Gwen Herat will go on . . .

By M.H.M. Manasique

Only one group comprising eight clubs has applied to the Sports Ministry for recognition as the official national controlling body for women's cricket in Sri Lanka - but well known promoter Gwen Herat insists she will go on independently irrespective of whom the ministry recognizes.

The eight clubs have jointly nominated Ms. Nanda Indrawansa as president and W. Premaratne as secretary along with other officials and an executive committee. They have also submitted a full draft constitution for the proposed national controlling body, including provisions for the sports ministry to nominate the selection committee as required by the law and for all the male officials to comply with the latest cricket board requirement of having played division-I cricket, a spokesman said. Amidst controversy and confusion over who was controlling the game, the Sports Ministry had on January 13 this year issued gazette notification calling on clubs or association involved in the promotion of women's cricket to apply for recognition as the national controlling body. The dead-line expired on April 13 and an Sports Ministry official told 'The Sunday Times' that only group of eight clubs had applied for recognition.

The Ministry official said the application and the proposed constitution submitted by the group was being studied and a final decision would be taken within weeks.

Once a decision is taken the recognized group would be required to deposit a fee and a certificate of registration issued to it. After that only the recognized controlling body will be allowed to use Sri Lanka's national flag, crest and emblem in international matches and tournaments. But Ms. Herat, high profiled wife of a former UNP cabinet minister is standing her ground. She told that the women's cricket association of Sri Lanka headed by her has been in the forefront of the sport for several years and has received what she described as a "franchise" from the world controlling body, the Auckland based International Women's Cricket Conference (IWCC).

A team selected by Ms. Herat's association took part in the world cup conducted by the IWCC last year in India. She said her team would go ahead and take part in the next world cup.

Past cricketers rewarded

By Bernie Wijesekera

The three-member committee headed by deboniar Michael Tissera, Ranjith Fernando and Harold De Andrado with a view to helping the past cricketing greats, who contributed much for the uplift of the game, with their own men and material has been rewarded.

These past cricketing heroes at present are unheard and unsung, with some of them suffering in silence, in the autumn of their life. The present hierarchy of the newly elected Cricket Board quickly moved in this matter, firstly to help the most senior players for a start. Be it cricket or otherwise, one cannot forget the very parents, who helped them to go places in life.

The committee, after much investigation have selected 15 past 'Golden Oldies' to be the first recipients and sent their findings. for BCCSL Ex-Co approval. This has been done on a seniority basis and other deserving past national cricketers will be given due consideration, later.

They are: C. I. Gunasekera, Vernon Prins, Bertie Wijesinghe, Gerry Gooneratne, Makin Salih, Stanley Jayasinghe, Mahes Rodrigo, D. D. Jayasinghe, Dr. H. I. K. Fernando, Ryle de Soysa, Fairlie Dalpathado, N. A. de S. Wijesekera, Channa Gunasekera, R. L. de Kretser, and Tita Nathanielsz.

The BCCSL Ex-Co met on (May 9) to delve into the report submitted by the there member committee for its approval. This will cost nearly Rs. 3 million. Probably the presentation will be made at a simple ceremony, next month, according to an official of the Cricket Board.

The Sunday Times, was the first to spotlight in its columns about this sad episode.

Who gets CEAT prize, Sanath or Sachin?

Sri Lankan opening batsman Sanath Jayasuriya and India's Sachin Tendulkar are the top contenders for the prestigious CEAT Internatonal Cricketer of the Year 1997-98 Award.

Although Jayasuriya (122 points) leads Tendulkar (114 points) at the end of the CEAT year of Evaluation (May '97-April '98), but as per the CEAT Cricket Rating rules, if the difference between the top two contenders is less than 10 points, then the three adjudicators - Ian Chappell, Clive Lloyd and Sunil Gavaskar determine the winner taking into consideration the detailed performances of the players during the year.The three adjudicators have already been provided with the detailed batting, bowling and fielding performances of Jayasuriya and Tendulkar and the announcement of the winner of CEAT International Cricketer of the Year which carries a cash prize of Rs. 5.0 lakhs will be made as soon as the adjudicators decide.

Except for the points difference, Jayasuriya and Tendulkar are almost neck to neck, with their batting performances. Jayasuriya has 1083 runs in 19 Test innings and 1336 runs in 29 One-Day International innings whereas Tendulkar has scored 935 in 12 Test innings and 1457 runs in 38 One-Day International innings.

