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Thuhashini to play for US Amateur golf C'ships
By Nilika de Silva
Sri Lankan golfing phenomenon Thuhashini Selvaratnam has qualified for the US Amateur Championships 2002, to take place in New York in early August.
In the qualifying round for the US Amateur Championships played in Arizona State last week, Selvaratnam scored 72 and was placed second.

She was awarded the title of 2001 Arizona Women's Golf Association "Player of the Year" at the AWGA Annual Meeting and Awards ceremony which took place in January at the Phoenix Country Club.

Alain Gyi is determined to bring honour to the country in Australia
Alain Gyi, an ace golfer in the local circuit has been appointed captain for the forthcoming Bercedes Benz Asian Regional Golf Finals to be staged in Gold Coast Australia. The tournament will commence on July 31. The team leaves today.

According to Lionel Almeida, Secretary RCGC, Alain is one of the best among the golfing fraternity and playing pretty well at present. Gyi was seen training at the greens on Thursday.

Firstly he went to Gold Coast as an observer, but this time he is leading the team and is determined to bring honour to the country. Another member of the tour party, Capt. Navin de Silva, a newcomer to the greens will be making his first overseas tour as a golfer.

This prestigious amateur Asian regional finals will draw some of the best golfers who will tee off in the beautiful Gold Goast links, generating a high standard of golf.

The team: Alain Gyi (Capt..), Erath Karunaratne, Shivantha de Soysa Capt. Navin de Silva, Sanjeya Gunawardena, J.Lo Kim (B.W.)

'Hope' calls on line
The Sri Lankan Cricketers' Association along with the Lion's Club of Colombo Somerset District 306B have announced the launch of the Hope web site through which interested persons can get more information on the project and make contributions towards the establishment of a 750-bed cancer hospital in Sri Lanka.

The establishment of the web-site www.hopelk.org and its maintenance is by Eureka online (Pvt) Ltd. HSBC is providing the secured payment gateway. Sanath Jayasuriya, the captain of the Sri Lankan Cricket team formerly launched the web site.

The Hope Hospital, a government approved charity is a joint effort by the Sri Lankan Cricketers' Association and the Lion's Club of Colombo Somerset District 306B. The total cost of the Hospital will be Rs. 750 million. The project was officially launched in March this year. Through an MoU signed with the government space was allocated within the premises of the Cancer Hospital of Maharagama to establish the Hospital. An appeal has been made to fans of the Sri Lankan Cricket team around the world to contribute generously and the response so far has been overwhelming.

Sanath Jayasuriya, captain of the Sri Lankan Cricket team, said, "While we appreciate the support of Sri Lankans wanting to contribute towards this cause, we appeal to members of the public to avoid fraudulent fund raising. All contributions can be deposited at any of the Seylan Bank Branches Account Number 040750 or any Branch of Bank of Ceylon Account Number 0681 01 00036029 and are to be made in the name of the Hope Cancer Hospital. Only those organisations that have the official approval of the Committee members of the Hope Cancer Hospital project will be allowed to raise funds on our behalf."

In Sri Lanka it is said that 1 in every 10 deaths are due to cancer. What is ironic is that almost 70% of all forms of cancer can be cured if the disease is diagnosed and treated in time. However for many, treatment is not easily accessible. At present there is only one cancer hospital which is situated at Maharagama. The hospital often cannot meet with the growing demand for treatment. People have to wait for hours in long queues and patients often have to sleep on the floor for the want of beds.

The HOPE Cancer Hospital will augment the existing facilities available at Maharagama. On completion of the new cancer unit, it will be handed back to the Ministry of Health and will be run by authorities at the Cancer Institute Maharagama.

Waidyatilaka ITO at C'wealth Games
Mr. P.H.D. Waidyatilaka Vice President of the AAA and Technical Director for the Asian Athletic Championships, Colombo 2002 left for Manchester on an assignment by the Commonwealth Games organizing committee to officiate as an International Technical official.

Waidyatilaka, the only Sri Lankan ITO among 38 ITOs in the world appointed by the International Association of Athletics Federations will be in the panel of six ITO's for the Commonwealth Games. Waidyatilaka had the rare privilege of being the first Sri Lankan to officiate in Athletics at a Commonwealth Games when he was invited as a Technical Official for the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.

Juvenile Novices tournament at OAC
With a view to promote and develop tennis, Otter Aquatic Club for the first time, will organise a juvenile Novices tournament to be worked off at their courts, commencing on August 2, 3, 4, 10 and 11 (Finals). There are events for both girls and boys (Singles) Under -8,10,12 and 14. Under-8 and10 will confine to one set. The other two age groups - best of 17 games.

Accordingly OAC Tennis Secretary, Azaari Cader it will infuse enthusiasm not only among the club members' children but also among other kids, too, who are interested in tennis.

Entries close on July 29 and the draw will take place on July 31 at the Otters Office. All participants will receive certificates. (B.W)

Ernst and Young makes it 3-in-a-row
Old Royalist all-rounder, Thushan Amerasuriya, helped Ernst and Young to register three wins in- a-row in their Mercantile E Cricket tourament. All-rounder Amerasuriya, contributed much for the accounting firm to dominate play. In the first game he top-scored with 67.

But he proved his mettle against HVA Group. In a close contest HVA batting first made 149, thanks to an attractive knock of 71 n.o, by Nandasiri Perera. Amerasuriya bagged 5 for16. Ernst and Young were struggling, but a defiant 50 by Thushan helped them to win by 2 wickets with two balls to spare.-(BW)

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