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5th April 1998

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NAASU officials

At the Annual General Meeting of the National Amateur Aquatic Sports Union held at the NOC Conference Room on March 30, the following were elected office bearers:

President Mr. Henry Perera, SSP. Vice President Mr. J. A. S. Somachandra Vice President Sqn. Ldr. D. S. B. Senaratne. Vice President Mr. K. T. R. Sumanasuriya. Hony. Secretary Mr. Wilfred Wickramasinghe. Hony. Asst. Secretary Mr. Rifdy Fahmy. Swimming & Diving Controller Mr. J. A. S. Jayakody. Meets & Officials Controller Mr. I. P. A. Kakulandara. Waterpolo Controller Mr. P. S. P. Dayananda. Aquatic Sports Development. Controller Mr. C. Bamunuarchchi.


2-year-old school wins TT titles

The under-14 boys TT championship conducted by the Kandy YMBA, to celebrate their Golden Jubilee, was won by Ranabima Rajakeeya Vidyalaya, Peradeniya.

The tournament was conducted in A,B and C Divisions and the school was able to win the A and C Division and emerged runners-up in the B Division. Though the school is only 2 years old, they have annexed 3 All Island Trophies in TT.

The team - R. D. Wijewickrema (Teacher), S. M. Keerthriratne (Principal), W. M. Jayantha Bandara (Instructor), K. B. Atapatu, S. P. Seneviratne, R. J. B. Samarakoon, R. K. Jayasundera, U. C. Ratnayake, N. S. K. Wickremanayake, C. B. M. Herath, C. Madushan Herath, C. Maheshan Herath.


Hong Kong Bank wins cricket trophy in India

Hong Kong Bank, Sri Lanka, which has been in existence for over 100 years here, created a new milestone when they were invited for a short cricket tour recently by their Southern Indian counterparts.

The HSBC team was skippered by former Royalist Ajith Pasqual and included some outstanding club cricketers, namely Naresh Adikaram, Senarath Seneviratne, Sarath Weerakoon, first class cricket umpire Peter Manuel, Yasas Dharmaratne and Chief Executive Officer Richard Law.

It was two limited over games and the Lankan bankers displayed their cricketing skills to win both matches handsomely.

The first match was played at the Guru Nayak University Stadium in Madras. The local bankers batting first, helped by former Thomian opener Naresh Adikaram, who made an unbeaten 77, totalled 202 for 8, in 30 overs.

HSBC S. India in reply could muster only 133 runs. Left-arm spinner Sarath Weerakoon, spun a web to capture 3 for 15, in six overs, to help the locals to win by 60 runs.

The second game was also played at the same venue, the Lankan bankers winning by 77 runs. Again Adikaram, batted with authourity to top score with 62 runs. HSBC S.India, again succumbed to spin and were bowled out for 125 runs. Off-spinner Yasas Dharmaratne - an old Royalist, baffled the batsmen to capture 5 for 19.

HSBC Sri Lanka won the trophy in this inaugural encounter, which will be continued on a reciprocal basis.

Scores:- HSBC (Sri Lanka) - 193 for 3 in 30 Overs (N.Adikarm 77 n.o,. Manoj Algama 33) HSBC S. India 133:- (A. Praveen 46, S.Weerakoon 3 for 15)

Second match - HSBC Sri Lanka 202 for 8 in 40 overs (N.Adikaram 62. Senarath Seneviratne 45, Yasas Dharmaratne 27) HSBC S.India 125 all out. (Yasas Dharmaratne 5 for 19)-BW.

The Sri Lanka ladies golf team


Thuhashini 5th in Queen Sirikit Cup Tournament

Sri Lanka's Ladies Golf Team of Thuhashini Selvaratnam (H'Cap + 1), Shyanika De Silva (H'Cap 4) and Suwaneetha Selvaratnam (H' Cap 8) finished in 7th place in this prestigious annual championship among 11 countries in the Asia Pacific Region, held this year at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club, Mumbai.

In the individual championship, close on the heels of Korea and Chinese Taipei was Sri Lanka's star Thuhashini who had flown in from her college in the U. S. A. coming 5th out of the 33 participants.

Results:- 1. Jeong Jang - 216 (Korea) 2. Wei Yun Jye - 219 (Taipei) 3. Lu Hsiao Chuan 221 (Taipei) 4. Kyung Sook Kim - 222 (Korea) 5. Thuhashini Selvaratnam - 222 (Sri Lanka).