The Top 10 at the end of the year in the CEAT Cricket Rating for CEAT International Cricketer of the Year 1997-98 are:

Name of the Player            Total Points

 1. Sanath Jayasuriya                   122
 2. Sachin Tendulkar                    114
 3. Muttiah Muralitharan               107
 4. Mohammed Azharuddin            99
 5. Shane Warne                            91
 6. Saurav Ganguly                         90
 7. Aravinda De Silva                     88
 8. Carl Hooper                             76
 9. Saqlain Mushtaq                       74
10. Shaun Pollock                         67

Jayasiri hits double ton

By Marcus Joseph

A career best double century (211) by former Moratuwa Vidyalaya batsman R. P. Jayasiri was the highlight in the Division II cricket encounter between all Mazenodians and Moratuwa S. C. played in the De Mazenod cricket grounds.

Old Mazenodians: 235 (P. Seneviratne111. P. Fernando 6 for 50, L. Chintana 70 not out) and 150 for 4 (L. Chintana 62).

Moratuwa SC: 352 for 6 (R. P. Jayasiri 211, C. Fernando 52, R. Peiris 35, J. Seneviratne 4 for 71).

Debut win for NE Grand Hotel

Making a debut win, Grand Hotel Nuwara-Eliya with an absence of many recognised players carried away the Mercantile 'A' Division knock-out trophy. The tourney was sponsored by United Motors. The Hotel beat Hatton National Bank 3 to 2 at the City League grounds, Slave Island. HNB led 2-nil at the half.

K. Prasanna and B.R.A. Preena scored a goal each for the Bankmen in the first session.

B.S.R. Dissanayake levelled up for the Hotel lads with two superb goals in the 50th and 56th minutes. Udaya Kumar put the issue beyond doubt with the match winner.

Dissanayake was picked the Man of the Final. A.G.C. Desapriya controlled the game.

AirLanka Catering beat Seylan Bank by 5 goals to nil to win the 'B' Division title which preceeded the 'A' Division final.

D.C.G. Jayasinghe (2) and K.S.R.D. Peiris, K.B.M.M. Fernando and W.N. Fernando scored a goal each for the champs.

Mahendra Amarasuriya, the Chairman of United Motors Lanka Limited was the chief guest and gave away the awards. Guest of honour was Ranjith Pandithage, the President of the Mercantile Football Association.

Smart rally by Air Force

M.S.M. Manasique

Sri Lanka Air Force rallied smartly to share major honours in the recently concluded International Practical Shooting Confederation concluded at the Welisara Navy Range.

They made new strides into the shooting arena claiming entry to the national pool ousting some of the senior Army shooters who generally dominated the game.

Out of the best overall individual performances little known Airman A.R.Rohitha bagged the open division pistol title while ASP Sunil Guruge of Police, Nuwara Eliya walked away with the standard division pistol shooting championship.

Of the many surprises Dallas Martenstyn of Negombo Rifle Club unexpectedly won the best civilian award ahead of Lasantha Samarakoon of the Army for open division pistol shooting. The aggregates were summed up after competing in seven stages. Air Marshall Jayalath Weerakkody graced the occasion as the chief guest with Match Director being Ravi Jayewardene.Errol Dharma-ratne manned the statistical bank.

Results:

Stage 1 - Standard Div. Shotgun Pump Action Class - Men
1. Lt. Col. P. Kularatne (Army), 2. D. Martenstyn (NRC), 3. ASP S. S. Guruge (Police).

Stage 2 - Standard Div. Shotgun Semi Automatic Class - Men
1. Cpl. Dharmasena (SLAF), Lac A.R.Rohitha (SLPA), 3. T. Ismail (NRC)

Stage 1- Open Div. Shortgun Semi Auto Class - Men
1. Cpl. Hemantha (SLAF), Flt. Lt. S. Jayatillake (SLAF), Lac M.P. Basnayake (SLAF).

Stage 1 - Open Dv. Shotgun Semi Auto Class - Women
1. Lac. W.A.M.I. Weerasinghe (SLAF), 2. Lac. P.M.M. Kumuduni (SLAF), 3. K. Weerarane (SLAF).

