BCCSL elections held behind closed doors!
One horse raceby Mike Andree and R. Palipane
It was a one horse race at the Cricket Board elections, held behind closed doors
and in a hush hush atmosphere, at Sports Ministry Auditorium on Sunday, June 11 .
Sri Lanka’s second major conflict, turned out to be a farce with the withdrawal of
four of the five candidates in the race for the presidency. This left Thilanga Sumathipala
an uncontested winner.
At 3.30 p.m. the media, after being kept out of the hall for nearly five hours, decided
to stage a walk out enmasse , due to the delay in releasing the official results, despite
the election to all posts having been long completed. Various excuses were given by the
officials and the presiding officer, Milton Amarasinghe, Director of the Department of
Sports Development, who should have made the official announcements was not to be seen.
All efforts by the media to get into the hall were barred by armed cops and they were told
that they could not be allowed into the hall, despite all election proceeding being
completed, as their was a private meeting going on amongst the newly elected office
bearers.
Jayantha Dharmadasa, a leading contender for the post of president withdrew from the
contest saying, in a letter to the presiding officer, Milton Amerasinghe, "several
constitutional provisions have been ignored and violated in the convening of the meeting
and in the recognition of the electors/voters and acceptance of nominations. At all times
you have not acted lawfully. In my view the meeting and the subsequent election is
contrary to the constitution, contrary to law and null and void. In this context, I wish
to withdraw my nomination and the consent given for the post of president".
The other three who withdrew their candidacy were, Sumith R. Perera, Anuruddha
Pollonowita and Ari Kannangara.
There were a string of withdrawals all along as most of the candidates for the other
major posts withdrew leaving the way clear for these posts to be filled by the only
remaining candidates. With all this taking place no official announcement was made.
It was only after the media walked out that the results were faxed to their respective
organizations.
All newspapers were informed, days prior to the elections, that only two reporters from
a newspaper and one photographer from an organization would be permitted to attend the
AGM. However, the media were not allowed into the hall where the AGM and the elections
were held. They were permitted into the Sports Ministry compound after having to undergo
checks at two points including a body search at the gates of the venue. But what stumps
all is how seven members, including two photographers, from a Sinhala News-paper,
belonging to an interested party, were permitted to enter the venue.
The security provided for this election was even far more intensive than that provided
at the country’s presidential elections. Even a senior cop admitted it.
The major questions now are, why the hush hush in the conduct of the elections, and why
did the presiding officer and the elected candidates, not face the media.
WPRFU Under 24
rugby tournament
CR&FC dump Police
by Althaf Nawaz
CR and FC coming out for the first time, in the Western Province Under-24 Rugby
tournament, played for the "Le Bond" trophy, crushed Police SC by 30 points (2
goals, 2 tries, 2 penalties) to 5 (a try ) at Longden Place, on Sunday.
CR, possessing a well balanced side, with a blend of youth and experience, dished out
some excellent ball play. Their three quarters were far superior than that of their
opponents. Whenever the ball was on in their possession, they ran it down the line, and
this saw them score four times. Their heftily built forwards dominated the set pieces and
set scrums. They rucked and mauled well and slung out the goodball to the
"threes" to get the maximum points.
Police on the other hand, played positively in the first falf. But they failed to keep
up the momentum and this saw them edging towards defeat.
CR put the first scoring points on the board with a penalty put over by Anjelo
Wijeratne. Police bounced back gallantly to reduce the gap with a spectacular try scored
by flanker Hiran Rasanga. The towering forward, barged through the CR defence, after
collecting the ball off a five meter line out, to touch down by left corner flag. The try
went unconverted.
Nineteen minutes in to the first half, Wijeratne increased CR’s lead with a 30
meter penalty, after the Police three quarters were spotted off side, four minutes later,
winger Anjelo Weerakkody created inroads in the Police defence to plant the second CR try,
by the right flag, which went unconverted.
Three minutes before the short interval, CR centre Rushdi Faiz sneaked through to touch
down mid-left, after a superb three quarter move. This try too went unconverted and the
score line read 16-5 at the breather.
CR looked a much more composed and well organised outfit after the short break. They
were set to go all out and capitalised well on the opponents mistakes. Centre Irosh
Fernando, with his vast experience having played with the senoirs, kept up the momentum as
he went solo to score under the post. Wijeratne made no mistake with conversion. Police,
finding it difficult to cope with the pace set by the Red-jerseyed men, played well in
patches and failed to play to a game plan. CR making use of the situation, ran in another
try, this time through their replaced winger E.Wekadapola. Zulifikar Halimdeen added the
extra points to take them to a convincing victory.
Roshan Deen, a senior referee who refrained from blowing matches last season, took up
the whistle and controlled the game.