The championship was won by the favourites, the Korean team the current world champions, who led from the start in this 3 day tournament. Chinese Taipei, taking part for the first time were runners-up with New Zealand in 3rd place.

Sri Lanka made a good start on the first day when Thuhashini and Shyanika both brought in scores or 75 which placed the team in joint 4th place ahead of past champions Japan and Australia and the home team India.

On the second day, Thuhashini had a one over par 72 and though Shyanika faltered Suwaneetha brought in a commendable score of 79 to enable Sri Lanka to maintain 4th place. Australia, Japan and India with improved performances on the 2nd Day and the final 3rd day brought in total team scores of 452 and went ahead of Sri Lanka who finished on a score of 455 - Thuhashini 75, Suwaneetha 79.

Results - Korea 433, Chinese Taipei 438, New Zealand 446, Japan 452, India 452, Australia 452, Sri Lanka 455, Malaysia 457, Thailand 459, Philippines 462, Hongkong 500.

Sri Lanka is the only country who has a player who has had a hole-in-one in the Queen Sirikit. This was achieved by Yvonne Abhayaratne when the tournament was held in Japan in 1981.

This was the first time in the history of the tournament a mother & daughter played for their country. Suwaneetha Selvaratnam has represented Sri Lanka 6 times in this event and captained the team 4 times. Thuhashini has represented Sri Lanka twice in 1996, 1998 and Shyanika twice in 1996, 1998.


Rosayro at the helm of Mercantile Hockey

Dennis de Rosayro, one of the live-wires of Sri Lanka hockey, was unanimously elected president of the Mercantile Hockey Association for the 21st consecutive year at its 42nd annual general meeting held on March 26, at the Havelocks S.C. Committee room.

Rosayro, told The Sunday Times, that the private sector hockey has gone from strength to strength due to the indefatigable joint effort by his committee, who works as a team for the upliftment of the sport. Today due to the support and encouragement given by the associated members the MHA, is dominating the senior hockey national and quite a number of them are regularly turning out for the national team, he added.

The MHA 'sevens' is the most popular in its calendar where there is mass participation. This in turn has helped most of the promising youngsters to gain employment and inspire them to further improve their skills.

He had a word of praise for Hemaka Amerasuriya, the patron, who was elected in 1989 and continues to do, since then. Mr. Amerasuriya, the Chairman of Singer (Sri Lanka Ltd) has contributed much for the sport with a sponsorship package for the national body to spread the sport island-wide.

Malcolm Dias, Bryan Baptist, Dr.I.A.Ismail, Chrisantha Cooray and J.D. Bandaranayake the vice-patrons are always in the thick of things with men and material to further boost MHA hockey.

All office-bearers were elected to office without a contest, for the ensuing year.

Patron-Hemaka Amarasuriya (Singers) vice-patrons;Malcolm Dias (Smith Kline Beecham) (Mackwoods). B, Baptist (Bartleets); J.Chrisantha Cooray (Browns); J.D.Bandaranayake (Ceylon Tobacco); T.P.Gunawardena (Unilever Ceylon).

President :- Dennis De Rosayro (Janashakthi Group); Vice Presidents: V. Ganesh (Unilever Ceylon); M.L.Z. Wijayaratne (Suntel); K.Beekmeyer (Unilever Ceylon-Tea Dept.); T.M.Lameez (Ceylon Tobacco) and M.T. Swangsa (Bartleets).

Hony: Secy.K. Beekmeyer (Unilever Ceylon Tea Dept.); Hony Asst. Secy: N. Rupasinghe (Unilever Ceylon -Tea Dept); Hony. Treasurer M.L.Z.Wijayaratne (Suntel);

Hony. Asst Treasurer: G.Thivakaran (Hatton National Bank); Executive Committee: Airport and Aviation, Ceylon Tobacco, Commercial Bank, Hatton National Bank, Hong Kong Bank, John Keells Group, Janashakthi Group, Smith Kline Beecham, Mackwoods , Seylan Bank and Singers.

Selection Committee: T.M. Lameez (Chairman), M.T.Swangsa, B.L.V.S. Perera (John Keells Group), L.Ittapana (John Keells Group) (Co-opted).;

Hony Auditor: Sunil Karunanayake.

