Sports

Vijaya’s legacy

Published

5 years ago

2022/02/7

by Rex Clementine

Late Vijaya Malalasekara’s heroics on the cricket field for Royal and Cambridge are well documented. What’s less known is his remarkable tenure running cricket in the country. Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga did not trust her Sports Ministers much. It was she who appointed the first Interim Committee and handpicked reputed banker Rienzie T. Wijetilleke to fix the cricket mess. Two years later when the sport suffered setbacks again, she chose Vijaya Malalasekara, one of her contemporaries (both were born in 1945). Vijaya with his cricketing pedigree and corporate background was of course the ideal choice to take the game forward.

Vijaya’s leadership style was unique. Soon after assuming office, he had to deal with a major crisis. WSG Nimbus who owned Sri Lankan television rights were delaying payments and after legal advice he took the bold decision to terminate the contract. This set the stage for a new company to enter the fray breaking the television monopoly. Dubai based Taj Sports that later became Ten Sports had a very good working relationship with SLC and later went onto acquire television rights of other cricket boards as well. Vijaya’s leadership style and legal background stood SLC in good stead in a moment of crisis.

Vijaya faced another major challenge as most leading employees of SLC were loyal to the members of the sacked Executive Committee and it was obvious that they were pulling in different directions. Vijaya didn’t take revenge from anyone or harboured grudges. In his own style, he appealed to the top executives to pull in the same direction. However, when he had to be firm, he didn’t waver. Eventually, everyone fell in line.

One of the main reasons for the Executive Committee to be dismissed was the construction of the Dambulla Cricket Stadium. Vijaya was a far-sighted man. Instead of going on a witch-hunt, he convinced his colleagues that now that the stadium is here, we should make use of it. During his tenure, matches were played at Dambualla and international audience were spellbound by the new cricket ground.

In July 2001, the Bandaranaike International Airport came under a terror attack. At the same time two cricket teams were in the island – India and New Zealand. While India gave a firm assurance to continue with the tour, the Kiwis were nervous and were in two minds. Had they cancelled the tour and gone back home, it would have been a killer blow for Sri Lanka as the tri-nation tournament would have been halted. Vijaya then appealed to the head of New Zealand contingent. Former captain Jeff Crowe was the Manager of the team. With Vijaya assuring security that is provided to a head of state to the visiting teams, the Kiwis stayed on and the series went uninterrupted.

During Vijaya’s tenure, a record number of teams toured Sri Lanka. He was quite keen on the development of a second string as well and provided lot of exposure for Sri Lanka ‘A’ team. So much so, Kenya’s national team comprising quality players like Maurice Odumbe and Steve Tikolo played a bilateral series in Sri Lanka.

Vijaya was also a simple man. At stumps on day three of the Galle Test between Sri Lanka and India, there was a reception for the teams at Light House Hotel. Sri Lanka were on the verge of a famous Test win. Vijaya spoke to each player encouraging them. He went up to Ruchira Perera, the young left-arm quick. He had said something to Ruchira on the lines of playing a supporting role to the team’s two premier bowlers – Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan. Ruchira quietly listened to everything and then inquired, ‘Thamuse Kauwda’ which means (who are you). Then Ruchira went to captain Sanath Jayasuriya, pointed at Vijaya and had inquired about the ‘stranger’ giving him tips. Only then he realized that he was in fact chatting to the Board Chairman. Vijaya had a laugh and shared the story with other board members.

Under Vijaya’s stewardship, Sri Lankan cricket reached new heights. The national cricket team won ten Test matches in a row in this period culminating in winning the Asian Test Championship beating Pakistan in their own den on a greenish Lahore track.

After leaving SLC, Vijaya did not think it was a come down for him to serve in the Royal College Cricket Advisory Committee, which he headed. Many are the players from outstations that he offered scholarships. The most prominent of them being Kusal Janith Perera.

Vijaya loved Sri Lankan cricket. He was there when Kumar Sangakkara delivered the Cowdrey Lecture at Lord’s in 2011. That night, he was in tears, like most Sri Lankans who were fortunate to be there. If there was anyone who could match Sanga’s eloquence, it was Vijaya Malalasekara. May he attain the supreme bliss of nirvana.

