Gamini Dissanayake - An administrator and gentleman par excellence

Recently I was privileged enough to be a part of a distinguished gathering which attended a gala charity event in aid of the Gamini Dissanayake Foundation. The informative and thought provoking documentary screened at the function brought back fond memories of this genial gentleman, whom I had the pleasure of associating with, during the early part of my cricketing career with the national team.

One of my initial memories of meeting Dissanayake as a national cricketer left me spellbound and in awe of his dashing personality. This happened in 1988 , when as a 20 year old, I was lucky enough to be on tour with the team for the one off test at Lords.

I remember vividly Dissanayake dressed nattily in a European suit, making an inspiring impromptu speech before the team took the field on day one. Although I did not play in this match, his words of encouragement left a lasting and indelible impression on me throughout my career. Fast forward to the present day set of so called administrators. It is indeed a far cry from those heady days when gentleman such as Gamini Dissanayake ruled with such panache and aplomb.

Will shine forever

Suffice it to say that the legacy of  Dissanayake will forever shine brightly in the annals of Sri Lanka's history, be it in the political sphere, which he strode like a colossus, without fear or favour or the sporting arena, where he played an integral part in Sri Lanka gaining test status in the early '80s and thereafter laid the groundwork which spurned a generation of wide eyed school boy cricketers who dared to dream big and went onto conquer the world, a mere 15 years later.

It was  Dissanayake's stirring presentation to the ICC ( then MCC ) in 1981 which hastened our progress to test status and changed the course of cricket in this country. That,  Dissanayake was a man of great vision and dynamism is epitomised amongst many deeds by his role in the implementation and inauguration of the landmark Mahaweli scheme.  As a cricketer , I and many others of my generation would like to remember him for the foresight and administrative skills he displayed in guiding Sri Lanka towards the world force it is today in international cricket.

Foreign coaches

It was he, who was instrumental in initially bringing in foreign coaches to our land by roping in the services of the legendary Sir Garfield Sobers and the Australian Peter Philphot.

It was Sir Gary who spotted Arjuna Ranatunga as a schoolboy prodigy in 1982 and with Dissanayake, fast tracked him to the first test team in the same year. During this period  Dissanayake, as a prominent goverment minister in the J.R Jayewardene administration displayed a sense of integrity and largeness of heart which is sadly lacking in the majority of today's lawmakers, by personally pushing for inclusion in the team of the talented 18 year old Arjuna, who was the son of a senior opposition member.

Led Sri Lanka to victory

It was this self same Arjuna , who led Sri Lanka to victory in the 1996 World Cup, when Dissanayake was sadly not with us, and showed his and the team's gratitude by visiting the Dissanayake residence with the trophy in tow  to pay homage .

Although,  Dissanayake was cruelly snatched away by the jaws of death before he realised his dream of Sri Lanka becoming World champions, it was his tireless pursuit of excellence and his vision as a forthright administrator which paved the way for our cricket to reach unprecedented heights in the international arena in such a short span of time .

Plummeted to unheard of depths

However as much as we have achieved in the field of play through the excellence of our players, there isn't a shadow of doubt that cricket administration in this country has plummeted to unheard of depths in the recent past with successive politically motivated interim committees headed by businessman with personal agendas, ensuring that Sri Lanka becomes the laughing stock of the cricket world.

These petty individuals and their cronies who have not even played a game of " book" cricket have dived into the pot of gold, head first and corrupted the administration to such levels that everything from a basic necessity such as a lunch packet worth Rs. 50 to a television deal worth millions of dollars is fraught with unholy commissions .

It is in this backdrop that,  Dissanayake's former protege,  Ar- juna Ranatunga has assumed the chairmanship of the Cricket Board and it is now his bounden duty to cleanse Sri Lanka cricket forthwith of these political stooges and corrupt individuals and once again set our cricket administration on the correct path. This would indeed be a fitting way to pay tribute to an administrator and gentleman par excellence - Gemini Dissanayake

Hashan Tillakaratne, Former Sri Lanka  Cricket Captain

The joke of the century

INCUMBENT rugby administrators haven't let slip an opportunity to remind us that this is the centenary year of SLRFU. The trouble, though, is that nothing quite befitting a centenary has happened so far. The opposite has. 

