Sports
100 Years of Sri Lanka Athletics: A treasure trove of track and field statistics
by Reemus Fernando
The book published by Sri Lanka Athletics to recall memories of its rich history is a treasure trove of statistics which cannot be found anywhere else.‘100 Years of Sri Lanka Athletics’ compiled by G.G.U. Saman Kumara, the recorder of the track and field governing body was launched at a ceremony prior to the 100th National Athletics Championships in April.
The book chronicles the history of the sport in the island with a series of articles, written by former athletes and technical officials, rare pictures from 1920 to the 2020s and hordes of statistics which throw light on how the sport and the performances of its athletes improved during the past century.
Though the sport celebrates its centenary this year the first track and field championships had been held more than 150 years ago on June 9, 10 and 11 in 1868 at the Army Firing Range in Kandy. The book provides specific details of a number of events held at that first-ever meet.
A memoir by the country’s first Asian Games gold medallist Nagalingam Ethirveerasingam, an article on Arthur C. Dep by reputed sports writer Neil Wijeratne, a forward by Sir John Tarbat (a former President of the SLA) for the 25th-anniversary commemorative book of the 1955 Public School Athletics Championship reproduced in this book evokes nostalgia.
There is also an article on Ratnayake Central, Walala, the most successful sports school of the country written by the mentor and coach of the school Susantha Fernando. A technical official’s account on officiating and a chapter on the coaching fraternity which describes the yeoman service rendered by the likes of Anthony Abeysinghe, Lakshman de Alwis, Sunil Gunawardena and Sajith Jayalal are some of the other articles.
Most of the achievements of athletes at international competitions are celebrated in the book through series of pictorials. A picture of Carl Van Geyzal, the first Ceylonese to compete at the Olympic Games (1928) competing at the Cambridge University during 1920s to Olympic medallist Susanthika Jayasinghe’s moments of triumphs on the international stage, Asian Games medallist S.L.B. Rosa to Sugath Thilakaratne to Commonwealth Games medallist Sriyani Kulawansa’s action pictures chronicle the glittering moments of athletics. The pictorial also includes present record holders of every athletics discipline.
The 398-page book dedicates a better part of it to dwell on various records. The progressive records of each athletics discipline reported in the book are unique and according to Saman Kumara they can be found only in this book. The list of top 50 performers in each athletics discipline in history, another unique list is a true tribute to the champions who have toiled hard to keep the sport alive.
Gaby Lewis has been rested for Ireland’s upcoming T20I tri-series against Pakistan and West Indies at home in Clontarf as she recovers from a recent leg injury but has been named captain – for the first time at a global event – for the T20 World Cup in June-July in England.
Orla Prendergast, the vice-captain for the World Cup, will lead the side in the tri-series in Lewis’ absence. No vice-captain has been named for the tri-series.
In terms of ins and outs, Jane Maguire, the right-arm medium pacer, has been ruled out of contention with an injury, but her sister Aimee Maguire, the left-arm orthodox spinner, has returned from her own injury and has been included in both squads. Apart from the missing Lewis, there are no changes from the squad for the tri-series, which is a 14-member line-up, for the World Cup.
At the T20 World Cup, Ireland have been grouped with tournament hosts England, defending champions New Zealand, Scotland, Sri Lanka and past winners West Indies.
Ireland are ranked ninth in the format, ahead of only Scotland (11th) among the teams in their group, and will start their World Cup campaign on the second day of competition, against Scotland in Manchester.
Ireland were most recently in action at the T20 World Cup qualifiers played in Nepal in January-February this year, and finished second to Bangladesh.
Lewis’ fitness will be key for Ireland at the World Cup, with her being their top-ranked batter, currently at joint-14th on the ICC T20I rankings. She was also the top run getter at the qualifiers with 276 runs in seven innings, scoring her runs at a strike rate of 119.48.
Prendergast is the next best at No. 26, followed by Amy Hunter at No. 29. Prendergast is also the seventh-ranked allrounder in women’s T20Is.
Ireland squad for women’s T20 World Cup
Gaby Lewis (capt), Orla Prendergast (vice-capt), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Aimee Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Rebecca Stokell
Ireland squad for tri-series against Pakistan and West Indies
Orla Prendergast (capt), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Aimee Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Rebecca Stokell
[Cricinfo]
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has issued a statement approving the members nominated for the new Selection Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
The appointments have been made by the Sports Minister in accordance with the powers vested under Section 39 (1) of the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973 and the Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2437/24 dated May 21, 2025.
The members of the new selection committee are:
Kapila Wijegunawardena – Chairman
Amal Silva – Member
Brendon Kuruppu – Member
Waruna Waragoda – Member
Vanessa De Silva – Member
PM meets academic experts from the British Council
Gaby Lewis to lead Ireland at T20 World Cup
PM meets Sri Lankan community living in London
Kapila Wijegunawardena to head SLC’s new selection committee
Afghanistan refugee women’s team set for England tour under ECB initiative
DR Congo cancels World Cup training camp over Ebola outbreak
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
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