• Briefly
• Cager team not selected
• Stinging like a bee
• Sri Lanka hopeful of medals
• Lanka's test record very poor 
• Int. schools swimmers could tip the scales
• Rover Pinpoints..... 
• Grand Hotel, SriLankan Airlines Golf Classic
• Shame game
• Army guns boom as Havies bite the dust
• Cake-walk for Saunders
• Injury-hit India brace for Sri Lankan test series
• Wallabies break hoodoo

Briefly

Ruwan, Chandika to follow coaching stint in Victoria

The duo will be entirely sponsored by the SLFCV - including air tickets, accommodation and internal transport, according to David Cruse, one of its committee members, who was here. 

Cruse, told The Sunday Times, that he had discussions with Dr. P. Ramurajam, Secretary to the Ministry of Sports, to start a scholarship scheme among the talented rural cricketers, to play in Australia. It will help improve their skills, whilst playing district cricket, where the standard is quite high. There are quite a number of Sri Lankans living Down Under who are prepared to give a helping hand to deserving sportsmen. 

This move by the Ministry is a laudable one to help less affluent sportsmen to go places and for nation building via sports. In the past the Vice Cricket Foundation has given playing opportunities, namely Aravinda de Silva, Roshan Mahanama, Ruwan Kalpage, Sanath Kaluperuma, and left-arm spinner Gamini Perera, who impressed and improved their skills and played at national level, barring Perera. -(BW)

Success in TT for Devananda

By M. Shamil Amit

Ishara Madurangani won the Under 11 girls' title. G.P.H. Sajith Priyadharshana of Sri Devananda College produced one of the best wins in the tournament by defeating former champion Tharindu Samaraweera (son of former Sri Lanka champion Jothipala Samaraweera) of S. Thomas, Mt Lavinia to clinch the boys' Under- 15 title and the other Devanandian Lakshan Harshana clinching the Under-17 title.

SriLankan Airlines favourites 

Cager team not selected

Note by Sports Editor: The fact remains that most of the players in the Colombo Basketball Club were members of the national pool and were coached by the national coach Ajith Kuruppu who also coached the Club team which got thrashed by Bulls BC. How did the pool players play in the tournament without the permission of the SLBF Exco? Same officials wanted to suspend the Mercantile Services Basketball Association in 1999 when the pool players played in a tournament organised by the one and only active Basketball Association. The players were playing for their employers. Is this be promotion of basketball ?

Stinging like a bee

By Nilika de Silva

The Sri Lankan contingent comprising seven female boxers, the Manager and Coach are due to leave on August 23, to take part in a historic championship.

The Sunday Times spoke to these women boxers after a tournament held at the Slimline Boxing ring in Pannala, where they displayed their skills to a packed crowd of enthusiastic fans.

Clearly, the novelty of seeing women in the ring had fast worn off with the wide coverage given to Laila Ali and Frazer Jr. in Sri Lanka . 

Under-51 kg - Fly Weight - B.M.K. Bodipakse (SL Army), Under-57 kg - Feather Weight - E.M.N.K. Ekanayake (SL Army), Under-48 kg - Light Fly Weight - L.G. Chandrika (SL Army), Under-54 kg Bantam Weight - M.M.M. Susanthi (SL Army), Under-45kg - Swarna, Under 57-kg - Feather Weight, H.M.M. Herath (SL Army) and 45 kg - Erandathi.

The Manager of the team is Colonel Jagath Jayasuriya who is in charge of Army Boxing.

The Head Coach is Lieutenant R.K. Indrasena who is the pioneer in introducing women's boxing to Sri Lanka. The SL Army started women's boxing last year.

Seven months ago she learnt to box, today she is considered the best women's boxer the Army boasts of. L. G. Chandrika from Galle is a product of the Amarasuriya College, Galle. She was in the Kabadi national pool

A Private in the Army Chandrika trained as a Physical Training Instructor.

SL Army's B.N.K. Bodipakse (20) is another favourite. Bodipakse from Kandy also took to boxing after following a PTI course. Mallika Herath of Hingurakgoda and Susanthi of Chilaw were also among those who proved their mettle in the ring.