Stage 2 - Standard Div. Shotgun Pump Action Class - Men
1. D. Karunaratne (Nuwara Eliya SSC), 2. D. Martenestyn (NRC) 3. W.A.P. de Silva

Stage 2 - Standard Div. Shotgun Semi Automatic Class - Men
1. Cpl. Dharmasena (SLAF), 2. Eraj Fernando (NRC), Sgt. K.D.S. Prematillake (SLAF)

Stage 2 - Open Div. Shortgun Semi Automatic Class- Men
1. M.P. Basnayake (SLAF), Cpl. G.M. G.M. Chandana (SLAF), S.M. Pagoda (SLAF).

Stage 2 - Open Div. Shortgun Semi Automatic Class- Women
1. Lac. P.M.M. Kumuduni (SLAF), 2. Lac D Punchihewa (SLAF), 3. Lac. W.A.M.I. Weerasinghe (SLAF),

Stage 3 - Standard Div. Pistol - Men
1. ASP S.S. Guruge (Police), 2. J. Nanayakkara (NRC), 3. J. Wijeratne (Nuwara Eliya SSC).

Stage 3 - Open Div. Pistol - Men
1. Fl. Sgt. H.G.L. Ranjith (SLAF), 2. Capt. S. Kulatunga (Army), D. Martenstyn (NRC).

Stage 3 - Open Div. Pistol - Women
1. Lac.. P. M. M. Kumuduni (SLAF), 2. Lac. W. A. I. E. Weerasinghe, 3. Pte. W. M. A. S. Wickramasinghe (Army).

Stage 4 - Standard Div. Pistol - Men
1. ASP S. S. Guruge (Police), 2. CPO G. H. K. S. Nayanapriya (Navy), 3. J. Nanayakkara (NRC).

Stage 4 - Open Div. Pistol - Men
1. Maj. Janaka Ritigahapola (Army), 2. Lt. Col. Pasan Kularatne (Army), 3. Sgt. K. D. S. Prematillake (SLAF).

Stage 4 - Open Div. Pistol - Women
1. Lac. W. A. M. I. Weerasinghe (SLAF), 2. Lac. P. M. M. Kumudini (SLAF), 3. L.Cpl. S. H. P. R. Subasinghe (Army).

Stage 5 - Standard Div. Pistol - Men
1. ASP Sunil Guruge (Police), 2. L/NPM M. S. Dhammika (Navy), 3. Jeyaraj Nanayakkara (NRC).

Stage 5 - Open Div. Pistol - Men
1. Cpl. A. R. Rohitha (SLAF), 2. IP D. G. Walter (Police), 3. Dallas Martenstyn (NRC).

Stage 5 - Open Div. Pistol Women
1. LAC P. M. M. Kumudini (SLAF), 2. LAC W. A. M. I. Weerasinghe (SLAF), 3. Sgt. S. Weerakkody (Army).

Stage 6 - Standard Div. Pistol - Men
1. ASP Sunil Guruge (Police), 2. Cpl. G. M. Chandana (SLAF), 3. Cpl. N. A. D. Hemantha (SLAF).

Stage 6 - Open Div. Pistol - Men
1. Sgt K. D. S. Prematillake (SLAF), 2. IP. A. Jayasinghe (Police), 3. Cpl. A. R. Rohitha (SLAF).

Stage 6 - Open Div. Pistol - Women
1. Lac P. M. M. Kumudini (SLAF), 2. Lac W. A. M. I. Weerasinghe (SLAF), 3. Sgt S. Weerakody (Army).

Best Junior
1. Charles Subasinghe (NRC), 2. Nalin Wickremasinghe (Nuwara Eliya), 3. Rashmi Tuduwewatte (SSA).

Best Senior Men
1. Capt. Sarath De Soyza (SSA), 2. Warrant Officer SV Paul (SLAF).

Best Range Officer
1. Sgt K. D. S. Prematillake (SLAF), 2. Dallas Martenstyn (NRC), 3. Flt Lt N. Galapaththi (SLAF).

Best Civilian - Standard Div. Pistol
1. Jeyaraj Nanayakkara (NRC), 2. Ms M.A.S.R. Orbris (SSA), 3. Janaka Wickremasurendra (NRC).

