Benedictine cricket on the up

By First Slip

The 143 year old St. Benedict's College, which had formidable cricket teams in the past, especially during the 1950s to 1970s has had a lean period in cricket in the last two decades. Cricket followers still remember the champion cricket teams of that era and the outstanding schoolboy cricketers like L.P. Rayen, Neville Casiechetty, Lionel Fernando, Ranjith Fernando, Sunil Fernando, Felix Dias Nihal Soysa, Cyril Events, Kumar Ramanatha, Tony Appathurai, Lal Wickrematunga, Joe Saverimuthupule, Johny, Martin, Ranjan Goonetilleke, Gehan Perera and many others who proudly donned the green and white blazer with distinction.

One of the main reasons attributed to the decline of Benedictine cricket was the poor condition of their playground at Bloemendhal Road, which used to get waterlogged for the slightest shower.

With the reconstruction of the playground in 2006 to international standards with an efficient drainage system, the Bens now have excellent facilities for cricket with 5 main turf stirpes and a matting wicket at the centre, 4 turf side nets on astroturf side wicket and ancillary equipment such as bowling machine.

This has resulted in a resurgent Bens outfit playing spirited cricket and giving all the top cricket playing schools a run for their money in the recently concluded 2007/2008 season.

The Bens were ably led by Allrounder Chanaka Wijewardena, who despite scoring only two half centuries, made many useful contributions with the bat and grabbed quite a number of wickets apart from his astute leadership.

The batting revolved round the elegant and reliable Sangaran Nandalal, stylish Waruna Fernando, freshers Ashen Sirimanne, Nihal Fonseka Abilash Fernando and the skipper himself. Sangaran Nandalal scored 3 half centuries against Royal, Thurstan and St. Joseph's and was the leading run getter followed by the 16 year old left hander Waruna Fernando, who scored a brilliant 141 not out against Ananda College and 2 half centuries.

Also among the runs was fresher Ashen Sirimanne, who scored over 400 runs with three half centuries. The other half centurions were skipper Chanaka Wijewardena and Nishal Fonseka with 2 apiece and Abilash Fernando and Amila Perera. The bowling was spearheaded by the left arm spinner Dilanka Auwardt, who bagged 58 wickets and right arm off spinner Surein Silva with 40 wickets.

The two frontline bowlers also made valuable contribution with the bat in critical situations. Medium pacers. Amila Perera, Chamaka Wijewardena and Dinushan Wanigasuriya also impressed. One of the main reasons for the team's success was its excellent fielding throughout the season.

The Bens recorded two wins against De Mazenod and St. Xavier's a solitary defeat to St. Joseph's and creditable first inning leads in the drawn games against Royal, Thurstan, Isipatana, St. Anne's, St. Sebastian's and St. Anthony's Kandy.

The men behind the scenes responsible for the team's success were their coach N.I.C. Silva and the assistant coach cum master-in-charge Vivian Saverimuthupulle. N.I.C. Silva, an Old Thomian took over the coaching of the Bens in October 2007 and within a short period of time moulded the Bens to be the side that it is today.

Silva obtained his level 2 coaching certificate in Australia and was the coach of the Malaysia Junior National team in addition to coaching. S. Thomas' junior and senior teams. He was ably supported by Vivian Saverimuthepulle, himself a former Benedictine cricket captain and a national basketball player, who is presently in the staff of St. Benedict's College.

The team was fully supported at all times by the sports loving Director of the College Rev. Bro. Granville Perera and several Old Bens who are members of the Cricket Wing.

With all the frontline batsmen and leading wicket takers this year, being eligible to play next year, the Bens can look forward to a more productive season 2008/2009.

Khalid completes 39 years in Martial Arts

One of the pioneers of karate and martial arts in Sri Lanka grandmaster M. Hassen Khalid celebrates 39 years in martial arts. Khalid's martial arts life started way back in 1969 when he started practicing karate by learning and training through a book written by Bruce Tegner. 

But his interest and craving to learn, practice and master, martial arts soared sky high when he witnessed a karate demonstration by Brad Harris (Mr. Universe) when he was in Sri Lanka for the shooting of the film Three Yellow Cats.  From then onwards there was no looking back for Hassen Khalid it was karate and martial arts throughout his life to this day.

During the initial stages he had trained with some leading Sri Lankan martial arts instructors of that time and visiting foreign instructors. Grandmaster M. Hassen khalid has visited a large number of foreign countries to learn martial arts and build friendship and cooperation with the instructors in those countries. In 1972 he was the chief instructor of the Sri Lanka Martial Arts Academy.

Coaching a large number of students ladies, gents, school children Khalid was the chief karate instructor of the Sri Lanka Reserve Police coaching regular police officers as well in the mid'70s.

Grandmaster M. Hassen Khalid along with his students acted in martial arts action roles in the Sinhala film Anusha produced by Stanley de Silva and directed by Dayananda Rodrigo besides actors Tissa Wijesundera, Jennith Samaraweera, Dommie Jayawardane etc., which was a roaring success.

To popularise karate among Sri Lankans Khalid produced, directed and participated in three of the most outstanding martial art exhibition shows ever in Sri Lanka   The Iron Fisted Warriors and  An Evening In The World Of Martial Arts  - part 1 & 2.

Khalid was recognised for his contribution to the martial arts by Grandmaster. Wang Eu Cheul Tai ( Kwon Do) of South Korea, Grandmaster Tan Seng Lee (kong chang) of Singapore, Shihan Mohamed Yoosuf Al Najr (karate) of Aqaba, Jordan and Capt. Emad Karale of Aqaba, Jordan, grandmaster Mohamed Ashraff Tai of Karachi Pakistan, Grandmaster Inamulla Khan of Karachi, Pakistan, Grandmaster - Choo Chew Soot of Karate Budokan International Malaysia. And several other foreign martial arts instructors.

 In 198 Hassen Khalid was awarded the 4th dan (yondan black belt) by Grandmaster Chew Choo Soot of the Karate Budokan International, Malaysia.  From then onwards grandmaster  M. Hassen Khalid's dream, vision and goal was to create a martial arts solely Sri Lankan in origin and style with multi ethnic multi cultural values with twin Herculean ambition in mind. 

After much research, hard training and travelling to several foreign countries he created and introduced fei quan do (way of the flying first martial arts) to Sri Lanka in 1993.

Since 1972 thousands of ladies, gents, and school children from others from all walks of life have undergone karate-fei quan do martial arts training under Grandmaster M.Hassen Khalid's personal supervision.

Grandmaster M. Hassen Khalid is married to Suraiya Husseina and is the father of eight children. His elder son M. Nuzry khalid (3rd dai black belt) is the senior instructor, and hisn younger son M. Nuzky Khalid (3rd dai black belt) is the assistant senior instructor of the fei quan do international. Both are top class swimmers and conduct swimming classes too.

In addition to Fei Quan Do martial arts classes Khalid and his sons conduct classes, in yoga, taichi, heats, and swimming. Presently Fei Quan Do, Yogatai Chi, heats classes are conducted at the school gym; Royal College Sports Complex, 10/100, Independence Avenue, Colombo 7; The Theosophical Society Hall, 49, Fedrica Road, Wellawatte, Amal International School, 152, Dharmarama Road, Wellawatte and at several other training centres.

MBMT at Victoria