Sports

Historic 100 metres feat and country’s relay chances

Published

6 years ago

2020/09/11

by Reemus Fernando

With Italy based sprinter Yupun Abeykoon claiming the national record in the 100 metres on Tuesday, Sri Lanka now has three current athletes who have run the glamour event of the track and field sport under 10.30 seconds, a strong position not many countries of this region can boast of. The recent performances of these three sprinters and the other emerging athletes are indicate a bright prospect in the 4×100 metres relay. Leading athletic analyst and Sri Lanka Athletics statistician Saman Kumara says that a strong team inclusive of these sprinters can strive for sub 39 seconds in the 4×100 metres relay. Sub 39 seconds will help the country strive for Olympic qualifying rankings for the postponed Tokyo event.

Incidentally, the former national record holders of the 100 metres Himasha Eshan and Vinoj Suranjaya were part of the team that established the current National men’s 4×100 metres record in 2018. Shehan Ambepitiya who was part of that team has retired. You need only simple mathematics to understand what four inform sprinters, inclusive of the incumbent record holder of the 100 metres and two former record holders, could do to the 39.08 seconds 4×100 metres national record established during the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018.

Sri Lanka won the 4×100 metres relay at the regional South Asian Games ousting India in December. But that doesn’t get Sri Lanka anywhere closer to an Olympics spot in the 4×100 metres. You need to be ranked within the first two dozen teams in the World Athletics rankings to be eligible for an Olympic spot in the 4×100 metres relay.

It will be too early to predict the country’s prospects, with the locally trained athletes still waiting to flex their muscles in the aftermath of the covid 19 pandemic but authorities can be optimistic about chances at Asian events. It is incumbent upon authorities to look after these promising athletes as the country’s current pool of men’s 100 metres sprinters are in a historic position.

The country’s 100 metres had experienced somewhat similar position in the early 50’s when the likes of Sumanthiran Nawaratnam (Summa Nawaratnam), Oscar Wijesinghe and B.C. Henricus, all who had held the record, used to form formidable relay teams in the illustrious company of Duncan White.

The men’s 100 metres record had remained stranded for more than one and half decades when Himasha Eshan broke it in Guwahati in 2016. After the exploits of Sriyantha Dissanayake, country’s only 100 metres medalist at an Asian Games (1990 Beijing) and Chinthaka Soyza in the 90s, no Sri Lankan had run an Olympics 100 metres. But since Himasha’s feat the record has changed hands three times a promising sign for better days ahead.

After the world moved to 100 metres from the 100 yards Sri Lanka had only 11 record holders from 1949 to 2020. The record had improved 17 times within that period.

The coveted record had been under the belt of some outstanding individuals who were household names. Osmand de Silva (10.2 secs, hand timing) who held the record for three years from 1931 later became country’s Inspector General of Police. Double international Summa Nawaratnam who improved the record more than once was once called the fastest in Asia. Olympian Sunil Gunawardena who held the record for two decades since 1970 later became national coach and was an influential head of the Athletics Association of Sri Lanka. K.L.F. Wijedasa who took the record in 1955 was the national coach in 70s and 80s. Upali S. Gunaratne who held the record when the event was conducted as 100 yards in 1938 later became a Vice President of the Athletics Association of Sri Lanka.

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India to host Zimbabwe for maiden women’s bilateral series

Published

9 hours ago

2026/05/7

Priyan

India Women have never played an international game against Zimbabwe [Cricinfo]

The India and Zimbabwe women’s teams are all set to play an international fixture against each other for the first time when Zimbabwe tour India for white-ball fixtures this October.

The tour comprises three T20Is and three ODIs and will be Zimbabwe’s first visit to India; India are yet to tour Zimbabwe for bilateral fixtures.

The three T20Is will be played in Raipur on October 16, 18 and 20, and the ODIs are on October 23, 25 and 28 in Baroda.

The fixtures were announced by the BCCI on Wednesday, along with two home series for the India A women’s side against Australia A in September and England A in December. Both those series comprise three T20s, three List A games and one multi-day fixture.

The India Under-19 women’s team will also host Sri Lanka U-19 in June and July for three T20s and three 50-over games, and England U-19 in November and December for five T20 fixtures.

The Australia A men’s side will tour India for two multi-day fixtures and three one-dayers in September and October, while the Australia U-19 side will visit India for two multi-day fixtures and three one-dayers also in September and October.

[Cricinfo]

Sports

Fast bowlers to get more opportunities as new format introduced for Under-15 Division I tourney

Published

10 hours ago

2026/05/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

St. Joseph's College won the last edition of the Under 15 Division I cricket tournament

The Inter-Schools Under-15 Division I cricket tournament will be conducted under a revamped format this year, with organisers shifting the focus back to limited-overs cricket while introducing new rules aimed at promoting fast bowling.

‎The tournament, organised by the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA), will see only the top-tier Division I competition played in a 50-over format. Meanwhile, Division II and Division III matches will continue under the one-day, four-innings structure.

‎SLSCA Secretary Saman Hettiarachchi said the changes were made following consultations with experts from Sri Lanka Cricket, with a clear objective of providing greater opportunities for pace bowlers.

‎”We opted for the limited-overs format for Division I in consultation with Sri Lanka Cricket. The lower divisions will copete in the innings format as we have observed matches ending early without utilizing the full quota of overs,” Hettiarachchi told ‘The Island’.

‎A key feature of the revised rules is the compulsory allocation of overs for fast bowlers. In a full 50-over innings, a minimum of 20 overs must be bowled by pacemen. Additionally, during the first 10 overs, at least eight overs must be delivered by fast bowlers. If an innings is reduced to 30 overs or fewer, at least six of the first eight overs must be bowled by pace.