Havelocks win
Havelocks beat Tri Star by 24 points (2 goals, 2 tries) to 3 (a penalty) in the earlier
game. For winners R. Gamampathi (2) H.Panditharatne and C.Kodagoda scored a try each.
Kasun Waduge goaled two of the tries. Sudeshan put over the solitary penalty for the
losers.
Marvan
Atapattu Sri Lanka’s new vice captain
by Althaf Nawaz
Marvan Atapattu has been appointed as the deputy skipper of the Sri Lankan
cricket team for the first cricket test match against Pakistan which begins on June 14
(Wednesday), at SSC grounds, Maitland Place.
Following a successful tour of Bangladesh, the trio of national selectors opted for
Atapattu as Sanath Jayasuriya’s deputy in place of Mahela Jayawardena. Atapattu
proved that he could perform to satisfaction under any circumstances and that fighting
century against Pakistan in the final at the recently concluded Asia Cup cricket
tournament certainly endorsed that.
The out of form Mahela Jayawardena is hopeful of another chance to prove himself
following his pathetic performances in the recent past.
Meanwhile, Tillekeratne Dilshan and Indika de Saram have been sidelined and NCC’s
left arm wicket-keeper-batsman, Kumar Sangakkara who is in form has been included. Dashing
left hand opener Avishka Gunawar-dena wicket-keeper batsman, Prasanna Jayawardena and left
arm leg spinner Rangana Herath too have been recalled. Kaushalya Weeraratne was not
considered due to injury and his place has been taken by Dilhara Fernando.
This test match is the 100th encounter in Sri Lanka history, and the only survivor of
Sri Lanka’s 18 years of text history is Arjuna Ranatunga.
The squad:
Sanath Jayasuriya (Capt.), Marvan Atapattu (V. Capt.), Arjuna Ranatunga, Mahela
Jayawardena, Aravinda de Silva, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Romesh Kaluvitharana,
Russel Arnold, Upul Chandana, Nuwan Zoysa, Avishka Gunawardena, Rangana Herath, Prasanna
Jayawardena, Kumar Sangakkara and Dilhara Fernando.
Windsurfing on Aug. 20
by Shirajiv Sirimane
The annual mid-summers winsurfing championship conducted by the Winsurfing
Association of Sri Lanka will be held on Sunday, August 20 at Airport Garden Hotel,
Katunayake.
This year too the event will be co-sponsored by Lanka Sportseizen and Airport Garden
Hotel.
"We wanted to have the event in a big way with foreign participants. But decided
against it due to the situation in the country", said Tilak Weerasinghe Chairman LSR.
He said that around 30 local competitors are likely to participate in this event.
Entries for the event close on August 10 with Gamini Algama, Co-ordination Secretary,
211, Hospital Road, Kalubowila.
Attractive sailing gear awaits the winners of the event.
Lanka’s
U-16 spikers leave for Asian C’ships
Sri Lanka’s Under-16 spikers will leave for Singapore today to play in the Asian
Hockey Championship to be held from June 15 to 25 at the Delta Stadium.
The Sri Lankans will come up against Asian hockey giants Pakistan, India, Bangladesh,
Korea and Kazakastan. But the local side is young and brimming with confidence.
The Sri Lankan squad is coached by Sumith Dissanayake and assisted by Palitha Wasalage.
According to a senior official the squad had undergone training at the Peradeniya
grounds and at the Astro Turf at Reid Avenue. (AN)
Three records at
Junior Weight-lifting meet
by Hafiz Marikar Kandy sports Corr.
The Kandy District Junior Weight-lifting Championship was held at the Peradeniya
University Gymnasium, with top notch iron sportsmen taking part. Three new records were
set up at this meet in the 51 kg, 85 kg and 94 kg category and three weight-lifters were
selected as Bestlifters.
In the 94 category, W. P. S. Abanwella of Deerandana M. V. snatched 45.5 kg and 60 kg
in the clean and jerk with an aggregate of 105.5 kg. Ransilu Jayatilake of Kingswood
College, taking part in the 85 kg category, set up a record of 160 kg with a snatch of
70.5 kg and 90 kg in the clean and jerk.
In the 51 kg category N. Kodithuwaku of Deerandana MV had a snatch of 70.5 kg and clean
and jerk of 80 kg aggregating 140 kg to set up a record in the 51 kg class.
The three best lifters at this meet were N. Kodithuwaku of Deerananda MV, who is an
under 15 lifter and the other two were K. Wijewickrema of the Kandy TCA in the under 18,
and P. N. Dayan in the under 20, who is from the Kandy YMCA.
At this meet the young lifters gave a superb display and a big hand should go to the
local Weight-lifting Association and the controlling body for job well done in organising
this meet, which saw some top lifters from lesser known schools and clubs taking part. |
