KT stood with the best

By Aubrey Kuruppu

Having umpired with almost everyone on the international panel, KT picked out David Shepherd (England) Darrel Hair (Australia) and Brian Alridge (New Zealand) as the umpires he enjoyed standing with most.

They made his job that much easier by co-operating one hundred per cent. Alan Border, Steve Waugh, Saeed Anwar, John Wright and the odd bowler in Courtney Walsh are some of his favourite players. "It was easy to work with them. They accepted that umpires are human and were prepared to accept mistakes once in a way."

In fact, after that sensational test at the SSC in 1992, when the Australians turned seeming defeat into glorious victory, Alan Border, the Australian captain sought out the umpires - KT and TM Samarasinghe - and said they had no problems with the umpires.

Winston Benjamin and Manoj Prabhakar, two of the "enfants terrible" of West Indian and Indian cricket respectively, get KT's vote for being "difficult cricketers."

KT recalls with a smile the Miandad incident at the CCC Test in 1986. Given out LBW, Miandad gave vent to his anger by shouting - Arjuna Ranatunga then joined in and it was left to Sidath Wettimuni to pour oil on troubled watters. Miandad of course, followed up by jumping the fence and wading into the crowd with upraised bat alleging that a stone had been thrown at him.

Umpiring in the first Ashes Test at the Gabba in Brisbane 1998 was a great honour. "The facilities abroad for umpires are very good", says KT, "and most of the countries treat you well". However, he points out that the arrangements made for umpires at this year's World Cup in England left a lot to be desired.

The umpires were given their kit and allowance and it was their business to go from venue to venue. By contrast, Pakistan in 1996 was "marvellous".

On the question of the third umpire, KT confesses that initially he didn't think much of it. He felt the human element was being removed. But a New Zealand - Pakistan match at Christchurch in 1994 changed all that.

KT, who stood with Brian Alridge, gave Akram Raza not out on an appeal for run out, forgetting that the third umpire facility was available. "I felt he was in by six inches, but Steve Dunne told me later that on the evidence of the replays, he was out by 4 inches."

Bat-pad catches, the most difficult decisions to give, should in KT's concidered opinion be put to the third umpire. "If the technology is there, why not use it?" he says. He agrees that a little bit of time is wasted but "it's better to have the correct decision".

Giving up umpiring was heart-wrenching. But as he continues his work at the BCCSL as the Director of umpiring, KT will, I am sure be hearing those words of comfort from the Bible. "Well done thou good and faithful servant".'

Upeka is the odd man out

By Ravi Nagahawatte

National poolist and former Thomian cricket captain Upeka Fernando is proud to be a Sri Lankan and nothing else.

For this 19-year-old the word Sri Lanka means a lot even though the country he lives in is just a dot in the world map.

"The name of our country was not heard that much till we won the World Cup in 1996. But now the name Sri Lanka rings more than a bell in almost any person in any part of the world says Upeka.

However he has encountered tough times as a Sri Lankan on tours.

"In South Africa we were robbed and were even told not go out of the hotel after dark due to the possibility of being getting mugged," said Upeka while adding that this is not the way Sri Lankans treat visitors when they are playing here. "We Sri Lankans are known for better hospitality'.

He finds it easy to express his ideas better in Sinhalese the mother tounge of all Sri Lankans, even though he states that the English language is now the dominant language around the world.

Asked whether he fancies wearing the Sri Lankan national dress Upeka had this to say: "I really look forward to wearing it. But I am not too sure whether I know how to wear it".

Another feature which is striking in Upeka is that he signs in Sinhalese.

"People have come to me and said that it is odd to sign in Sinhalese. I was the captain of the school cricket team and I was the only one who signed in Sinhala. I even signed in Sinhalese in the Royal - Thomian souvenir. Friends came and asked me why I had to be the odd man out. I said it was my choice and I did not bother about what people said. It is something that just happened. Now I do not want to change it" concluded Upeka in a tone that was all Sri Lankan.

Briefly

Bridge winners

Mrs. Malinie Wijeratne and S. Thillainadarajah won the mixed pairs bridge event sponsored by Dr. S. E. Jeyaratnam held at the Bridge Federation Headquarters at the Race Course.