A brief tour here by the Asian Barbarians, for instance, was touted as the centrepiece of the centenary celebrations. The name Barbarians inferred that the visitors represented Asia's second-best XV, given that the British Lions second XV is popularly - and traditionally - named the Barbarians. But, alas, the Asian Barbarians were anything but Asia's second-best, and were duly routed by Sri Lanka in both games.

Ragtag collection

It turns out the touring party was a ragtag collection from the emerging countries - the likes of Laos, Iran and the Philippines - put together by the ARFU as a part of its development plan. This is not to deride SLRFU's support of ARFU's development cause. It was a noble undertaking really; officials ought to have taken pride in that venture and publicly projected for what it was - not drum it as, well, pretty much the match of the century.

If that gaffe wasn't bad enough to spoil SLRFU's 100th birthday party, the Sport Ministry's sacking of the national selectors along with their appointee for national captaincy, Wednesday, is not the sort of fate anyone would wish rugby in a 100 years.

In bald terms, what the Sport Ministry ruling says is that rugby administrators don't know their job, and if the ministry has to dictate on how the job should be done, then, it might as well appoint its own officials to run the affairs of the sport. So, an Interim Committee for rugby in SLRFU's centenary year is a prospect - not quite the best of tributes to pay to all those eminent gentlemen whose contributions over the past century have gone to enhance the sport's reputation.

There will, of course, be many who would describe the ministry ruling as unnecessary interference, which, on the surface, it is. The issue, after all, is about captaincy, ever a subjective thing anyway, whoever the choice. That the ministry had to step in to resolve what was basically a difference of opinion is a nasty indictment of the union's conduct. Said more directly, the factionalism within the SLRFU was what opened the door for ministry intervention.

Controversy

Factionalism, though, is no stranger to Sri Lanka rugby, but when one whose son is captaincy-candidate sits on the SLRFU President's chair, then, controversies of the sort we are witnessing now is always going to erupt, big time. But let us leave that part of the issue for the time being and consider the aftermath of the ministry ruling.

It has to be reminded that the controversy is over leadership of the country's Asian Nations campaign, scheduled for November 12-15 in Chinese-Taipei. With the tournament just about three weeks away, the preparation, to say it mildly, has been thrown into disarray. With the previous set of selectors removed, the validity of their selection of the 40-odd national pool now becomes questionable. In other words there is no compulsion on the part of the new selectors to retain the selections of their predecessors.

Then the ministry last week ordered some dozen players from Kandy SC to end their boycott and join the national pool, thereby opening another can of worms. It raises the question whether it is fair to include into the final squad of 23 any Kandy SC players over the 40-odd who have been grinding it out at the anvil of training since September. That apart, the fitness of the selected Kandy SC becomes questionable, since they would have trained just three weeks, far from ideal for what is singly the most crucial Asian tournament.

Any show of resentment by those 40-odd players, mostly representing Colombo clubs, can hardly be termed unjustified. Not surprisingly, the Colombo club players didn't partake of the first practice since the ministry ruling. Could their dissatisfaction translate into a full-blown boycott? It's possible it might well, given the long history of bitter rivalry between the champion side and their Colombo rivals.

Dushantha Lewke was appointed captain by the sacked selectors before national pool training began in September. So it is fair to say that he has figured in all of the planning that has gone on so far for the Asian Nations tournament. With the preparations dislocated by the ministry ruling, the reappointment of Lewke by the new selectors might help salvage a modicum of continuity. This is the year of the vaudeville, remember, so it could all end up where it began: Lewke named captain again.

