26th December 1999
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Gajanayake to lead Lanka
The national cricket selectors named a 14-member squad for the under-19 world Cup which will be played in Sri Lanka from January 11th to 29th.
The Sri Lanka cricket team will be led by D.S.Senanayakaian Malintha Gajanayake who also led the under-15 World Cup team. Gajanayake's deputy will be Anandian Tilina Kandambi.
The team is being coached by former Sri Lanka leg Spinner D.S.de Silva while Carltan Bernadus will be the manager of the team. Both are very confident of Sri Lanka's chances
This 16 nation tournament will start on January 11th. Sri Lanka will lock horns with Ireland in their curtain raiser match at the SSC grounds.
The opening ceremony of this 16-nation tournament will be held on January 10th. This tournament is billed as the largest ever international gathering in Sri Lanka after the non-aligned summit in 1976.
The 16 nations who are participating in this tournament have been divided into four groups namely A,B,C, and D. There will be tough competition in all four groups. The teams which are participating in this tournament are Australia, India, Sri Lanka. England, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, West Indies. Zimbabwe, Ireland, Holland, Bangladesh, Nepal, Namibia, Kenya, Americas.
The Sri Lanka squad
Malintha Gajanaya-ke(Captain, D.S.Senana-yake), Tilina Kandambi (vice-captain, Ananda), Ian Daniels (St.Joseph's), Jehan Mubarak (Royal), Kaushal Lokuarachchi (St.Peter's), Rashan Peiris, Mutumudaliage Pushpakumara (Ananda), Kaushal Weeraratne (Trinity), P. C.L.Perera, Mevan Fernando, Prabath Nissanaka, Akalanka Ganegama (Ananda), Ranil Dammika (Lumbini), Umal Irandika, Carlton Bernadus (Manager), D.S.de Silva (Coach)
Sabaragamuwa, the new name in rugby football
By Bernie Wijesekera
The newly formed Sabaragamuwa Rugby Union (SRU) has spread its wings to some of the schools in the interior.
With a mustard-keen set of officials headed by its rugby loving president Arjun Dharmadasa the SRU has done much for its developement and promotion.
In the process Dharmadasa, himself a past ruggerite, was able to spread its wings to new areas such as Balangoda, Pelmadulla, Kahawatta, Embilipitiya from which 12 new schools have joined the scrum.
According to Dharma–dasa, a coaching camp was initiated with the provincial coach B.K. Ramachandra in attendance. The lads at the junior level showed promise. Of course the school hierarchy and the Education Department in the province gave all encouragement, Dharmadasa added. The coaching programme was held at Pelmadulla, Galkanda grounds.
Sponsors
With the support rendered by the Rugby Union with men and material and aided by various sponsors and well-wishers, the future of the sport in the province holds good. Dharmadasa said, in turn Sabaragamuwa will be able to churn out promising young talent to the national squad.
Two foreign coaches Danley Issac and Andy Raymond Giles conducted a coaching programme at the Kelani Valley grounds in June '99.
The Welsh coaches, who were here on an invitation extended by the SLRFU conducted a four-day programme for 16 PTIs and 10 cadet coaches. A 25-member (Under-19) were in attendance. All the 26 candidates who participated were successful. Ironically for the first time a lady referee, Mrs. Francisca Handapangoda participated.
The Referees' Society headed by Brig. Jupana Jayawardena gave all the support to improve the skills and knowledge of the provincial referees. In July '99 Aussie referee Michael Hall, conducted a seminar in K.V. where 25 cadet coaches participated.
According to Dharma–dasa for any sport to improve then the youngsters need competition. A provincial tournament for the lads in the Under-13, 15, 17 and 19 was held at the K.V. grounds, Delmege Forsyth sponsored the Red Cow Trophy championship.
Thirty teams participated in the Under-13 group, 18 in the Under-15.
An added attraction was a girls Under-15 match. All the participants were provided with food and lodging. The matches were handled by the referees of the Referees' Society, in collaboration with the provincial referees.
There were girls' teams drawn from Eheliyagoda Central, Eheliyagoda Dharmapala, Embilipitiya Central and Ranjan Wijeratne, Panawele.
An Under-17 All Island seven-a-side tournament was held at Nittawela, Kandy, in July. the Bowl Championship was won by Seethawaka MMV for the first time getting the better of some of the leading schools.
There was competition throughout the year for the young 'uns. For the first time Under-15 rugby was introduced to the province in October - an All-Island Div. II tournament, was held at the Public Park, in Balangoda. All schools drawn from the province made it a clean sweep. The championship winner was Seethawaka MMV, runners-up Eheliyagoda MMV, Plate - Embilipitiya, runner-up - Ruwanwella MMV. Bowl - Budhajayanthi MV runner-up Dhammananda Pirivena. Group championship Athlugama MV.
