• Remedies for cricket ills
• Shuttlers from provinces impressive

In the past decade, I have always feared that one day the Bubble would burst and our cricket would be at the mercy of a few individuals; for reasons better known to readers than to myself.

There is no use in mud slinging nor accusing each other. Let’s seek a remedy. For the past fifteen years, I have been clamouring for the Board of Control to follow the M.C.C. procedure in choosing the President. That is, for the outgoing President to nominate his successor. This will certainly prevent ill feeling, rivalry and unruly incidents. This will keep the doors open to those whose blood corpuscles like mine, are bathed in the oxygen of cricket, to take an active part in the administration of the game. In most Test countries, even now, the post oŁ President is offered as a fitting reward for services rendered and not for promises and expectations.

There is another plausible suggestion, unique in the game, that I would like to make as a remedy for future ills. Let the posts of President and Secretary be rotated annually among Division I clubs, some of whom have exceeded hundred years.

A distinct advantage is that it will prevent one club monopolising the administration of the Board. Another is that all clubs will take more interest in the administration as it will be their turn next. The two linked posts of President and Secretary from the same club would facilitate the smooth working of the administration and prevent clashes.

Outstation clubs would be elevated to a position where they would be at the helm of affairs one day. If I remember right, not since the late E. M. Karunaratne of Galle was elected President in the early 1930’s, has an outstation club been so honoured.

The other posts of the Board may be contested but by secret ballot. I beg of all clubs to keep cricket clear of politics.

The older brigade oŁ cricket lovers, of whom there are many in our beloved island, mourn and grieve at the "match fixing" scandals and in our own country, the hankering for posts.

"Is this the cricket the Englishman taught us?" is their plaintive cry.

Shuttlers from provinces impressive
by Dhammika Ratnaweera

There are now over 10 million registered shuttlers in Sri Lanka. This was revealed by Dr. A. R. L. Wijesekera, President, Sri Lanka Badminton Association, at the Sports Ministry recently where the Commercial Bank presented the sponsorship package for badminton to the SLBA.

This is the fourth year that Commercial Bank has come forward to help nurture badminton in Sri Lanka.

Among those present at the occasion were Deputy Sports Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga and Managing Director, Commercial Bank, Amitha Gooneratne.

The support provided by the Commercial Bank has providd the ‘teeth’ for the SLBA to embark on an islandwide promotion and development programme.

Furthermore, all national ranking tournaments have been revived, and staged in Colombo and the outstations. The junior nationals, national novices and provincial open tournaments have also been held.

The national pool training programme has been held in four provincial centres namely, Kandy, Anuradhapura, Ambalangoda and Kurunegala, as well as in Colombo.

"The results are very encouraging," Dr. Wijesekera said. A large number of shuttlers have emerged from the provinces.

Among those who performed exceptionally well are Manjula Fernando, national women’s champion Chandrika de Silva (from Anuradhapura), Delhani de Silva and Pameesha Dishanthi, both national poolists from Ambalangoda.

Many school level tournaments have been won by outstation schools. Also, over 125 shuttlers are benefited by these pool training programmes.

In April 2000, Sri Lanka’s juniors won all the titles at the SAARC Junior Badminton Championships, held in the Maldives. The Karunaratne brothers, Diluka and Niluka, who hail from Ambalangoda and Kanchana Gonawala from Kandy, were among those who represented Sri Lanka.

The SLBA has invested in the training of coaches and technical officers, virtually in all provinces, including the north and east.

At present, the SLBA is working towards the setting up of associations in all districts. This exercise is expected to be completed by the end of 2000.

Managing Director, Commercial Bank, Amitha Gooneratne said that the bank will continue to provide financial assistance and work towards further improvement, in association with the Sports Ministry and the SLBA.