The local boxing scene is fast growing. At present three clubs are engaging in boxing - Army, Police and Slimline.

Immediately ruralising the sport, Slimline has taken boxing out to Pannala. A boxing ring located within their premises is an encouragement for all staffers to venture into the ring with the added support of a boxer MD, Dian Gomes.

As elsewhere, father-daughter combinations can be seen here too with former National Champion Sampath, presently the Navy Coach, producing a boxer daughter Nelka Shiromala, who is boxing for the Police Team.

Sri Lanka hopeful of medals

By Annesley Ferreira 

The Rowing Association, started training with 32 Oarsmen with a hope of participating in the Asian Championships in China in October.

We were highly delighted when we learnt that Rowing was included into the SAF Games events supported by both India and Pakistan and the other participants being Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, said Rohan Fernando the President of the Rowing Association. 

Of the 21 medals to be won in Rowing, Sri Lanka can be assured of 7, be it bronze, Silver and possibly a gold. 

Rowing a Olympic Sport is incidentally the second highest medal winning discipline other than athletics. 

Already 23 Oarsmen are now in hard training, with the final 15 to be picked early next month, and the President added that they are very happy that at last the Ministry of Sports has given them financial support which augurs well for the sport in general since the affiliates are keeping on swelling. 

More are willing to take up to the sport and equipment is a stumbling block in giving those the nod, but with the intention of taking this sport to the provinces with the involvement of the Navy and Army, this could be done, Rohan added supported by Ajith Gunawardena, Lloyd Sirimanne, Lakmal Wickremage and who are involving in coaching and Deva Henry another stalwart in the sport. 

Like in boxing the Sri Lankans would stand to gain in winning gold in the lighter classes added coach Ajith Gunawardena. 

The track at Islamabad would be 2000 metres in distance with four lanes which will give the participants stiff competition in their quest of winning medals. 

Another aspect the Rowing Association is looking into is a headquarters of their own which a long felt need added Rohan.

Lanka's test record very poor 

By Bernie Wijesekera

This side with a blend of youth and experience showed up well against the Pakistanis under varying conditions. 

Pakistan were sans some of the seasoned campaigners. But the President of the BCCP, Lt. Gen. Tauquir Zia said there is no harm losing to Sri Lanka as they are in the process of team building and giving that much needed exposure for the youngsters to get oriented to the big league. Pakistan's gamble of playing youth players came right when they outplayed Sri Lanka in the final test at Karachi, with Younis Khan making a dream debut by notching a 100, playing in the shadow of Inzamam-ul Haq, who too scored a flamboyant 100. Sidat Wettimuny was the chairman of the selection committee, watched this great happening in Pakistan where our young hopefuls got a real taste of international cricket. 

All that good work was shattered when petty politics in sports raised its ugly head again with Wettimuny bowing out and the game falling into tatters - especially in the test arena, despite so many consultants to uplift and develop the game. 

Sri Lanka drew up a plan under former president Ana Punchihewa to emerge as the best test playing nation by year 2,000 with a well planned infrastructure. But political machinations in sport threw him out, putting the entire process in disarray. In its wake came indiscipline even among some players. 

Sri Lanka won the World Cup in 1996. What progress have they made since then. Other than winning odd one-day series here and there, but never maintained the winning rhythm. Tour officials were picked at the behest of interested parties. The players themselves didn't know who the next tour manager is going to be. 

A good example is the removal of Chandra Schaffter despite getting Sports Ministry approval. It proved disastrous, to find a knowledgeable person at the eleventh hour for the tour of S.Africa. Stanley Jayasinghe, who was the 'A' team manager to S.Africa had to be shifted to Zimbabwe. Coach Whatmore had to oversee until he crossed over. Later cricket was played in the portals of the Hulftsdorp, but not on the playing field. As a result the game suffered immensely. 

Sri Lanka's performances in the established game - lost to S.Africa (away) test series two-nil the one-dayers 4-1. Won in Zimbabwe in a keen contest both the test and one-dayers. The best effort was in Pakistan Feb.-March, 2,000 (away) when Sanath Jayasuriya's team won the tests 2-1 and a whitewash in the overs game. 

