When Susanthika Jayasinghe returned from Athens three months ago, government leaders tried to outdo each other in greeting and hailing her virtually like a goddess from Greece. Indeed the Sports Ministry and a prominent official at Temple Trees are known to have virtually come to blows over who should do what for the sprint queen.
So soon after that, one prominent government minister has reportedly warned that he would not give more assistance to her while another fashionable minister has cut her character to shreds.
In what are seen as the most offensive remarks made in parliament, he has attacked Susanthika personally by alleging she is deranged and comparing her to a "black South African man."
A picture is said to be worth a thousand words. In this picture story today, The Sunday Times tells how for political leaders interested largely in personal or party mileage, a queen can overnight become a clown or something worse.
1
Susanthika garlanded with roses and orchids, her pretty eyes aglow: where
have all the flowers and government admirers gone? Now a government spokesman
scoffs that she is as pretty as a "black South African man."
2 The proud
flag bearer for Sri Lanka: abandoned today and crying out to be saved from
vultures who are trying to sexually harass her.
3 Soon after
Susanthika returned with a world silver medal from Athens. President Kumaratunga
greeted her with flowers. The president is seen admiring the medal. Now
Susanthika perhaps hopes, the President would intervene in a situation where she
says she cannot continue her spectacular career.
4 Prime
Minister Sirima Bandaranaike presenting a special award to Susanthika. Also in
the picture is Sports Minister S. B. Dissanayake who then did everything and
more for Susanthika. But now things have changed and everyone is asking, why.
5 Not to be outdone by bigger guns
in the government, Minister Mahinda Rajapakse who is also president of the
Amateur Athletics Association rushed in to honour Susanthika by presenting a
special award to her. He is not saying much to defend her today, apparently not
wanting to fish in troubled waters.
6 After one
of the biggest airport welcome ceremonies, Sports Minster S. B. Dissanayake
personally rode with Susanthika in a motorcade. Today she is being driven to
desperation.
7. When the Susanthika motorcade
was heading to Colombo, many VIPs wanted to pose for photographs with her.
Minister Jeyaraj Fernadopulle did so at Kanadana. But last Thursday in
parliament he made a shocking statement.
It is going to be an evenly contested Test series as Pakistan takes on the West Indies in a three Test series. The first Test will be played at Peshawar tomorrow.
West Indies who played their last Test series against Sri Lanka, which was a two Test series, were able to win it 1-0 but not before Sri Lanka gave them a good run for their money and came close to beating the one time kings in their own den in the second Test. But lucky for Windies, rain saved the day.
Pakistan who are till smarting from their Test series loss to South Africa and not getting a chance to qualify for their Independence Cup finals, will come out with all guns blazing to perform well and make up for their poor performance and win the series.
The Windies are going through a lean time ever since Vivian Richards retired from cricket. They have been struggling to produce a captain of the calibre of Richards. The West Indies will be led by Courtney Walsh who will be spearheading the bowling attack along with Curtly Ambrose. This world class pace duo will be supported by Franklin Rose, Mervon Dilon and Ian Bishop. The Windies are likely to go into the Test with a four pronged pace attack with support coming from spinner Carl Hooper. Brian Lara, Sherwin Campbell, Shivnarine Chandrapaul, Stewart Williams. Carl Hooper will form the backbone of the Windies batting.
Pakistan will be led by Wasim Akram and his deputy will be opening batsman Saeed Anwar. Anwar will open the batting with debut century maker Ali Naqvi. The opening pair will be supported by Ejaz Ahamed, Inzamam-Ul-Haq, Aamir Sohail and Azhar Mahmood. Wasim Akram and Saeed Nazir will open the bowling and will be supported by Saqlain Mushtaq and Azhar Mahmood. It is going to be a nail-biting Test series between two evenly matched teams and the final outcome is hard to predict.
Sumathi Group in conjunction with Sporting Star has notched another first in the history of turf in Sri Lanka inviting flat champion jockey Kieren Francis Fallon to be their guest for the week beginning tomorrow.
It was in 1992 that this industrious duo got off the launching pad of bringing in illustrious racing personalities from the world over, bringing in National Hunt (jumps) rider Peter Scudamore whose popular visit to Sri Lanka is still remembered.