‎”It was made mandatory to give more opportunities to pacemen,” Hettiarachchi explained.

‎Meanwhile, the official draw for the Division I tournament has been released, featuring 70 teams divided into 16 groups from Group A to Group P for the preliminary round. Each team is guaranteed multiple matches during the opening stage.

‎Defending champions St. Joseph’s College headline Group A, where they will meet Nalanda College, Dharmapala College, St. John’s College, Lumbini College and De La Salle College.

‎With traditional cricketing powerhouses spread across the groups, it will be interesting to see how the first round pans out in the new-look tournament.

‎Under 15 Division I Tournament First Round Groups

GROUP A

‎St. Joseph’s College, Colombo

‎Nalanda College, Colombo

‎Dharmapala College, Pannipitiya

‎St. John’s College, Nugegoda

‎Lumbini College, Colombo

‎De La Salle College, Colombo

‎GROUP B

‎D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo

‎S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia

‎Presidents’ College, Kotte

‎Wesley College, Colombo

‎Carey College, Colombo

‎Sri Dharmaloka College, Kelaniya

‎GROUP C

‎St. Anthony’s College, Wattala

‎St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa

‎Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Kottawa

‎St. Peter’s College, Colombo

‎C.W.W. Kannangara MV, Colombo

‎Ashoka College, Colombo

‎GROUP D

‎St. Benedict’s College, Colombo

‎Royal College, Colombo

‎Gurukula College, Kelaniya

‎Lyceum International School, Wattala

‎Bandaranayake MMV, Gampaha

‎St. John’s College, Panadura

‎GROUP E

‎De Mazenod College, Kandana

‎Isipathana College, Colombo

‎Christ King College, Ja-Ela

‎Thurstan College, Colombo

‎Ananda Shastralaya NS, Kotte

‎St. Joseph Vaz College, Vennappuwa

‎GROUP F

‎Mahanama College, Colombo

‎Piliyandala MMV, Piliyandala

‎Ananda College, Colombo

‎Sri Jayawardenapura NS, Kotte

‎Presidents College, Maharagama

‎St. Thomas’ College, Kotte

‎GROUP G

‎Wadduwa MMV, Wadduwa

‎Sri Sumangala College, Panadura

‎Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa

‎Moratu Vidyalaya, Moratuwa

‎Revatha College, Balapitiya

‎Royal College, Panadura

‎GROUP H

‎Dharmaraja College, Kandy

‎St. Mary’s College, Kegalle

‎Kegalu Vidyalaya, Kegalle

‎Kingswood College, Kandy

‎Vidyartha College, Kandy

‎Ibbagamuwa MMV, Ibbagamuwa

‎GROUP J

‎Maris Stella College, Negombo

‎Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala

‎Harischandra College, Negombo

‎Maliyadeva Adarsha MV, Kurunegala

‎Galahitiyawa MMV, Ganemulla

‎Sandalankawa MMV, Sandalankawa

‎GROUP K

‎St. Anthony’s College, Kandy

‎St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy

‎Trinity College, Kandy

‎Royal College, Polonnaruwa

‎St. Thomas’ College, Matale

‎Jaffna Hindu College, Jaffna

‎GROUP L

‎Sri Pangnananda MMV, Raddoluwa

‎St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala

‎St. Mary’s College, Chilaw

‎Sri Sumangala NS, Wariyapola

‎St. Peter’s College, Negombo

‎St. Xavier’s College, Marawila

‎GROUP M

‎Devapathiraja College, Rathgama

‎St. Aloysius College, Galle

‎Holy Cross College, Kalutara

‎Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda

‎Kalutara Vidyalaya, Kalutara

‎Vidyaloka College, Galle

‎GROUP N

‎Mahinda College, Galle

‎Tissa MV, Kalutara

‎Rahula College, Matara

‎Debarawewa NS, Debarawewa

‎St. Thomas’ College, Matara

‎Meepawala Amarasuriya MV

‎GROUP P

‎St. Servatius’ College, Matara

‎Richmond College, Galle

‎Sri Devananda College, Ambalangoda

‎Karandeniya MMV, Karandeniya

‎P. De S. Kularathna MV, Ambalangoda

‎President’s College, Embilipitiya.

by Reemus Fernando

Sports

Women’s Cricket receives a shot in the arm from the Mercantile Cricket Association

Published

10 hours ago

2026/05/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

Girls teams of the MCA's Cricket Academy line up at the commencement of the acadamy inter house tournament

With the success the seven MCA men’s cricket tournaments have achieved, the Executive Committee of Mercantile Cricket Association (MCA) have decided to give Women’s Cricket in Sri Lanka a boost by introducing a hard ball Women’s Cricket Tournament for the corporate sector.

With the international recognition women’s cricket has gained at present, it is no secret that there still are many talented lasses aspiring to reach the zenith of the game.

Even with the measures Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) the game’s governing body through the Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA) have taken to promote girls cricket in schools, a considerable number of talented players, specially in the provinces do not have an opportunity to be recognized.

It is the MCA’s belief that with the introduction of a MCA Women’s Cricket Tournament, the corporate sector will be encouraged to field teams, and in doing so will give a hand to talented lasses and school leavers by providing them with employment as well as the opportunity to realise their aspirations in the Women’s Cricket arena.

At present in addition to the seven major Men’s tournaments the MCA organise the

Mercantile Six-a-Side tournament, the Over-40 Sixes competition, the 20×20 league, and the esteemed MCA Inter Academy Invitational tournament,

As an initial step, the MCA will be conducting a Women’s six and side soft ball cricket tournament for the corporate sector teams on Saturday 23rd May 2026 at the Mercantile Cricket Association grounds.

For further information please contact Chamara on 0759592488 or Prasad 0759809777.