Lankans won the tie.

Badulla cricket umpires in a huff

By V.T. Rajah (Our Badulla Sports)

Cricket Umpires in Badulla are reported to be up in arms when the Badulla District Cricket Association failed to recognise them for the Mayor's Cup limited over cricket tournament concluded last Sunday.

According to the BDCA officials, the Badulla Cricket Umpires Association was informed to forward four Umpires for the Mayor's Cup Cricket tournament. The Umpires Association had in turn requested the BDCA to forward the draw and that they would detail the Umpires for the matches. During such exchange of letters the tournament commenced on March 26 and due to the delay of detailing the Umpires by the Umpires Association, the BDCA had requested the Chairman of the Umpires Committee Mr. M.T. Ariyawardena to detail Umpires for this tournament.

Accordingly Mr. Ariyawardena obtained the assistance of the outstation Umpires and conducted the tournament. "What action the Badulla District Cricket Umpires Association would take!", is left to be seen.

Viharamahadevi Champs

Badulla Viharamahadevi Balika Maha Vidyalaya and Dharmadutha Maha Vidyalaya won the Girls' and Boys' overall Champions at the Badulla District inter-schools Track & Field meet concluded at the Badulla Vincent Dias Stadium on Friday.

Viharamahadevi B.M.V received 158 points while Dharamadutha emerged Champions with 215 points at this meet organised by the Education Department.

The Chief Minister of Uva Provincial Council Mr. Samaraweera Weerawanni was the chief guest and distributed the awards.

Girls' Champion Athletes: Under-11 - Sashika Lakshani Vidanaduruge (Vishaka Balika M.V); Under-13 - Udara Madushanthi Ratnayake (Viharamahadevi M.V.); Under-15 - Sripalee Nuwanthika Kumari Samaraweera (Viharamaha devi M.V); Under-17 - D.M. Menaka Dissanayake (Sri Rahula M.V); Under-19 - D.M. Samanthi Dharshanika Dissanayake (Viharamahadevi M.V); Under-21 - D.M.Anurada (Sri Rahuala M.V.) and W.M. Anusha Damayanthi ( Viharamahadevi Balika M.V).

Boys' Champion Athletes: Under-11 - T.M. Murad Siraj (Dharmadutha M.V); Under-13 - Sujith Malinga Hettiarachchie (Dharmadutha M.V) and R.Dharmaraj (Saraswathy M.M.V); Under- 15 - Chanaka Ratnayake (Badulla M.M.V); Under-17 - R.M.Dinusha Niranthaka Gunasekera (Badulla M.M.V); Under- 19 - R.M.Indrasiri Udayakumara (Dharmaduth M.V); Under-21 - M.Rahuman Samsudeen (Dharmadutha M.V).

Team Champions: Under-15 Volleyball Boys' - Bharathi Tamil M.V.Girls': Kendagolla Ampitiya M.V; Under-17 Volleyball Boys - Sirimalgoda M.V; Girls': Kendagolla Ampitiya M.V; Under-19 Volleyball Boys' - Kendagolla Ampitiya M.V; Girls': Badulla M.M.V; Under-15 Netball - Viharamaha devi Balika M.V; Under-17 Netball - Viharamahadevi Balika M.V; Under-19 Netball - Viharamahadevi Balika M.V; Elle Boys' - Uva Maha Vidyalaka; Girls': Udayaraja M.V; Cricket: Dharmadutha M.V; Football Under-17 - Uva M.V;

Football Under-19 - Badulla M.M.V.

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