Best Civilian - Open Div. Pistol
1. Dallas Martenstyn (NRC), 2. Lasantha Samarakoon (Nuwara Eliya), 3. Capt. Sarath De Soyza (SSA).

Best Civilian Team - Standard Div. Pistol
1. Negombo Rifle Club 2. Nuwara Eliya Sports Shooting Club

Best Civilian Team - Open Div. Pistol
1. Negombo Rifle Club A Team 2. Nuwara Eliya Sports Shooting Club A Team

Man Vs Man
1. Major Janaka Ritigahapola (Army), 2. Sgt. K. D. S. Premathilleka (SLAF), 3. Major Athula Samarasinghe (Army).

Overall Team Women Open Div.
1. Air Force 2. Army, 3. Navy.

Overall Best Team Performance - Standard Div. Pistol
1. Police 2. Airforce, 3. Negombo Rifle Club.

Overall Best Team Performance - Open Div. Pistol
1. Airforce A, 2. Army B, 3. Army A.

Overall Best Individual Performance - Standard Div. Pistol - Men
1. ASP Sunil Guruge (Police), 2. Jeyaraj Nanayakkara (NRC), 3. Cpl G. M. Chandana (SLAF).

Overall Best Individual Performance - Open Div. Pistol - Women
1. Lac P M M Kumudini (SLAF), 2. Lac W A M .I. Weerasinghe (SLAF), 3. Sgt. S Weerakkody (Army).

Overall Best Individual Performance - Open Div. Pistol - Men
1. Cpl. A. R. Rohitha (SLAF), 2. Major Janaka Ritigahapola (Army), 3. Sgt K. D. S. Prematillake (SLAF).

Liyanage : 50 years in Physical Culture

Siridasa Liyanage. The name is symbolic with Physical Culture, Physical Fitness and Martial arts. As in every aspect of things today, Physical Culture is spread in many directions - Powerlifting, Weight Lifting, Strength Building. Liyanage is at home in all fields. Fifty years is a substantial portion of a life-span. Liyanage has completed 50 years in the field of physical culture.

To be consistent in one identical field for full 50 years is an achievement by itself. It calls for discipline.

The years ramble over the adherent values learned in the science to which he had devoted a lifetime. That is the end product we have today in Liyanage. As a ex-Senior Executive at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka he continued his sideline judo and wrestling.

In every weight category in which he competed Liyanage emerged as the best. From 1948 to 1952 Liyanage emerged as the National Wrestling Champion in his weight category.

In the game he had beaten the best in the land. He diverged into Japanese Karate and his superiority in that field won him the Black Belt in Japan.

Liyanage was not content to be a Champion. That may have ended a career a long time ago. Soft spoken well mannered with well disciplined qualities he acquired over 5 decades of active and competitive sports over the decades moulded Liyanage into the role of teacher, organiser, administrator and friend to sportsmen in Sri Lanka.

For five decades Liyanage has been a dedicated teacher of every sport he himself had mastered.

As one time Director of Sports, Physical Fitness Department at the YMCA, the Sri Lanka Physical Culture Federation, the Sri Lanka Powerlifting Federation, the Armed Wrestling Federation, the Bank Karate Association with Educational Institutions, University, Police and the armed forces Liyanage imparted his knowledge providing guidance and contributed to the development of these sports.

He represented the country as Mentor and chef de Mission of several delegations, at seminars, conferences and World Championships.

For his services he was bestowed with several medals, certificates of merit and awards of appreciation.

Unique among these is the Silver Medal awarded by the International Federation of Bodybuilders World Body in recognition of his services rendered to the upliftment of Physical Fitness in Sri Lanka. In December 1997 the International Strength Building Federation and International Martial Arts Federation recognised his dedication to the sport by appointing him Vice President and Director of the Sri Lanka Branch.

Liyanage is an Ex-President of the Sri Lanka Physical Culture Federation and the President of the Union Karate Association of Sri Lanka.

Presently he is the Director of the International Martial Arts Federation and Vice President of the International Strength Building Federation. He is also Chairman, Panel of Referees, Sri Lanka Powerlifting Federation.

More Sports *  Manuel New ICC Umpire  *  The 'Greatest' shuffles out 100 grand for elders home  *  Frank 'Big Head' Worrell makes it to the top  *  King of Kings takes the 2000 Guineas  *  Mercedes Benz golf contest on May 16

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