Kieren Fallon born in County Clare Ireland, in 1965 was apprenticed to Kevin Prendergast in 1982-87 and Jimmy Fitzgerald in 1988. He started out his fine career on June 18 1984, booting home a popular winner in Picadilly at Navan Ireland. After that he never looked back, mounting on winners like the very mountains itself, riding two classic winners in England this season - 1000 Guineas and the Oaks.
According to horse racing standards, Fallon was the most controversial rider of our time. Fallon has more suspensions behind him than one could count on our fingers. The longest being in September, 1994 where he was slapped down a 6 month ban for violent or improper conduct against a fellow rider Stuart Webster at Beverley.
Fallon crashed into the British turf in 1988. His first winner was Evichstar at Thirsk. He gradually flexed his muscles in Britain becoming champion jockey last year riding home 200 winners in one full season thus joining the exclusive Club of 200 and over winners led by maestro Sir Gordon Richards 269 followed by Fred Archer, Frankie Dettori, Tommy Coates, Pat Eddery, Michael Roberts and Jason Weaver. Fallon first rode as a freelance but late in 1996 he joined hands with trainer Henry Cecil which gave him the much needed boost whereby getting the plum rides.
Fallon arrives tomorrow and during his week's stay is due to visit Sumathi Group's Sporting Star betting parlours on goodwill visits.
He leaves next Monday.
"The Mercantile Rugby Association's rugby 'sevens' has gone from strength to strength since its inception giving playing opportunities to promising players", said the President of the MRA Marco de Silva in an interview with The Sunday Times.
Marco de Silva, has played the game at the highest level for the Havelocks SC and has helped the game with his experience and knowhow, be it coaching or otherwise.
De Silva, a versatile sportsman, who is serving as president for the second year, continues its good work which is a tremendous boost for the game, not only for the private sector, but for the country in general with his dedicated committee.
De Silva, stated that this year 29 teams participated with some of the leading national players representing their respective firms. There was keen competition all the way. It has also given job opportunities for promising players and augurs well for the development of the sport. The 'sevens' has also spurned tremendous interest among the firms for this much look forward to annual contest.
The sponsorship package afforded by Celltel has helped the association in a big way, de Silva added.
Q : Any noteworthy improvement?
A : Yes, the banks have taken to the game seriously and has shown tremendous enthusiasm. Today they are dominating the sport. The banks have given much job opporunities for promising players. Imagine the just concluded tournament was dominated by the banks. The Hatton National Bank, won the Cup, the Bowl, while Sampath Bank won the Plate. The HNB is even capable of fielding a strong team in any club tournament, organised by the SLRFU, de Silva added.
Q : Any idea of making an overseas tour?
A : It's not impossible as we have the backing from the associate members. The MRA could make a short tour either to Malayasia or Thailand. The nucleus of the national team is drawn from the private sector. The HNB has already recruited one of the best scrumhalves in the country - Sudath Sampath. Sampath is a nippy player, who earlier played for Kandy SC. He has already made an impact for the CH and FC, helping them to win the club 'sevens' this year.
Q : Anything special about the MRA?
A : Yes, if the association achieves any success on and off the field it's due to our team effort. In my committee there are no figureheads. Everyone is committed to the sport and the men that matters hold office. I am happy that it helps me to lead from the front.
Also, I must give a word of praise to one of my predecessors, Capt. Mathew George. He is a man for all seasons.
Guy de Alwis held the bat and got behind the wickets at the age of eight. After reaching 14 years, he left S. Thomas' Prep School and joined S. Thomas' Mount Lavinia.
He played for the College U-16, 2nd XI and represented the 1st XI for three years under the captaincy of the two famous Ganeshan brothers Ajit and Sashi and Johann Pieris. He had a great 180 partnership which he described as the 'brotherhood of man' with his younger brother Ken, against Ananda.
Guy played for Sri Lanka from 1982-1991 turning out for 25 matches. He holds a world record for taking five catches behind the wicket against the Aussies at the Oval in 1983. Thirty seven year old Guy is unmarried.
He enjoys country and Western music, wildlife and being alone at times.
He is the leading baseball promoter in this country but before talking baseball I asked him why he gave up playing cricket. There comes a time that you have to let go.
A 'big wig' at SSC at the time tried to make my life miserable in cricket because he didn't play cricket. "I thought I'll get to a side".
