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a gigantic task with so many problems - Thilanga He thanked the membership for the confidence bestowed on him. They had the right to vote after three years when the last meeting was held in year 2,000. Its affairs were run by interim committees, since then. Sumathipala said he was grateful to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Minister of Sports Johnston Fernando for giving the membership the right to elect its office-bearers under a democratic system. He further stated, that his committee will strive to fulfil its obligations with a concerted team effort. There should be total commitment and the past should be forgotten. At present the game has hit a new low. Yes. All must work with total dedication and strive to develop the game and bring it to its former glory. In the past the Interim Committee took ad-hoc decisions which failed to help the game to put it on its course, which is one of the main causes for the ongoing problems. Its a gigantic task with so many financial problems to be sorted out. You have to be transparent. That will be done. Through the media, the cricketing public, too, will come to know what our programme is going to be from time to time. Every policy decision taken by the Ex-Co. will be made public. Even suggestions will be most welcome, he said. An extra general
meeting, too will be held shortly for further discussions, he said.
I am quite used to facing setbacks and I have fought back well on and off the field said former Sri Lanka Captain Arjuna Ranatunga on Friday. Ranatunga contested for the top post - the presidency with Thilanga Sumathipala, the former president of the BCCSL and Chairman, Sri Lanka Telecom. Thilanga won the contest. He had 121 votes, Mohan de Silva 10 and Ranatunga 7. After the meeting
whilst speaking to the media Ranatunga said, "This is a minor
setback and nothing to be worried about. I wanted to prove a point
to the nation as to what is happening. Let them know what is good
for cricket and what is bad. It's a matter of time. I am very grateful
for those seven who courageously voted for me". "When I started playing cricket at the start, I lost by big margins. Later I followed up by winning by much bigger margins. I had to prove a point to the nation and to the cricketing public by contesting for this top post. I will do the needful at the appropriate time," he said. The Clubs who voted for Ranatunga were: Old Anandians, Badureliya CC Bloomfield, Moratuwa SC., Wattala CC., Polonnaruwa CC.. Bloomfield had two votes. CH
edge out spirited CR Excellent rugby was dished out by both teams. CR and FC played a much better game in the second half. The red shirts have to do lot of basic things right if they are to win the league this year as their was a lot of communications failure between forwards and the three quarters. CR and FC missed as many as three penalties within kicking range. CH played as a team in the line outs as well as in the loose. Duminda de Silva was at his best, Nalin Dissanayake was in good form with his boots finding a lot of ground with his booming kicks to touch. He put over two conversions as well as a penalty. In the second half the Red Shirts changed their ploy and had a lot of possession but failed to capitalize on CH's mistakes. With two minutes to the final whistle the score stood 17-14 in favour of CH. When CR got a good attacking chance and only 20 meters to cover Kishan Musafer knocked it on. Capitalizing on this Duminda de Silva ran about 20 meters to touch far left and give CH a well earned victory. They will meet Kandy SC next weekend. For CH and FC Dinuk Wijeratne, Duminda De Silva and their Samoan Jimmy scored the tries with Nalin Dissannayake goaling two of them. He also put over a penalty. For CR and FC their Fijian centre scored one try and the other was a penalty try which Asanga Rosdrigo converted. For CH Duminda de Silva, Nalin Dissanayake and Dinuk Wijeratne played their hearts out. For CR Asanga Rodrigo and skipper Shamly Nawaz played well. Referee - Nizam Jamaldeen. Touch judges - Denzil Darling and Ruwan Nishanth. Windsurfing
at Dambulla This is the brainchild of the Minister of Central Region Development Tissa Attanayake and the event will be organized by his ministry along with the assistance of many other organizations including the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka, Central Environmental Authority, the Central Province Council, Members of the Cutlural Triangle Hoteliers Association and many more. It will be conducted by the Windsurfing Association of Sri Lanka. Gamini Lokuge speaking at a press conference held at the Tourist Board said we are going to combine tourism and sports together where a tourist who comes over to Sri Lanka could enjoy their stay instead of only sight seeing. We have many other programmes and there will be some event that will be held every month for the tourists to enjoy. The organizers are excepting to attract a large number of participants as this is an open event even the foreigners are elgible to participate. Before the championships is scheduled to begin at 2.30 p.m. there will be an exhibition demonstrating the art of jet sking, canoeing, and various other sports involved with water sports. The winner will be awarded the Midsummer Challenge Trophy and a special trophy will be awarded to the up and coming windsurfer. -MSA Thilanga