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Sports

Sri Lanka kickstart Asia Cup campaign with record win

Published

10 hours ago

2026/08/31

Thilina Walpola

Mithali Ayodhya returned figures of 3 for 14. (Getty)

Sri Lanka began their Women’s Asia Cup campaign in emphatic fashion, cruising to a nine-wicket win over the UAE after bowling them out for just 79. Mithali Ayodhya and Chethana Vimukthi led the way with three wickets apiece, while Sugandika Kumari took two, before Chamari Athapaththu’s unbeaten 48 off 25 balls and Imesha Dulani’s 25 off 18 powered the defending champions to the target in just 7.5 overs. The victory, completed with 73 balls to spare, was Sri Lanka’s biggest in T20Is in terms of balls remaining.

‎Sri Lanka made an ideal start after opting to bowl, with Mithali Ayodhya striking in the fourth ball of the innings to bowl Theertha Satish for a duck. Chethana Vimukthi then joined in, bowling a disciplined spell and removing Lavanya Keny in the fourth over to leave UAE at 8 for 2. Esha Oza and Heena Hotchandani tried to rebuild, but scoring remained difficult, with Sri Lanka’s bowlers giving little away. Oza’s first boundary, which was also the first of the innings, did not come until the 4.1 over, and UAE reached only 16 for 2 at the end of the Powerplay.

‎The pressure continued after the field spread, and Oza was eventually dismissed for 18 off 24 by Sugandika Kumari. By the halfway stage, they had crawled to 31 for 3, having played out 37 dot balls. Hotchandani fell for 10 off 18 to Chamari Athapaththu soon after, and although Rinitha Rajith provided some impetus with 15 off 16, wickets kept falling around her. Samaira Dharnidharka made 17 off 25 before Kavisha Dilhari had her caught and bowled in the 15th over, and Rajith followed in the 19th over. Ayodhya then returned to remove the final two batters, bowling UAE out for under 80.

‎In contrast to the first innings, Sri Lanka made a flying start to the chase, with Dulani and Athapaththu dealing in regular boundaries. Dulani was particularly fluent, striking five fours in her 18-ball 25, while Athapaththu became the first to reach 500 runs in Women’s Asia Cups, with a six off Esha Oza in the fourth over.

‎‎The pair raised a half-century stand inside the Powerplay before Dulani was run out for 25 when a drive from Athapaththu ricocheted off the bowler and hit the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Athapaththu, though, continued the assault with Sanjana Kavindi for company. Having struck two boundaries off Athige Silva, she hit a six off Oza before finishing off the chase with a couple as Sri Lanka began their Asia Cup campaign with a facile win.

‎‎Brief scores:

‎UAE 79 in 19.5 overs (Esha Oza 18; Mithali Ayodhya 3-14, Chethana Vimukthi 3-16, Sugandika Kumari 2-18)

‎Sri Lanka 80/1 in 7.5 overs

(Chamari Athapaththu 48, Imesha Dulani 25) (Cricbuzz)

Sports

Sri Lanka complete vital win over Kyrgyzstan in FIBA Asia pre-qualifiers

Published

10 hours ago

2026/08/31

Thilina Walpola

The Sri Lanka Men’s National Basketball Team delivered a composed performance to defeat Kyrgyzstan 72-65 yesterday at the Baluan Sholak Sport Palace in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in the FIBA Asia Cup Pre-Qualifiers Group B.

In a tightly contested first half, Sri Lanka trailed narrowly at the break 31-33. Team Sri Lanka regrouped in the second half, outscoring Kyrgyzstan 20-16 in the third quarter and 21-16 in the fourth quarter to secure a crucial two points in the group standings.

Simron Yogananthan led the way with a game high 27 points and was instrumental in the fourth quarter comeback.

Praneeth Udumalagala also supported well with 22 points and a last moment match winning three pointer.

With this win, Sri Lanka took a massive step towards qualification for the next round of the FIBA Asia Cup Pre-Qualifiers.

Sports

Kandy and Jaffna set up Premier League tennis final

Published

10 hours ago

2026/08/31

Thilina Walpola

Kandy Kings and Jaffna Flamingos emerged as the top teams of Groups A and B respectively to book their places in the final of the Sri Lanka Tennis Premier League, following the completion of the group stage at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association clay courts.

‎Kandy finished on top of Group A with 122 points, while Jaffna topped Group B with 120 points, setting up a highly anticipated clash for the title.