Milinda Moragoda and Festus Perera invited Guy to take part in baseball and he got a liking to the game.
Baseball has come a long way with 14 clubs and 18 schools in the fray. It is a fast game which doesn't take 5 days, only three and a half hours. It is like playing one day cricket. You hit the ball hard with a bat. But it is important to have a good throwing arm. I am sure our Roshan, Sanath and Aravinda will be good baseball players.
In baseball, the pitch is called a diamond and you have the thrower like the bowler, the batsman, catcher, like the wicket keeper, and the fielders all over the ground. The current world champs are Cuba and Fidel Castro must be laughing at Clinton's USA, and the Japanese are doing very well. Baseball, a big crowd puller in the world is catching up fast in Asia.
Is baseball glorified elle and why can't we popularise elle? I asked Guy. "Yes it is and that's why most of the girls and the boys are from the outstations. We need money and dedicated associations and the game can be promoted and we will have a good future," he replied.
The development programmes are held back due to lack of funds and the present government has taken over the grounds, at Battaramulla gifted by Late R. Premadasa to the baseball players of the future," complains De Alwis.
Guy will be a happy man if some of our cricketers decide to play baseball as it will help the game, attract bigger crowds and sponsors.
Back to cricket and his favourite wicket keeping, Alwis says that the present standard of wicket keeping is poor and the country is missing the good hearted Mahesh Goonetileke behind the wickets. He named Ian Healy as the best wicket keeper in the world. Commenting on the 'Cricketgate' he is angry that the people elected to administer the gentlemen's game has brought disrepute to cricket and the country.
Sports Day
The 3rd annual combined sports day of Carson Cumberbatch & Co. and SKC Management Services will be held from 8.00 am onwards at Police Park, Colombo 5 on November 22.
Eighteen teams will participate in the six-a-side softball cricket tournament and five teams will paticipate in the netball tournament.
Participating teams are: SKC Management Services (Pvt) Ltd, Giritale Hotel, The Ceylon Brewery Ltd, Equity Properties, Carsons Management Services (Pvt.) Ltd., Eskaycee Computers Ltd., Carsons Airline Services (Pvt) Ltd., The Lion Brewery Ceylon Ltd., and Korea Lanka Garments Ltd.
The postponed St. Peter's College Old Boys Union invitation six-a-side Old Boys Cricket Carnival conducted to celebrate their 70th Anniversary will be held today at the St. Peter's College grounds Bambalapitiya.
The first match will be played between Old Antonians and Old Royalists followed by the games between Old Nalandians vs Old Peterites, Old Anandians vs Old Josephians, Old Benedictines vs Old Thomians. Other than the champion and runner up trophies, awards will be made to the best batsman, best bowler, best fielder, man of the final, man of the tournament. Roy Dias will be the adjudicator.
The Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) has sent an invitation to the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) asking Australia to be the 4th team to participate in Sri Lanka's Golden Jubilee Cricket tournament next year.
The President of the BCCSL speaking to the 'Sunday Times' said," We have written to the ACB and expect a response in the next two weeks. If Australia fails to make it, due to their other cricket commitments we will be looking for another country to complete the four teams. Sri Lanka are determined to have a quadrangular tournament to celebrate their Independence next year, as both their neighbours India and Pakistan successfully conducted Quadrangular tournaments this year to celebrate their Independence this year.
Moreover a Quadrangular is bound to generate more interest when compared with a Triangular.However the ICC does not permit more than four teams to participat in this type f tournament and One day schedules next year which begins with a 2 Test and 3 One day home series against Zimbabwe. This will be followed by a tour to South Africa where Sri Lanka will play two Tests and participate in a Triangular One day tournament featuring Pakistan as well. New Zealand will be in Colombo during May-June to play 3 Tests and 3 One day Internationals. Sri Lanka will also play a one -off test against England in August and also take part in a Triangular tournament featuring South Africa.
The finals of the Inter Association Netball Tournament 1997 will be held today at the Albert Pieris Stadium at Wennapuwa. The tournament conducted by the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka began on November 14. The chief guest was W. Milroy S. Fernando, Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
The 18 participating teams were divided into 4 groups. Each game was allocated an hour's play. The winning teams will battle it out today and the highlight of this year's tournament is that for the first time ever the finals will be telecast live on Rupavahini, by courtesy of the principal sponsor, Hatton National Bank.