The SRU has done well to spread this sport among the rural youth. Balangoda, being the new area to host an All-Island tournament.
To focus attention, a new rugby club was formed in Balangoda. They will play friendly games for a start. To add pep up further they took part in the inter-provincial Under-18 tournament in October. From this tournament the national selectors picked a 80-member squad to pick the team for the Taiwan tour.
The highest
This was the highest in the annals of Under-18, thanks to the two provincial unions - Ruhuna and Sabaragamuwa. Two players from Ruhuna gained recognition, for the first time to a national team.
Embilipitiya MV juniors have shown up well and are going places in the local schools rugby scene. Mrs. Mahinda Rajapakse (wife of sports loving Fisheries Minister), is giving them all support and encouragement.
According to Arjun, the province needs another full-time coach since the travelling is far and wide and doubly difficult for B.K. Ramachandra to handle all by himself. It's also a financial burden to them.
Arjun also stated that schools do not send teams for tournaments as they find it difficult with their limited funds unlike the schools in the Western and Central provinces. The development rugby committee should take serious note and try to subsidise with some travelling expenses - when participating in All-Island tournaments.
To overcome this they must assist the provincial unions. The future of Sri Lanka rugby undoubtedly is in the provinces. The SLRFU has been very supportive and hoped that they will continue to do so with a bigger donation.
Today, leading schools in Colombo by way of sport scholarships for the talented Under-13 and 15 take away the provincial players to strengthen their teams. It's their gain, but a loss to the province. We have no objections if the player and the country is going to benefit on the longer run, Arjun added.
Sabaragamuwa R.U. committee gluttons for work with Dharmadasa in the driving seat hope to form clubs in the province in the millennium for all the youngsters to be in continuity. Today more schools have taken to the scrum.
This is something that the Rugby Union must do. Otherwise talent is wasted and they will drop out on the wayside.
Dharmadasa, a one-time planter and a player of repute has the vision to achieve his mission, with his dedicated committee to put it on course with his own men and material. The other personality, who is doing likewise is the Ruhuna RFU president, Kumar Abeywardena.
Finally he thanked all those who supported the sport in the province. He had a special word of thanks to Mr. Mudannayake, the secretary of the Schools Rugby Association, for all his support and encouragement to conduct the All-Island tournaments in the province.
Hindu win Under 16 soccer title
By Nadarajah Gokulan
Hindu College Bambalapitiya, a successful schools team in the Milo trophy inter school football tournament, lived up to their reputation by winning the under-16 title at the Sugathadasa Stadium.
They beat Zahira College, Colombo 5-3 in the final. The match ended in a 1-1 score and the winner was decided on penalties.
T. Dineshan contributed three goals while N. Shankar and K. Rajeev scored one goal each. In the recent past Hindu College won the under-12, 14, 16 and 18 titles.
Hindu College beat Zahira College Gampola 3-2 in the quarter finals and St. Joseph's College, Trincomalee by the same score in the semi- finals.
Shankar scored two goals in the quarter finals and one in the semi final while Dineshan scored one goal in the quarter final and two goals in the semi finals.
Rover pin-points
Clay now, what next?
A leading official of the Cricket Board has got the nod to import the clay needed for the laying of turfs in Sri Lanka. Rover learns that this contract is in the name of this official's wife.Misleading?
A high ranking official of the Cricket Board who has been misleading all and sundry, was up to his tricks again. This time he was trying to mislead a district association on club membership rules. Even though the Board Constitution is very clear, he has tried to bring the old brigade back by his underhand tactics. Thanks to a former official of the Board who was armed with the constitution the big wig was silenced. A letter has been sent to the Interim Committee, on the false pretences of the big wig. Rover is wondering what action the Interim Committee will take, as already many cases have surfaced as to this "big wig's" devious tactics.Zimbabwe happenings
At a celebration held at the hotel after winning the Test series who was the Sri Lankan cricketer, who performed a cabaret act, that could have been the envy of most night club performers in Colombo. Who was the Lankan cricketer, who used unparliamentary language in the presence of several others and was reprimanded by a senior official of the tour management? Three Zimbabwe players were severely reprimanded by the match referee for sledging during the Test serices, on a report made by the Sri Lanka tour management. When the Lankan cricket team visited the Aids HIV clinic and also an orphanage in Harare, how many thousands of dollars did they give to these institutions? How much toffee and chocolates did they distribute to the poor children before departing from the scene?
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