Depleted Sri Lanka eager to avoid whitewash
Batsman Minod Bhanuka and seamer Asitha Fernando are all set to make their Test debut today with six key players ruled out for the second Test as a depleted Sri Lanka side look to avoid a whitewash against hosts Proteas at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. Both Bhanuka and Fernando have played limited over cricket for [...]
Avishka, Ramesh get call for England Test series
Avishka Fernando and Ramesh Mendis have got their maiden call-up to the Test side as national selectors added six more players to the squad as injury replacements for the England series. Former skipper Angelo Mathews who pulled out of the South African series, due to a hamstring injury he sustained during the Lanka Premier League [...]
Can the Blueprint unfold before it is too late?
National Sports Council (NSC) Chairman, the inimitable Mahela Jayawardene has repeatedly referred to a ‘Blueprint’ or ‘Masterplan’ for sports which most sports experts know is a long felt need, if we are to make a lasting impression in the coming years. The youthful Minister of Sports (MoS) that Namal Rajapaksa is, has crisscrossed the country, [...]
England vows to complete Test series in Sri Lanka
England cricket team has vowed to complete their two-Test tour to the island even if any of their players test positive for Covid-19 during the series. England will arrive in Hambantota today and will head straight to the team hotel to complete 10 days quarantine ahead of the first Test in Galle in Jan 14. [...]
Lekamge’s omission stirs debate over national pool selection criteria
Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA) is confident of winning medals at the Asian Athletic Championships scheduled to be held in May going by the performances at the 98th National Athletic Championship but pundits are questioning the selection criteria following the omission of a leading athlete in the 41-member Elite and National pools. There was no place [...]
Resuming school rugby far from reality
Hopes of foreseeing a possible start to school rugby activities remains far from reality, according to the Vice President of Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) Susantha Mendis. School rugby came to a standstill on March 14, 2020, after the Ministry of Education took a decision to shut down schools across Sri Lanka, with [...]
A role model for aspiring youngsters in the North
Cricket in Sri Lanka is something beyond sport. It plays a vital role in bringing people together as a nation. Despite the country being in strife for nearly three decades as a consequence of the civil war, their passion towards the sport was not affected. We have heard numerous stories where youngsters have been able [...]
Alagic’s panacea for ailing Sri Lanka football
Science and high technology will play a greater role to change the course of football in Sri Lanka in future under the direction of Amir Alagic, whose aim is to make the sport played and run by top professionals. Grassroots programme, women football, education of coaches, officials and referees, and revamping the archaic system of [...]
Lawyers beat Doctors by one wicket
Lawyers beat Doctors by one-wicket in their 13th annual Law-Medical 40-over cricket encounter played at the SSC grounds recently. The match was played following strict health guidelines with restricted spectator participation due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Batting first, the Doctors were skittled out for 167 in 39 overs, with Tharindu Kalinga (38), Sudiranga Walpita [...]
Batsmen who scored 199 runs in a Test match
During the first Test between Sri Lanka and South Africa at the Centurion, former South African skipper Faf du Plessis was dismissed for 199 runs. He became only the second South African batsman to be dismissed for 199 runs in a Test inning. The first South African batsman was Dean Elgar who scored 199 runs [...]
Saracens Sports Club holds 81st AGM
Nuski Mohamed continues to head Saracens Sports Club after he was elected Presidnet at its 81st Annual General Meeting (AGM) on December 20 at their new office premises located at W.A.D. Ramanayake Mawatha, Col- 2. The following were elected Office Bearers: Patron: Thalaath Ismail Vice Patron: Jayantha Dharmadasa, Ferin Careem, Farook Saleem, A.C.M. Lafir, K. [...]
Chess prodigy Susal de Silva dreams of becoming a Grand Master
Sri Lanka’s chess prodigy Susal Thewjan de Silva of Nalanda College is on track to achieve his dream of becoming a Grand Master in the sport. The 14-year-old lived up to his promise when he emerged champion at the Sri Lanka Chess Grand Prix in addition to being second runner-up at the Sri Lanka National [...]
School cricket to go digital
Sri Lanka School Cricket Association (SLSCA) is on the verge of making arrangements to create a digital web portal which will include data and statistics of its registered players. The project, which will kick-start this month, has been initiated by SLSCA with the assistance of a private firm specialised in creating software and digital contents, [...]