Animosity and insult

That, though, is an eventuality as seen from behind rose-tinted glasses. The real picture is far different - there has been so much animosity and insult exchanged between proponents and opponents that the issue clearly is beyond reconciliation.

A new captain will have a lot to do in the three weeks ahead. It is not the best of legacies he inherits as the team he leads is a product of controversy and divisiveness. What sort of influence the entry of Kandy SC's players might have on the rest of the pool members is difficult to say, but the Colombo players' refusal to join the first training session with the Kandy SC players isn't a good sign. To have to bind together a united team from such a disparate situation while, at the same time, shouldering the load of a leader's lot three weeks before the first match is more than a one-man job.

 On reflection, one can't help but think it has been a charade the game could have done without. All that the captaincy-controversy has earned is the embarrassment of the sport ministry intervention, the ultimate shame that can come upon any sport body. Surely, many union officials would have been left with darkened faces.

Sadly and undeservingly, the one most embarrassed will be Dushantha Lewke. It is not his fault he was appointed captain. And through no fault of his, he has been sacked even before taking up the job, supposedly because he hasn't the makings of a good leader. That is an unfair assumption simply because the young man was not given the chance to prove himself. 

Moral of the story

Doubts about his leadership qualities, clearly, are not the reason why his appointment was challenged and then invalidated by the ministry. With Lewke snr. functioning as Mr. Big of the SLRFU, the son's appointment was always going to attract charges of bias - charges that might have been avoided were offspring Lewke head and shoulders above other candidates for captaincy. But this was never going to be a one-horse race; Lewke was one of about three-four on the starting line.

So, his appointment over the others, opponents claim, was influenced by his father - a claim that the sport ministry inquiry has, apparently, found to be true. The moral of the story: fathers should stay away from the sport their sons play. That this elementary lesson on . well, not so much of sport management as of ethics really, has to be taught after 100 years of rugby administration, is a sick joke.

Faise Samad elected President Kandy Garden Club

By Hafiz Marikar

Faise Samad former Kingswood College and Kandy sportsman was unanimously elected President of the Kandy Garden Club for the third year, at their annual general meeting held at the club house.

Faise an outstanding sportsman played cricket, hockey and football in the late 1960s and left school in 1969. Soon after leaving school he crossed over to Colombo for employment and played cricket for Moors Sports Club in the Daily News trophy.

He is a fine cueist, and has played for clubs like Moors SC, MICH, Kandy Garden Club, Kandy YMMA and has taken part in the Lanka Plate Tournament and at present he is one of the Vice Presidents of the Cue Governing Body.

At present as a cue sports promoter he keeps the game alive at Garden Club and organisers the Lanka Plate tournament. Faise Samad's two sons Thariq and Fhary are two top swimmers at CIS.

Samada's main aim is to give the club the much wanted face lift. The club is badly in need of a good clean up, thanks to the RDA the club's fence is looking nice. So, where others have failed in the last couple of years Faise is all out to give off his best with the rest of the committee members.

He has Daya Malwenna an able secretary, who has been in the job for a long spell.  Gamini Kroon is the Vice President with K.H.S. Razik as the Treasurer. The committee members too are there to give the much wanted support to uplift the club

Janashakthi Sailing Nationals at Bolgoda

The Sri Lankan Yachting Association's premier sailing event, the Janashakthi Nationals, has been scheduled to be sailed from the Ceylon Motor Yacht Club at Bolgoda next weekend. The annual event, widely regarded as the most important competition the sport offers in Sri Lanka, usually attracts in excess of 40 sailboats competing for the coveted title. This year, entries are expected from four classes of sailing dinghies: GP-14, Enterprise, Laser and Optimist, with sailors from age 10 up entering the racing. The finals of the regatta are scheduled to be sailed in the early afternoon of Sunday, November 2 .

Thurstan win 4-0

Thurstan College scored easy 4 - goals to nil win over Al-Hidaya College, Colombo, in their under 13 Colombo District School Football Tournament conducted by Sri Lanka School Football Association together with the Sri Lanka football Federation.