‎On the penultimate day of the competition, Kandy Kings recorded a 38-26 victory over Colombo Chargers to consolidate their position at the top of Group A. Although Colombo’s Annaya Norbert produced an emphatic 6-0 win over Savini Jayasuriya in the women’s singles, Kandy dominated the remaining ties.

‎Thehan Wijemanne beat Akaash de Silva 6-2 in the men’s singles, while Navya Banagala defeated Sethuli Muthugama 6-2 in the girls’ Under-15 event. Dehan Wickramasinghe continued Kandy’s dominance in the boys’ Under-15 category with a 6-0 victory over Yudhiraya Atapaththu.

‎Colombo gained another point through Aqeel Khan and Annaya Norbert, who defeated Mineth Navarathne and Tuvini de Alwis 6-4 in the mixed doubles. However, Kandy sealed their convincing overall victory when Thehan Wijemanne and Mineth Navarathne defeated Aqeel Khan and Lithum Jayabandu 6-2 in the men’s doubles.

‎Baticaloa ACES also ended their group campaign on a winning note, defeating Kurunagala Royal 35-25. Sandithi Usgodaarachchi gave Baticaloa an early advantage by beating Biyanka Acquistapace 6-2 in the women’s singles, while Barker Ullaha defeated Ganuka Fernando 6-1 in the men’s singles.

‎Kurunagala fought back through Jennifer Mercy, who beat Sayuri Muthuthantiri 6-2 in the girls’ Under-15 match, and Eshan Bandara, who overcame Udeera Gunasinghe 6-3 in the boys’ Under-15 contest.

‎However, Baticaloa prevailed in both the mixed and men’s doubles. Jaithra de Seram and Sandithi Usgodaarachchi defeated Saha Kapilasena and Biyanka Acquistapace 6-4, before Jaithra de Seram and Barker Ullaha beat Ganuka Fernando and Saha Kapilasena 6-3.

‎The Group B contest between Weligama Warriors and Nuwara Eliya Highlanders proved closely contested, with Weligama prevailing 34-30.

‎Yuhansa Peiris defeated Gehansa Methnadhi 6-2 in the women’s singles, while Aahil Kaleel edged Ifram Husein 7-5 in the men’s singles. Risindi Hewawasam added another win for Weligama by defeating Taaliya Silva 6-1 in the girls’ Under-15 event.

‎Nuwara Eliya responded strongly in the remaining categories, with Methvan Wijemanne and Gehansa Methnadhi defeating Harishwer Parameshwaran and Yuhansa Peiris 6-1 in the mixed doubles. Revan Amarasinghe beat Chirath Subasinghe 6-1 in the boys’ Under-15 match.

‎Aahil Kaleel and Harishwer Parameshwaran, however, ensured victory for Weligama by defeating Ifram Husein and Methvan Wijemanne 7-5 in the men’s doubles.

‎Jaffna Flamingos underlined their position at the top of Group B with an impressive 42-29 victory over Negombo Icons.

‎Janali Manamperi gave Jaffna a hard-fought start, defeating Akesha Silva 7-6 in the women’s singles, before Muzammial Murataza comfortably beat Ashlin de Silva 6-1 in the men’s singles.

‎Samaira Fernando defeated Eliza Kahagalla 6-4 in the girls’ Under-15 event, while Damsath Peiris beat Shennon Sandheera 6-3 in the boys’ Under-15 category.

‎Negombo claimed the mixed doubles through Dilvan Herath and Akesha Silva, who defeated Aravind Fernando and Janali Manamperi 6-4. However, Jaffna completed their dominant performance when Aravind Fernando and Muzammial Murataza defeated Dilvan Herath and Ashlin de Silva 6-3 in the men’s doubles.

‎At the end of the group stage, Kandy Kings finished comfortably on top of Group A with 122 points, followed by Baticaloa ACES on 105. Colombo Chargers finished third with 95 points, while Kurunagala Royal ended fourth with 78.

‎Jaffna Flamingos topped Group B with 120 points. Weligama Warriors finished second with 99 points, closely followed by Negombo Icons on 97, while Nuwara Eliya Highlanders finished with 93 points.

‎With the end of group stage, Group A winners Kandy Kings and Group B leaders Jaffna Flamingos were set battle for the Sri Lanka Tennis Premier League title yesterday evening.

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