The husband and wife combination of Peter and Manel de Niese finished as runner-up followed by Cera Fernando and T. Shanmugalingam, Mrs Kamini de Silva and K. Baskaran, Mrs. Podi Singham and Fritsz Perera.

Ten pairs participated in this event.

Mrs. Kamini de Silva and Flo Wanigasooriya won the open pairs event organised by the Lions Club 306 A of Havelock Town conducted at the Eighty Club.

C. Jeerasinghe and M.P. Salgoda finished as runner-up with Bina and Shihari Saravanapavan third.

Meanwhile the open event played for the Br. Tudor Perera Memorial Trophy sponsored by Bandula Senaweera the President of the Bridge Federation, will be held on Sunday October 31 at the Headquarters at the Race Course at 9.15 a.m.

The open teams event for the Multiform Chemicals Trophy will be held on November 21 and 22 from 9.30 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day.

Call for the catch

Steve Waugh and Jason Gillespie who bears the handle of his illustrious name-sake 'Dizzie' Gillespie crashed into each other with disastrous results when going for the high ball.

Upul Chandana and Mahela Jayawardena quite nearly repeated the faux pas in the second game against the West Indies and my mind did a quick reverse to Asgiriya four years ago.

The match was Old Trinitians' Sports Club Vs Kandy Youth. Asoka Kehelpannala was at the crease and heaved a mighty hook but there was no boundary line in the sky.

The ball rocketed vertically and was coming down between the wicket-keeper and first slip. "Mine," yelled the first slip and "mine" yelled the keeper. A third voice squeaked, "mine" and keeper and first slip stood aside.

The ball fell with a thud on the ground. The third voice was that of the batsman, Asoka Kehelpannala. - Sharm de Alwis

Cuban magic

Sri Lankan boxing coaches are to get a glimpse of 'Cuban Magic' when they come under the watchful eyes of Cuban coach Isidro Trotman at a coaching clinic which is to be held from November 2 - 15 at the Army Holiday Resort in Wadduwa.

The coaching clinic which is funded by the National Olympic Committee is named the Olympic Solidarity Regional Course for Boxing Coaches.

The President of the Sri Lanka Boxing Coaches Association, Major Mahinda Hettiarachchi, told Sunday Times that only 16 local participants can be accommodated and at present the entries that have accumulated are over 50.

He added that the SLBCA has made arrangements for six school coaches and 10 coaches from clubs to be accommodated in this programme.

The Cuban Ambassador in Sri Lanka Ivonne Suarez Roche will be the chief guest at the opening ceremony at this coaching camp which is scheduled to commence at 10.30 a.m. on November 2. (RN)

Rudra, an officer and gentleman

ln 1968 Pettah Police Station, where I assumed duties as O.I.C. Traffic was situated along Dam St. adjoining the Kachcheri and close to Hulftsdorf where the Courts Complex is.

The Pettah Police Station was an old large dilapidated house. In the main building there was the Charge Room, the Billiards Room, the O.I.C.'s Office and a rest room for the Inspectors. On one wing the Air- Raid shelter that was put up during the 2nd World War housed the Crime Branch. The Traffic Branch was a separate unit adjoining the O.I.C's Office. The Barracks were at the rear of the premises. The O.I.C's bungalow was a huge upstair building like an old walawwa next to the Police Station premises.

The entire scenario of the Police Station appeared to be very sleepy but the rumblings outside in the Pettah Police area was very hectic with enough ganja, opium, and liquor doing the rounds to satisfy the requirements of the "Natamis" and labourers who carry heavy loads on their backs or in their hand carts and who after a hard day's work needed a good dose of ganja, opium or liquor to soothe their aches and pains.

The O.I.C. of Pettah during my period was Amarasena Rajapakse, a bachelor who later got promoted as A.S.P. and retired as D.I.G. C.I.D. A.S.P. in charge of Pettah was V.C. Kumarasingham, a genial and pleasant Officer always quick-witted and humourous. S.P. in charge of Colombo North was T. Thalayasingham, a good tennis player and an officer with a cynical sense of humour belonging to the old school. The S.S.P. in charge of Colombo Division, which position is now held by a D.l.G. was Rudra Rajasingham, a smart officer with a regal appearance, educated at Trinity College and thereafter in the University and who joined the Police as an Assistant Superintendent. He played rugby and cricket for Trinity College and the University and later played rugby for CR & FC and Low Country. He was also a fine horseman. He was very popular with the rank and file due to his just and fair treatment.