There were 32 teams  participating in this tournament which got under way at Race Course grounds, Reid Avenue. The 32 teams were divided into 8 groups. Two top teams from each group will qualified for the 2nd round. Thurstan are in group E along with Nalanda, Al-Hidaya, and Hamza Vidyalaya.

In the primary round 1st match against Al-Hidaya, Thurstan were leading 3-0 at halftime. Ranul Lakshan scored their 1st goal. Few minutes later Thurstan mid fielder, Vishva Deneth Sankalpa netted 2 goals to lead his side at halftime. In the 2nd half Vishva Deneth scored his 3rd goal of the match and also recorded 1st Hatrick goal of the tournament. Thurstan will meet Nalanda on Thursday at the same venue.

Rathnayake's reluctant retirement

"IT'S not that I want to retire," says Anuruddha Rathnayake, the Olympian who bid boxing goodbye, Friday, "but it's because I have to."

Lest you think the 10-time national fly weight champion has been dragged out of the ring, screaming and kicking, be assured his eviction, after 22 years, bears no signs of physical enforcement. Nor is his retirement prompted by conventional wisdom: after all, once you have fought in the Olympics and you are 33, what else is there to do but wander off into the wilderness to live with the memories.

Could the father of two, then, have chosen to retire out of domestic compulsions? "That would have been a happier reason to quit," says Rathnayake, "than to leave because I have to."

 He makes it pretty clear that were a 34-year age-limit not written into AIBA's book of laws, retirement would have been a distant prospect - it's all a bit like leaving the banquet hall, with hunger not quite satiated.

"It's not that I didn't think about one last international appearance (in the duel against Moscow last night) and adding the 2008 national fly weight title (in December) to my list before reaching the age limit, but that would have meant  standing in the way of a younger boxer," says Rathnayake, "and that would be unfair."

And so the curtain has rung down on the career of the first Sri Lankan boxer to win Olympic representation after 40 years. His yearning to stay in the ring awhile longer is understandable. "I've been boxing since I was 12 - and for 22 years boxing has been my life. Now with no training to attend (after almost every morning and evening spent in training) I feel a sense of emptiness," says the product of Peradeniya MMV. "Fortunately there are other ways of staying with boxing, like coaching and officiating, but they can't replace the thrill of getting into the ring and fighting."

It is that sort of love for boxing that rescued his career in 2005 when a two-year ban was slapped after he failed a drug test. He was 30 then and the logical thing to do was to walk away. Not he. He didn't idle away the period of banishment. Rather, he continued his training with the national squad as if he was preparing for the next meet. "He felt he had let down those who supported his career and was determined to comeback and clear his name," Jehan Jayasuriya, Slimline BC official, once told me.

His comeback was explosive. In his first post-ban international meet, a duel against Tanzania, he knocked out his opponent in the first round to bring Sri Lanka its only win in a card of five bouts. He then went to the 2007 World Championships in Chicago, won two fights (out-pointing an Australian, 23/1 and an Ecuadorian, 24/17) to qualify for the Beijing Olympics.

An Olympic medal was always going to be difficult, but expectations were high. "It wasn't me who was fighting that night. I just couldn't get into stride. I can't explain what came over me, perhaps I was overawed by the Olympics, I don't know" said Rathnayake. "If I was able to give off my best and lost I wouldn't have been this sorry. But I didn't - and that's going to be a lifelong regret."

Even so, not everything is lost. "The myth that Sri Lanka boxing isn't worthy of Olympic participation has been exploded. If at 33 Rathnayake can qualify for the Olympics, there is no reason to believe other Sri Lankan boxers can't do the same. It is a case of planned preparation - and that is what the ABA has already started with the 2012 London Games in view," said Dian Gomes, ABA President.