Sri Lanka's performance since then in their own backyard had much to be desired. For the first time beat S.Africa at Asgiriya, but lost to them by six runs at the SSC to square the series, when we should have wrapped it up. 

This was followed by the visit of Pakistan - a team with a blend of youth and experience won the test 2-0. Younis Khan, again proved his class with a test 100. Our bowlers failed on tailor-made pitches. Even 'Murali' couldn't make much of an impact after his record haul in Pakistan. 

Sri Lanka's next confrontation on home soil was against England. 

The Lankans had high hopes of winning the series. Won the first test in Galle but lost the series 2-1 (test). Had the consolation of winning the one-dayers 3-0. 

'Murali' who had a rich haul of 16 wickets against England at the Oval test, the English batsmen were able to tame him here. Ironically, too much of cricket for 'Murali' due to his commitment for Lancashire in the County championship which takes much of the sting off any bowler - playing six days cricket for a week. 

After the triangular series, the Lankans take on India in a three- test series. Its going to be a gruelling contest with the return of Tendulkar. The Indians are fielding a young side with an eye for the future. They have the talent and variety in their attack. It's a tall order for the Lankans despite the seniors. Where is the talent that Sri Lanka could offer in the established game. This attributes to our poor domestic tournaments, which could hardly give that much needed competition for the youngsters, unlike in other cricket playing nations. 

Sri Lanka has won a solitary test against India, in 1985 at the 'P.Sara' Stadium by 149 runs. The team was led by Duleep Mendis while Kapil Dev led India. It was a great win when Romesh Ratnayake captured Kapil's wicket amid jubilation. One of the umpires, who officiated this match ran away with a stump to the pavilion as a souvenir. Since then Sri Lanka has still to post a win over India. To date, India has won six tests - five in home soil, while in 1993, did well to win by 235 runs at the SSC grounds. Will the Lankans be able to break the hoodoo or will India be able to win a series away after their rousing 2-1 home series over mighty Australia. 

Asian Schools C'ships in Singapore

Int. schools swimmers could tip the scales

Sri Lanka will embark on its second schools swimming tour of Singapore from August 11 to 18, where they will splash it out at the first ever Asian Schools Championships at the Chinese Swimming Pool, conducted by the Singapore Schools Sports Council.

The last meet where the Sri Lankan Schools participated was the International (ISF) Meet in Shanghai in 1998.

This time the Sri Lanka Schools Aquatic Association received the invitation to participate in this first ever meet through the Education Ministry.

This meet will be conducted for boys and girls in only one age group 18, and it is heartening to note the participation of Sri Lankans attached to the International Schools, making their debut, through the courtesy extended by the Education Ministry who had given them permission to participate which no doubt augurs well for the sport for high competitiveness.

In the fray is Uma Kayva Dharmadasa, the 11-year-old from Musaeus College who will swim in four events: the 200, 400 and 800 metres free style and the 200 metres individual medley. She is a highly rated swimmer of whom much could be heard in the years to come. She is being coached by E.G.A. Wilson, a no-nonsence coach. 

Uma is also a member of Otters and won the first place in the Juvenile category and finished 5th in the Open category at this year's two-mile-sea swim at Mount Lavinia.

Successs was achieved by this young swimmer with five first places at the 28th Sri Lanka Schools championships held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium Pool in the under-13 age group in the individual medley, 200, 400 free style, 4x100 metres free and medley relays and finished third in the under-18, 800 metres free style.

Overall Coach, Phillip Amarasinghe speaking to The Sunday Times, said that he could not predict how many medals Sri Lanka could win, since he only knew of the timings of the respective events of the Sri Lankans but not of the other participants from the other countries.

Rover Pinpoints..... 

Ties for audit's

Inquiry still on 

Mind your business 

Taken for a ride 

This same official , Rover learns was instrumental in stating that a few lawyers were going to Dambulla with the intention of obtaining a stay order to play the three Triangular matches there, but it turned out to be farce. The question left to be answered is who took whom for a ride ?

What a way 

Stickers aplenty 

No refund yet 

Why SLBF did not send a team? 

Who granted permission to play? 

Why no Accounts tabled yet?

Sundry Debtor for Treasurer? 

Who is this Sundry Creditor ? 

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