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Lawrie does Lanka proud in Brisbane
By Rangi Akbar
“Coming back to Sri Lanka is such a pleasure these days with the current peace process on", said Lawrence Heyn an Editor attached to Quest Communications belonging to newspaper tycoon Rupert Murdock in Brisbane, Australia. The newspaper company publishes 16 weeklies and three daily newspapers, which has a daily circulation of 900,000.

Lawrence, who was Sports Editor of the now defunct Sun and Weekend in Sri Lanka during the 70s and 80s, left Sri Lanka two decades ago to settle down in Australia. Quest Communications immediately spotted his talents as a writer, layout specialist and his keen sense for news. Today he is one of the most respected Editors of that bustling newspaper group.

"I am planning to do a series of features on Sri Lanka when I get back," said the affable Lawrence. These articles, he says, should attract more and more Sri Lankans, who had not visited Sri Lanka due to ethnic problems. Foreigners too are now clamouring to visit Sri Lanka to see more of its beauty and to move around with its friendly people.

Lawrence's, uncle Major General B.Russel Heyn was a former Sri Lanka Army Commander and a President of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board. The Major General's two sons, Richard and David, played top-level sports for the island. Richard played hockey at national level whilst David played hockey and cricket for Sri Lanka. According to Lawrence, Richard is now domiciled in the USA and David is in Australia.

Sports reporting, especially cricket, rugby and motor sports took on a new meaning after Lawrence became Sports Editor of the Sun and the Weekend. There were well-written, exciting articles, which were lapped up by both sportsmen and readers with relish. Whatever success the Sun Group of Newspapers had in sports coverage it was mainly due to Lawrence's efforts.

To date Lawrence remains the soft-spoken gentleman that he always was. He is married to Vanessa and has two children - Rohit (12) and Elysee (9). Both are schooling in Brisbane.

Mithun captures Pin's trophy
Kumar Boralessa richly deserves an Oscar for the splendid acting role he is playing as Captain of the Royal Colombo Golf Club in the absence of Sarath Piyaratne who is away on a pilgrimage paying homage to his mother-in-law. The good old lady must be quite exceptional to attract Piyaratne's attention and respect.

Boralessa was the R.C.G.C. dignitary in attendance at the Pin Fernando Trophy award ceremony on Sunday at Lunch time and he certainly made an impressive speech thanking Priya Fernando the Chief Executive of United Tractor & Equipment Ltd. For their sponsorship of this popular event in memory of the legend.

Thirty two teed off from crack of dawn through a hot and gruelling forenoon and at close of play chubby fella Mithun Nandasena captured the much coveted Trophy with a dashing performance of brilliant golf for a 16-year-old kid. Mithun the chip of the old block Nandasena played an outstanding round of one over par 72 bringing him down to nett 66 through his handicap of 6.

The little fella is moving into the groove splendidly and the command he has over the long par 5 holes is absolutely fantastic. He is not long enough to get on the green for two and his father Nandasena is not pushing him.

'Thatha' thinks that a long drive and a well calculated 2nd shot without pushing will come very soon - maybe by next year. The kid is still very tender. He was a popular winner at the award ceremony. Coming close behind was another delightfully talented teenager Praveen Dias. A nippy little slim player he has the ingredients of a champ and if his academic pursuits do not interfere we will soon see an excellent craftsman in action. He struck nett 67.

Joe Perera once again moved into the limelight with a classy collection of 42 points to collect an award for the best performance on the 1st day. A. Ahamed struck a great skillful patch with 4 super nett eagles to take a special award and Jeremy Carter the broad smiling popular expatriate stunned himself and almost choked when his tee shot on the 9th moved in with the breeze to drop his ball 10 ft. or so from the pin and then career gently to skirt the lip of the cup and settle 2'- 3" from the pin. It was almost a hole-in-one. He picked a classy award in the closest to the pin contest amidst loud applause.

Naughty boy
To dampen the refreshing enthusiasm and spritely fun filled day of great golf one member failed to turn up. Diresh Palihena pleaded to be included in Sunday's play seeking an early tee time. Genial Lionel Almeida acceded to the request and when tee time came Palihena was missing with no apology for non attendance. There was much dislocation to the progress of the competition depriving others who could have filled his place if only he advised Almeida early. In the old days he would have been shot down with a bow and arrow for a lapse of this nature.

Awards
Very sadly the attendance was quite sparse. Unforgivably of the 32 that participated only the winners plus just a few came into participate which is not the done thing. Additionally many in the Executive Committee gave the ceremony the slip which made it grossly unfair by the sponsors who catered lavishly. The question I must ask is "When will they ever learn". The participating crowd was thin but the party was quite lively with "Mother Superior" Pam adding much to the fun of the afternoon relating an excellent collection of incidents and anecdotes that studded her life with the lovable maestro Pin Fernando.

Druki Martenstyn Pin's pet daughter still quite attractive made her little contribution of heartwarming reference to the adorable man. The awards were distributed by Chief Executive Priya Fernando who spoke eloquently about the history of the event and the signal contribution made by Pin Fernando towards the progress of Golf particularly at the Royal Colombo Golf Club.

The party after the Award Ceremony was simple with a few nice people. Avanthi was identified as an elegant young Cracker. Priya's wife Christine still carries positive charm.

Rohantha to lead '78 Group team today
It's rugby time for Royalists young and old with the on-going prestigious Bradby Shield in progress between Royal and Trinity. This is the penultimate week before the second-leg in Colombo on August 2. Former CR&FC and Sri Lanka player, Rohantha Peiris who led the Royal team with distinction in 1978 to remain unbeaten.

He later led the Reid Avenue School in the Asian International Schools Championship in Bangkok.In this '78 team led by Rohantha there were some outstanding players, who played with much success in club rugby and few of them playing for the national team.

Jainudeen and Sujantha Kumar (CH&FC and Sri Lanka) while Rohantha Peiris and Wimal Epparachchi (CR and Sri Lanka), Raba Gunasekera, Vipula Dharmadasa (the present CR Vice president), Kapila Ariyaratne and D. Peiris also donned the Red Shirts. Iqbal Hassan (the present Chairman of the Gymkhana Club) played for the CH.

For today's get-together and re-union, the '78 Group, will be joined by the '79 led by Raba Gunasekera and by Sujantha Kumar to be staged at Longden Place. Two schools Trinity and S. Thomas' too have been invited to play in this rugby carnival. It will bring back nostalgic memories. The matches will kick-off at 4.45 p.m. It will be followed by dinner. -BW

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