The closing ceremony will take place at 3.00 p.m.today with the presence of chief guest, S.B. Dissanayake Minister of Sports.
The awards for the championship trophy and runners up trophy will be presented to the girls team, mixed team and the family team respectively. Special awards will be presented to the best centre court player, Best defence, Best shooter, Best male player, Netball queen and to the most promising outstation player.
Results of matches worked off yesterday.
Group A-Mercantile beat Kurunegala 28-23.
Group B-Polonnaruwa beat Free Trade Zone 29-24, Kandy beat Free Trade Zone 36-12.
Matara beat Polonnaruwa 31-23.
Group C - State Services beat Puttalam 30-6, State Services beat Colombo 36-3, Puttalam beat Colombo 31-19.
Group D-Galle beat Playgrounds 20-19, Gampaha beat Playgrounds 25-16, Gam-paha beat Galle 20-7.
Mixed -Puttalam beat Kandy 13-7, Free Trade Zone beat Matara 9-7, Puttalam beat Matara 15-4, Mercantile beat Matara 11-6, Mercantile beat Free Trade Zone 14-2, Mercantile beat Kandy 12-6, Puttalam beat Mercantile 11-9. Thilina and Deepika bag table tennis double at national championships
Thilina Piyadasa of Vidyartha Kandy and Deepika Rodrigo of Abans won a double crown each at the 51st National Table Tennis Championships concluded at S. Thomas' Mt Lavinia Gymnasium yesterday.
Thilina Piyadasa won the men's singles and doubles while Deepika Rodrigo won the women's singles and doubles.
In the men's singles Piyadasa rattled Indika Prasad in straight sets but Dipika Rodrigo was given a hard time by Dilmini Direckze of Education Dept. to win by three sets to two. Dilmini however had a consolation of sorts when she won the mixed doubles
Results: Men's Singles Final : Thilina Piyadasa beat Indika Prassad 21-9, 21-9, 21-11; Women's Singles: Deepika Rodrigo beat Dilmini Direckze 16-21, 24-22, 21-17,20-22,21-17.
Men's Doubles: T.L.Piyadasa and I. Prasad beat D.M.G.S.Kumara and K.S.T.Chalitha 21-13,21-9; Mixed Doubles: D.Direckze and R.Vindyan beat R.Kameel and T.L.Piyadasa 22-20, 24-22; Women's Doubles; Deepika Rodrigo and Namal Gunasekara beat Dilmini Direckze and Samantha Jayadeva 21-15,21-14,21-18; Men's Consolation Singles: Samith Prasad beat B.N.B.Jayasingha 21-12, 21-16; Women's Consolation Singles; A.N.R.Udugama beat U.Kotinkaaduwa 21-12,21-16; Men's Singles semi finals: T.Piyadasa beat Rohan Sirisena 21-18,21-07,21-10; Indika Prassad beat K.S.T,Chalitha 21-10,21-19,21-11; Women's Singles semi finals: Deepika Rodrigo beat D.Madawala 21-18,21-15,21-17; D.Direckze beat Namal Gunasekara 13-21, 23-21,11-21, 21-17,21-18; Most Outstanding Player: Thilina Piyadasa .
It is now confirmed that the Women's CA of Sri Lanka is illegal and the next question is whether this association's claim of having associate membership with the Cricket Board is also false because such membership is available only to clubs and not associations.
According to the Cricket Board constitution:-
1. Associate membership is available only for clubs and not for associations and that too has to be approved by a simple majority at the Cricket Board's annual general meeting.
2. On the other hand an association can get affiliated to the Cricket Board by approval of a 2/3 majority at the AGM.
3. Before such association applies for membership such association should satisfy the Exco that tournaments with matches being played in accordance with the normal "Laws of Cricket" have been organised/conducted for its members.
The parent body of the Old Antonians Association of the Colombo Branch felicitated their rugby hero Priyantha Ekanayake in true Antonian style at a grand dinner held at the Majestic Le Kandyan Hotel, Heerassagala Road, Kandy on Thursday.
Priyantha Ekanayake, the old Antonian double international - basketball and rugger - has been largely instrumental in carrying the college and the country's flag flying high.
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