- BW


Office-bearers

Schools' Table Tennis

The Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Schools' Table Tennis Association was held on January 17, at S.Thomas' College, Gym. The following office bearers were elected for 1998.

President: Mrs.L.A.H.Ariyapper-uma - Principal, St. Josephs BMV. Nugegoda.

V.Presidents:

1. Mrs. K.Peiris - Principal, Girls High School, Mt. Lavinia.

2. Mr. D.Liyanage - Principal, Lumbini MV. Colombo 5.

Secretary : Daniel Edirisinghe - Head Master, S.Thomas' College. Mt. Lavinia.

Asst. Secy: Deepal Piyatissa, Mahanama College, Colombo 3.

Treasurer: W.M.Premaratne, Royal College, Colombo 7.

Asst. Treasurer: H.D.M.Wijeguneratne, Aluthgama MV. Aluthgama.

Auditor: Malkanthi Gunaseela - Royal College, Colombo 7.

Secy. Tournament, Selection & Promotion: Mr. M. Elle-pola, Trinity College, Kandy.

Asst. Secy.Tourn-ament, Selection & Promotion: Rajasinghe, Jinaraja Vidyalaya, Gamp-aha.

Schools' Hockey Federation

The following were elected office Bearers of The Sri Lanka Schools' Hoc-key Federation at the meeting held on March 12 at Nalanda College.

President: Mrs. H.K.Wijetunge, Principal, St. Anthonys' Girls College, Kandy.

Senior V. President: Mr. L.W.Piyadasa, Principal, Siri Sumana Vidyalaya, Badulla.

Secretary: Mr. Daniel Edirisinghe, Head Master, S. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia.

Asst. Secretary: Mr. Shiromantha Wijesing-he, Badulla Madhya Vidyalaya, Badulla.

Treasurer: Mr. P.V.Karunaratne, Deputy Principal, Issipathana Vidyalaya, Colombo 5.

Asst. Treasurer: Mr. Sumith Dissanayake, Sri Sumangala Vidyalaya, Kandy.Auditor: Mr. B. Mohotty, Issipathana Vidyalaya, Colombo 5.

Coach, Chairman & Umpires & Coaching Committee : Mrs. Nimal Etipola, Sujatha Vidyalaya Nugego-da.

Chairman, Selection Committee : Mr. L.W.Piyadasa, Principal Siri Sumana Vidyalaya, Badulla.

Chairman, Tournament Committee: Shiromantha Wije-singhe, Badulla MMV, Badulla.


'Officials promote themselves'

Sports administration, particularly in the Olympic disciplines, is an irritable annoyance in our country today. It had not been so a few decades ago.

In all fields of human activity changes take place in policy and personnel, and sports is no exception. Right perceptions, prudent planning, competent personnel all woven together makes changes for the better. Results alone ultimately matter, and none whomsoever other than those who have had the experience at the highest level of performance could bring about productive results.

Every perception, policy, programme and promotional aspect, right from the nurseries to the junior, youth and senior categories must necessarily have technical expertise to guide the athlete methodically and correctly. I certainly do not subscribe to the view that every ex-international falls into the role of sports administration, but some do of course, and they are the ideal to guide the destiny of a sport.

To say that men of technical competence should only be concerned with training, and keep their hands off from administration is frivolous to say the least.

The purpose stands defeated

In the mid seventies the Hon K. B. Ratnayake, as Minister for Sports brought in some prudent and pertinent legislation to offer our sports a shot in the arm. Amongst this was one extemely crucial regulation, which forbade those who have not actively taken part in the sport and that too at a major level of competition to hold office in that sport other than the post of the Treasurer in the sport's National body.

The Sports Ministry and its subsequent ministers of sports have cared less to enforce rules and on the contrary they have tacitly orchestrated to plant their lackies in the high seats in National Sports Associations. The present Sports Ministry has surpassed all this bunkum and buffoonery and is heading for a new Guinness record, in how not to promote sports. The Ministry of Sports today resembles a forum sans a semblance of jurisdiction nor a tinge of honest conduct.

It appears as a caucus whose primary role is to orchestrate directly or indirectly the election to office, those whom it feels suitable, not by the remotest merit quotient, but servility as an undiminishing characteristic. What a myopic stance in the name of our youth and sports!

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