The Inspectorate who worked with me at Pettah were G.B. Dissanayake, who was in charge of Crimes and who later became the Commandant of Field Force Headquarters. Inspector B.D. Ranaweera, was in charge of Administration, Inspector Illangakoon, who too was attached to the Traffic Branch, Sub Inspector Shelton Almeida, a batchmate of mine with a huge frame who died due to hydrophobia after a dog bite near the Pettah Police Quarters. Sub Inspector L.Y.D. Dissanayake, an old Anandian Cricketer, Sub Inspector Isurupala, Sub Inspector Felix Silva who was with me at St Peter's College. Sub Inspector G.W. Silva, a ranker who was in charge of the Illicit Immigrants Branch and whose job was to track down Indian and Pakistani illicit immigrants and those who overstayed the Visa. There were some interesting incidents during my stay at Pettah which are still fresh in my memory. There was the case of a PC who was charge-sheeted for a Departmental lapse and a disciplinary inquiry was held and was found guilty and recommended for dismissal by the inquiring officer. The A.S.P. and S.P. too endorsed the recommendation of dismissal and the inquiry file was put up to the S.S.P. in charge of Colombo, Rudra Rajasingham, for his final order. But the good officer he was,he took pains to read through the entire proceedings as a Policeman's future was at stake and found several flaws in the findings of the inquiring officer and made an order exonerating the PC and reinstating him. The PC who was packing to go home on the recommendation of the inquiring officer was in tears when he got the order of S.S.P. Rudra Rajasingham, finding him not guilty. That was the type of officer we had then and no wonder Rudra Rajasingham, went on to become a very popular Inspector General of Police and opted to retire before his period and went as Ambassador to Indonesia. On his return he was appointed the Chairman of the State Mortgage Bank and today he is a member of the Permanent Bribery Commission. There was a case of a Sergeant who wanted to become a Sub- Inspector for which a progress file had to be opened by the S.P. I was asked to produce the PS before S.P., T. Thalayasingham. And I took him to the S.P.'s office at Echelon Square and marched him in and halted him before the S.P. The S.P.looked at the PS who was dressed in shorts, closed neck tunic, boots, stockings and putties and asked the PS whether he wanted to become a S.I. The PS without batting an eyelid answered 'Yes Sir''. Then the S.P. told him "You will look a comic S.I., where is your belt?" Then only the PS realised that he had forgotten to put the belt which was inside the tunic outside and the PS said "lnside Sir'. The S.P. yelled at him "Get out'. I promptly marched him out. The PS looked at me pleadingly as his future had been dashed. I told him to put his belt out and went to the S.P. and told him that the poor PS through sheer fear had forgotten to put the belt outside the tunic and to give him another chance. He agreed and I marched the PS again inside. The S.P. asked him "what are you doing at Pettah" and the PS said that he was working in the Minor Offence Branch. The S.P. asked him how many good entries he had. The PS replied 250 . S.P. told him that 250 is not enough for a Sergeant who works in the Pettah M.O. Branch and asked him how many children he had and PS said "ten" for which the S.P. said " You are very good at that" for which the PS replied " I have stopped Sir". But the S.P. said ~No, No, you carry on your good work" and opened the progress file to the joy of the PS.

On another day my O.I.C. Inspector Amarasena Rajapakse, got a call from a rice dealer from First Cross St. that a PS and 2 PC's had come and were demanding money. The O.I.C. who had implicit faith in me called and asked me to proceed to the rice dealer's shop and to check on this. When I walked into the shop the Mudalali who complained to my O.I.C. was tightlipped when I asked what happened and he looked frightened. I walked to the rear of the shop where the toilet was and opened the toilet door and found the PS and 2PC's huddled hiding inside. I brought them out and found that no money had changed hands. They were brought to the Police Station and reprimanded by the O.I.C. After the incident the PS was called by the entire staff at Pettah Police Station "Sergeant Kekulu Haal" which means "Sergeant Raw Rice" thereafter.

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