wastes no time, signs up Dyson as Coach Sumathipala who was almost certain of being elected to the hot seat when nominations were called for the elections a month ago has negotiated with former Australian Opener John Dyson and sealed a deal prior to being elected as the CB President. The 49-year-old Australian is now expected early next month to take charge of the Lankans who are on a downward trend in the game after the World Cup and are currently facing an uphill task to salvage their pride in the Caribbean. Dyson who played for Australia between 1977 and 1984 scored 1359 runs in 30 tests which included two centuries.In addition Dyson also has a Masters Degree in Physical Fitness and is a specialist in psychology. Two areas that will be of great benefit for the Sri Lanka team. It was a pity that the last Interim Committee was unable to secure the services of a foreign coach in time despite being well aware that the contract of former coach Dav Whatmore was coming to an end as schedule. This left the Lankan team without a professional coach and at the hands of Duleep Mendis who was appointed as stop gap coach. Already the results are seen with Sri Lanka failing to qualify for the finals in successive Triangular tournaments in Sharjah and at home. On top of this Sri Lanka had to settle for a drawn test series at home against a New Zealand team that was minus a few regulars. Dyson, no doubt, will have a huge task ahead of him not only in arresting the downward trend ,but also to ensure that Sri Lanka once again reagains its lost position in the Test and One day circuits. Only time will tell whether Dyson succeeds or not. However for the moment cricket fans could be satisfied that a genuine effort is being made to put Sri Lanka Cricket back on the right track. Airmen
hold the edge The Airmen started the season by losing to the CH & FC by 11 points to 38 and in their next outing they went down fighting to the Cops by 26 points 36 . In this game they got their act together as a team only in the 2nd half, if not for this they could have pulled it off in style. The 3rd game was against the Soldiers which they lost by 10 points to 56. After leading in the first half they went down to the Red Shirts by 9 points to 32. They met the star studded Kandy sports Club at their own den and went down by 16 points to 58. In this encounter they crossed the Champion sides line. In the last outing at Katunayake they went down to the havies by 12 points to 47. While the Airmen have conceded 267 points in 6 games, they have scored 75 points. The youth team from the upcountry started the season by losing to the Soldiers by 13 points to 55 and continued by losing the rest to CR & FC by 6 points 86, Kandy SC 5 points to 100. Havies 11 points 40. CH & FC 6 points to 89, and the Cops by 6 points to 56. The Youth team has conceded 435 points and scored 47 in their outings. The Airmen are led by former Pathana Hooker Sanjaya Fernando who will be expecting much from players like Rohan Anthony, Ruwan Chandrasekera to deliver the goods. Special mention must be made about the former Vidyartha full back Rohan Anthony with his safe pair of hands, touch kicks and conversion he has helped his team tremendously. Old
Zahirians host Kurunegala RFC HNB
retains Mercantile B Div title East West won the toss and invited HNB to take first lease of the wicket. The Bankers were off to a flyer with openers Nilantha Bopage (37) and Damitha Hunukkumbura (76) putting on 83 for the first wicket in 13.4 overs. Hunukkumbura was in cracking form as he smacked 10 boundaries and a six in a 91 ball innings that formed the backbone of the innings. All-rounder Ranil Dhammika then thumped a 25 ball 44 which included three sixes and three fours for HNB to finish on 259 for 9 in 50 overs. Needing to score over five runs an over East West found the going tough as their top order batsmen failed to provide the perfect start. Only opener Nilan Jaymon looked comfortable as he anchored the Eat West innings with a solid 69 before being run out. Medium pacer Duncan Arnolda grabbed four wickets in his 10 over spell as East West slumped to 128 for 7. But a stubborn 62 run stand for the 8th wicket between Dhammika Prasad (38) and Sisira Kumara saw East West to reach 190 for 7 wickets and have a sniff at the Bankers imposing target. But with the exit of Prasad and Kumara the writing was on the wall as East West folded up for 221 in the 45 th over. HNB B- 259/9
(Nilantha Bopage 37, Damitha Hunukkumbura 76, Nilan de Silva 30,
Ranil Dhammika 44 n. o; Pubudu Ranaweera 2/15, Dhammika Prasad 2/61) Rugby
shock as Isipathana succumb to St. Anthony's But it was rugby of top class produced by both the teams and much credit should be given to the Kandy boys who came from behind by turning the game into their side in he last ten minutes. To the surprise of the spectators the Antonians drew first when fly half Shaheer Riyal made no mistake with a penalty offered. Isipathana replied with a try from center Nalin Liyanage which was followed by a try from winger Shanaka Fonseka of which one was converted and then a penalty put over by hooker Sendil Kumara that gave Isipathana a healthy 15-3 at the short whistle. Resuming in the second half the Antonians never gave the Patanas to settle down they played to a game plan. In the most part of the second session the Antonians were in their opponents half. Scrum half Prasad Chaturanga in particular was outstanding making the necessary moves which kept the Patanas conclussed. In fact the home team took things easy and the effort put in by them was not enough. It was a pity to see the gutty Isipathanians being unable to add any points in the second half where as the Antonians succeeded in planting two tries through scrum half Prasad Chaturanga who scored the first try in the second half and wing three quarter Sumith Jagaoda going over for the second try. Shaheer Riyal goaled one of these. Then came the moment for the Kandy boys who were rewarded for all the efforts put in by them when at the dying stages of the second half scrum half Prasad Chaturanga put the Antonians in the lead when going over for a try in a five yard scrummage which they held on to earn a well deserved win. Referee: Shamrath Fernando. |
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