Rathnayake's part in the country's preparations for future Olympics is to front ABA's plan for the development of rural talent. "He has a wonderful story to tell the rural young - of how a poor, obscure provincial boxer fought his way through to the Olympics. His rags to riches story will, I am sure, have an inspiring influence on rural kids," says Gomes.

The promised Olympic medal Rathnayake couldn't deliver, he might well do through some young prot‚g‚ out there in the backwoods. "Gomes sir's retirement gift to me is a double-cab - meant obviously to travel to remote schools and search out future Olympic boxers," said Rathnayake. "That's going to be my next life in boxing."

T.M.K.S

Geoff Lawson dismissed

Geoff Lawson has been sacked as coach of Pakistan with immediate effect.

A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman said the Australian had been released from his contract and given three months' pay as compensation.

The move comes just three days after new PCB chief Ijaz Butt said financial reasons meant Lawson would be retained until his contract ended in April 2009.

Lawson, 50, signed a two-year deal last July to succeed Bob Woolmer, who died during the 2007 World Cup.

Under Lawson, whose appointment was contentious, Pakistan lost Test series to South Africa and India and failed to reach July's Asia Cup final.

Earlier this week PCB Chairman, Butt said that Lawson, who reportedly earned more than œ18,000 a month, would not have his contract renewed in April 2009 because Pakistan had "no utility" for him.

On Tuesday Butt had insisted: "He will stay until his contract finishes and he will still be with the team as a coach. We are not 'getting rid' of him but we are not happy with his overall performance.

"We had an assessment and everybody feels we need to get a new coach.

"We will invite people from various countries and see who is the most appropriate person. We are not in a hurry but we would definitely like a new coach after (Lawson's) current tenure ends."

Butt denied reports he described Lawson as useless but admitted: "I don't think he is much use to us."

Butt added that Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik's performance would be reviewed in December.

Some former Pakistan players had demanded the former Australia fast bowler's removal, notably ex-Test opener Mohsin Khan.

"Lawson has no calibre to coach at the top level," said Mohsin.

"He was a second string bowler in his playing days when fiery pacemen Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson ruled the world. Even Terry Alderman was ahead of him."

However, two key figures in Pakistani cricket, Imran Khan and Javed Miandad, said Lawson was not the only one responsible for the team's problems.

Sri Lanka U-20 to tour New Zealand

The following have been selected to represent Sri Lanka U-20 in a series of games to be played in New Zealand. The squad will be led by former Nalandian Ashan Priyanjan. Also included in the squad are Udara Peiris of Tamil Union and Hasitha Illangaratne of Trinity College.

Ashan Priyanjan ( Capt), Lahiru Thirimanne (V. Capt), Dilshan Munaweera, Rajitha Mendis, Nizam Mazahir, Roshane Silva, Udara Pieris, Marlon Fernando, Sachith Pathirana, Thisera Perera, Ishan Jayaratne, Lahiru Gamage, Hasitha Illangaratne, Prabath Priyantha

Stand by: Dimuth Karunaratne, Umesh Karunaratne, Milan Fernando, Denuwan Fernando

Officials:  Roger Wijesooriya - Manager/ Coach,  J.C. Gamage - Assistant Coach,  Priyantha Wickramasingheÿ - Physiotherapist

Ananda Champions Under 10 Badminton Tournament

Ananda College emerged champions in "A" Division All Island Inter- School Under - 10 Badminton Tournament 2008  defeating Richmond College, Galle , 3-1 in the final match held at Ruhunu University Matara.  Ananda's team effort and determination paved the way to win the championship under the Captaincy of Tihan Hewagama with the support of Dinidu Illukpitiya, Thamith Weerasuriya, Gavin Moragoda and the contribution of the rest of the team made it easier for the victory.

St. Anthony's College, Katugastota and Rahula College, Matara were beaten 2-0 in quarter finals and 2-0 in semi finals respectively.

This is first time that Ananda College won this Championship.

