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'SLCF of Victoria will continue to help Sri Lankan Cricket' says Dr. De Zilva, Australian Cricket Board representative
By Bernie Wijesekera
Dr. Quintus De Zilva, Sri Lanka's representative to the Australian Cricket Board is here to watch the ongoing cricket series between England and Sri Lanka. Old boy of Kingswood College, Kandy he has been one of the mainsprings in the Cricket Foundation of Victoria since its inception with the likes of Eddie Gray, Ian Crawford (a trustee), David Cruse, Dr.Olga Mendis etc. The foundation has contributed much for the development of sports and much community service in their motherland.

De Zilva was interviewed by The Sunday Times.

He said he had a dialogue with the chairman of the selection panel, Lalith Kaluperuma to give playing opportunities for talented young Lankan cricketers in Victoria and improve their skills whilst playing away from home.

Lalith, was in Australia (Victoria) recently where his brother Sanath - is captain cum coach of the Keysborough CC. Saliya Ahangama former Sri Lanka fast bowler is coaching Prahan CC.

Incidentally Prahan provided youngsters for Victoria in the inter-state Sheffield Championship.

Dr. Quintus stated that Lalith has promised to co-ordinate from here for the development programme at grass-root level.

Carey Grammar School this year in Kew awarded two scholarships to Lahiru Peiris (St. Peter's) and Sukitha Senaratne (Royal). Both were picked by Roshan Mahanama. Dr. Quintus hopes to continue with these scholarships through the good offices of Carey International Grammar school.

Melbourne hosts a Sri Lanka Schools Old boys cricket tournament on Australia Day on January 26. It is quite popular and a happy get-together among the Sri Lankan expatriates in Victoria. David Cruse a live wire of the Foundation and the golden Oldies tournament among Sri Lankan schools was sponsored by Knox Tavern where David Cruse is the managing director.

Fernfree Gully District CC, have toured Sri Lanka in the past with their First XI and the under - 19 teams. They are due to tour here in March -April year 2004. This tour will coincide with the Royal-Thomian 125th anniversary match. Quite a number of Old Royalists and Thomians living in Victoria will grace the occasion. Eddie Gray, Lorensz Pereira, Frankie David and many others will grace this historic occasion. The Aussie supporters will be there to watch the three-match test series and the one-dayers scheduled for Feb.-March 2004.

It will be also the baptism for Ricky Ponting, who will be leading the Aussie test team after the retirement of Steve Waugh. Incidentally Ponting will be the first player from the Island (Tasmania) to captain Australia.

Former Sri Lanka players - Ravi Ratnayake, Asanka Gurusingha- the first Lankan batsman to get a test hundred - 147 at the MCG in 1996, Susil Fernando, Yohan Gunasekara, Athula Samarasekera, Sanjeewa Weerasinghe, Manjula Munasighe, Marlon Von Haght (cousin of Marvan Attapattu) wicket-keeper Chamara Dunusinghe and Sanath Kaluperuma all residing in Victoria and Roshan Jurangpathy the tiny batsman from Royal (in Perth) are contributing much for the game with a Sri Lankan flavour said Dr. Quintus.

The SLCVF has helped the injured local players. The Melbourne Orthopaedic Group in the past and present have been the Orthopaedic Surgeons headed by David Young looked after the injuries of our cricketers - Arjuna Ranatunga, Muralitharan, Nuwan Zoysa, Prabath Nissanka just to name a few.

Finally Dr. Quintus De Zilva Said, "the bonhomie and understanding between two cricket loving nations have gone from strength to strength."

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