George Steuarts agents for World Cup

By Bernie Wijesekera

George Steuarts International Travel Agents- famed World-wide, has been nominated as the official Travel Agent for World Cup 99 to be staged in England, said its Managing Director S. Skandakumar, at a Press briefing held at its office.

According to Skandakumar it was made possible through the negotiations they had with the host nation - England and Wales Cricket Board, who have confirmed, that only those accredited with the status of official Travel Agent and authorised to use the W.C. logo are eligible.

They will also be eligible for the sale of match tickets.

Sri Lanka who won the historic World Cup final defeating Australia at Lahore, are the defending champions.

Ironically George Steuarts had the exclusive right as Travel Agents in Sri Lanka for the W.C. '96 "Skanda" made a special trek to London and met the hierarchy to make this package a reality.

Genial "Skanda" who has welded the willow at the highest level and a former Secretary of the BCCSL further stated that Sri Lanka, will draw much spectator attention in the Mecca of Cricket when they defend the title.

Those, who book air tickets through George Steuarts will be assured of accommodation arrangements (with hotel bookings, plus admission tickets to the venues.

Those, who could find their own accommodation, but still could book their tickets for the S.L. games.

Due to limited tickets available, it will be only one ticket per air ticket will be on offerer only to airline ticket holders Skandakumar, added.

He was confident that Sri Lanka will make to the final round.

Failing to do so, them the organisers will decide which match the S.L. fans will be afforded to witness.

A voucher will be given to each air ticket holder to overcome problems and delay.

With the W.C. success at Lahore, George Steuarts, with a view to share the joy contributed Rs. 100,000/= towards the CB's year 2000 project.

Given favourable weather conditions it's going to the cricket luv'ly cricket at Lord's in the epoch-making final for the avid Lankan fans, who are bound to follow the team througout the games.

It's the third W.C. held in Englaind. The first in 1975 -West Indies beat Australia in a nail-biting finish.

In 1979 again the Windies triumphed beating England. This scribe covered it for The Times of Ceylon and The Sunday Times.

Vivian Richards scored an awesome 135 including a last ball six to the Taverners. Clive Lloyd led the Windies, while Mike Brearley led England.

The others who attended the confab were:- Channa Wijemanne - Manager Corporate Accounts and Operations, Bernard Wijetunge - Director, Murali Ramanathan- Director, Rimzi Nazeer- Manager Sales and Lucky Fernando - Manager Tours.

Law or jaw on tennis court?

By Channaka de Silva

An argument last week between a top tennis player and the Tennis Association President reached hilarious proportions when "Sunday Times" contacted the two parties involved to find out that there was a misinterpretation of a key word.

Former Davis Cup player Arjan Perera, who was the number one ranked player in Sri Lanka from 1982 to 1985 alleged that the Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA) president John Rajapakse had threatened him saying "I can shift your jaw" during an argument.

But Rajapakse denied the allegation and explained it may have been something else which he said, that was transpired as a threat.

He stated that he told Perera "I can't shift the law" when Perera asked why he could not consider their position when they took a decision to reschedule the matches after a rain interruption.

This incident took place during the recently concluded Trans Asia Tennis tournament when the finals could not be conducted on the scheduled day due to the rains.

The tournament committee which is the authority to decide on such rescheduling, had decided to play the matches on the following day to which Perera objected.

Perera and his partner Chammika de Silva were to play the doubles finals against Ganendra Subramanium and Lahiru Jayasuriya.

Perera said they had already made some commitments for the next day when the matches were rescheduled while the host hotel authorities said they were unable to let the tournament drag along as their courts were fully booked for the next few days.

Finally Perera and his partner did not turn up for the finals giving Subramanium and Jayasuriya victory through a walk over.

Mercantile Hockey sevens on October 18

The 22nd annual Mercantile Hockey Association seven-a -side championships will be held on Sunday October 18 at Havelock Park from 8 a.m sponsored by the 17th consecutive year by Unilevers Ceylon Limited.

The A division played for the Bristol Trophy will comprise, Group A Hatton National Bank, Arpico, Seylan Bank, Hong Kong Bank. Group B- Commercial Bank, Singers, John Keells, Bartleets.

B- division -Singer Trophy. Pelwatta Sugar Industries, Hatton National Bank B, Ceylon Tobacco and AirLanka.

C - division-Lifeboy Trophy.

Airport & Aviation, Sampath Bank, Cargills, Unilevers.

Ladies will add sparkle to Kotmale Hill Climb

By Shane Seneviratne

The Speed Hill Climb conducted by the Kandy Motor Sports Club will be held on Sunday at the Kotmale Dam racing strip.

Over 100 will participate in this event with the attraction being three lady drivers. Uliya Weerasuriya will battle it out for supremacy on a Honda Grand Civic with Nilimini Dharmasena on a Suzuki and Thilaka Peiris in Nissan Sunny. Among the leading drivers who will participate are: Bri Ponnambalam, Romani de Silva, Rohan de Silva, Prasanna Munasinghe with Wedisinghe, Bultjens and Kavikara brothers.

The organisers advice the spectators coming to the hill climb to come via Gampola to Ulapane through Nawalapitiya for security reasons.

Sri Lanka second at Singapore Open

Sri Lanka's R.A Anura Rohana played exceptional Golf at the Laguna Links Course to finish joint runner-up at the recently concluded Singapore Open Championships. Anura Rohana andTissa Chandradasa failed by just strokes to clinch the International team match for Sri Lanka, losing to India.

In fact they lost on a technical penalty of two strokes otherwise they should have clinched first place.

The Indian pair of Digwijay Singhe and A Luthra won the team title.Thongohai Jaidee of Thailand dominated the championships and won easily with a 10 under par over the 4 rounds a record 66 on the last round.

Tissa Chandradasa had a disappointing championships finishing 17th with a 11 under par four round aggregate of 270 while 18-year-old B.G Lalith Kumara playing in his first International tournament finished a creditable 28th out of a 113 strong field.

Sri Lanka is expected to field mens and ladies teams for the Asian Games who are hard at training with the hope of winning a few medals.

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