Sri Lankan runners to run in the Greatest Marathon series

A contingent of Sri Lanka's finest long distant runners, left the island on October 23   for the first leg of Standard Chartered's  the Greatest Race on Earth.  The unique marathon team relay series created and sponsored by Standard Chartered, encompasses four of the world's most gruelling marathons - Nairobi, Singapore, Mumbai and Hong Kong, and offers one of the single richest prize pools in world athletics with a US$ 1 million on offer to participants.

For the first time Standard Chartered Bank, Sri Lanka is also sending a visually impaired runner to take part in the series. Daya Manage Upul Shantha, a visually handicapped professional runner is also being sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank to take part in one of the marathons representing Sri Lanka and also to raise awareness on the 'Seeing is Believing' initiatives that will directly improve eye care services for the less privileged in Sri Lanka.  

In February this year Mallika Chandrakanthi brought Sri Lanka glory as she came in first in the Middle East and South Asia category and secured the women's regional title for Sri Lanka at the final marathon challenge of Greatest Race on Earth in Hong Kong. Jeevakumaran Sivaperumal came in second at his event and 26th at the overall marathon. The women's team become Regional Champions at the Race and both teams also received The "Special Achievement Award" for their enduring efforts.

Sri Lankan athletes were presented the largest prize money to have ever been awarded to long distance runners in Sri Lanka for their performance at their 4th Greatest Race on Earth Marathon, earlier this year.

 "For the fifth consecutive year Standard Chartered Bank is sponsoring both  male and female teams to take part in this most acclaimed and highest paying marathon series. What is unique this year is that Sri Lanka is also entering a visually impaired runner to take part in the marathon. The Bank has a history of promoting long distance running in Sri Lanka this being the seventh year that they have sponsored Sri Lankan athletes at foreign marathons," said Major General Palitha Fernando President of the Athletics Association of Sri Lanka.

As part of its fifth anniversary the world's leading marathon relay series The Greatest Race on Earth is set to partner for the first time with Seeing is Believing, the Bank's global initiative to fight curable blindness.

Seeing is Believing is a partnership between Standard Chartered and the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), and has raised US$ 17 million to date and aims to raise a further US$ 20 million by 2014.

The initiative will directly benefit from the race series with runners being encouraged to use their participation to raise sponsorship and awareness for Seeing is Believing projects across the globe. Seeing is Believing is also the sole beneficiary of the Greatest Race on Earth.

The announcement of the partnership between The Greatest Race on Earth and Seeing is Believing follows on from World Sight Day on  October 9,  and the recent launch of Standard Chartered Bank Sri Lanka's Seeing is Believing Bonus Points Programme. Standard Chartered Bank provides its Credit Cardholders the opportunity to share the gift of sight with individuals who could not otherwise afford eye care treatment by transferring their Bonus Points to the Seeing is Believing programme.

Super 16 soccer 7s 2008

The Past Prefects' Association of Zahira College, Colombo annonced that the Super 16 soccer 7s is being held  for the fourth successive year on Saturday,  November 1  from 8.30 a.m onwards at Zahira College Grounds, Maradana, Colombo. This is an inter schools invitational 7 a side football tournament which is approved by Sri Lanka Schools' Football Association (SLSFA) and the members of the advisory committee are officials from FFSL and representatives of FIFA.

The main objective of this tournament is: "To add more value to the youth football in Sri Lanka." Super 16 Soccer 7's will he conducted in 2 categories. Cup Championship & Plate Championship. In the 1" round, teams will be drawing qualifying to Cup or Plate categories. From the 2"d round tournament will be played on knock-out basis.

The winner will be rewarded with Rs.50,000 and the Runner-up with Rs.25,000

This tournament shall carry many cash rewards, awards and other benefits to the value of Rs.700,000. The organising committee is proud to inform that this is the only tournament in the country which gives such cash prizes at schools level in Sri Lanka for football. More details can be obtained by loging into the PPA website: www.ppazahira.com which hosted by evoloop.