Sports
Viren and Sangeeth fastest at 30th edition of Southern Eliyakanda Hill Climb
Viren Botheju driving a Mitsubishi Evo 9 clocked 33.700 seconds and Sangeeth Suriyage riding a Yamaha YZ 450F clocked 36.270 seconds to be the fastest driver and rider at the 30th edition of the Southern Eliyakanda Hill Climb on Sunday [22]. Viren’s timing of 33.700 seconds was the fastest timing of the day as well.
Expecting the weather gods to play spoil sport, the competitors were restricted to a single run and were unable to achieve their best. The record for the 540 meter Eliyakanda track is held by Ashan Silva who in 2021 established a time of 31.260 seconds while this year’s winner Sangeeth Suriyage holds the record for the fastest rider with a time of 33.439 seconds set in 2023.
Fourteen Motorcar events and 16 Motorcycle events were worked off at this year’s event with the participation of 55 drivers and 147 riders
The Southern Eliyakanda Hill Climb is the flagship event of the Southern Motor Sports Club and has been held continuously since the year the club was formed.
MOTOR CAR EVENTS
Event 1 SLN Ford Laser / Mazda 323 up to 1500 cc – BD, BE, BF Hatchbacks & Sedans
1 Rajith Uluwita Ford Laser 41.710
2 Minura Pinidiya Mazda BF 42.690
3 M. Dheshram Ford Laser 44.940
Event 2 SLN Ford Laser / Mazda 323 up to 1300 cc – BD, BE, BF Hatchbacks & Sedans
1 Thenuka Liyanarachchi Mazda Familia 41.870
2 Nishan Dunuwila Ford Laser 41.870
3 Chamath Palliyaguru Ford Laser 41.970
Event 3 Formula Cars Modified (Up to 1665 cc)
1 Viren Botejue Formula 1300cc 38.020
2 Nigel Perera Formula 1300 40.100
3 Rajith Uluwita Formula 1300cc 43.120
Event 4 Formula McLarens 1300cc EFI
1 Chandima Gooneratne Formula F1300 37.100
2 Pansilu Abeywickrama Formula 1300cc 38.260
3 S. T. Samarasinghe Formula Formula 38.850
Event 5 Formula Cars 1300cc Carburetor
1 Sameera de Silva Formula McLarens 42.200
2 M. G. Dilip Formula McLaren 50.410
Event 6 SLA up to 1050cc
1 Praveen Madugalle Austin Mini 39.830
2 Amir Faraji Nissan March 40.190
3 Chamika Ranatunga Nissan March 40.290
Event 7 SLX 650CC
1 Kalim Iqbal Syren RCX 38.490
2 Nadeera Jinasena Syren RCX 40.680
3 Emdad Hussain Syren RCX 43.420
Event 8 SLH Cars up to 1618cc (One make – Honda 3 door Hatch back Cars only)
1 Prageeth Pravinda Honda EG4 V Tec 37.910
2 Nigel Perera Honda EK2 38.500
3 Thushan Madusanka Honda EG 3 39.270
Event 9 SLH Subaru Legacy cars up to 2000cc
1 Shiran Dool Subaru BC5 38.130
2 Nigel Perera Subaru Legacy 39.680
3 Krishan Senaratna Subaru Legacy 44.950
Event 10 SLH Mini up to 1275 – One Make
1 Havindu Silva Austin Mini 42.430
2 Tharun Perera Austin Mini 42.700
3 Gaindu Aberathna Morris Minor 43.540
Event 11 SLH Nissan March 1300 CC – One Make (5 Door Cars Allowed)
1 S K Kisal Nissan March HK11 41.920
2 Suren Cooray Nissan March HK11 41.940
3 Dilupa Palliaguru Nissan March 42.420
Event 12 SLGT Up to 3500 cc
1 Viren Botejue Mitsubishi Evo 9 33.700
2 Darin Weerasinghe Toyota GR Yaris 36.120
3 Dasaraj Dahanayake Mitsubishi Evolution 36.410
Event 13 SLE Cars up to 1000CC – one make Nissan March (Entry Level)
1 Nesh Cooray Nissan March 41.430
2 Ranga Perera Nissan March 43.490
3 Krishan Jayasekara Nissan K11 43.720
Event 14 SLS Cars up to 1500CC
1 Dulanjana Perera Honda EG6 39.160
2 Chamika Ranatunga Nissan Micra 43.620
3 Roshitha Aluthwala Suzuki Swift 46.630
MOTORCYCLE EVENTS
Event 15 Classic Standard Motorcycle 250cc
1 Ragunathan Keshev Honda CRM 43.000
2 M. G. Sarath Kumarasinghe Honda CRM 44.040
3 Shavindu Shenal Honda CRM250 44.500
Event 16 O – Standard motorcycles over 100cc upto 160cc 4T Mono Cylinder
1 Dinusha Perera Honda CBR 150 42.900
2 Vinod Madumal Honda CBR 43.530
3 Hansika Madubashini Honda CBR 47.650
Event 17 M – Sports Touring Motorcycles 700cc 4T
1 Vinula Pathirage Triumph 39.370
2 Kevin Liyanage Triumph 765RS 41.260
3 Tharindu Dinendra Kawasaki ER400 42.260
Event 18 M – Sports Touring Motorcycle over 700cc upto 1400cc
1 Sasindu Prashansana Triumph 37.950
2 Supun Suraj Yamaha MT09 SP 41.510
3 P. D. Akila Udayangana KTM Superduke 43.450
Event 19 M – Standard Modified Motorcycles over 100cc upto 125cc (Air Cool) 4T
1 W.M.Gihan Sanjeewa Honda JX 125 44.770
2 J. M. Manjula Jayasundara Honda JX 45.510
3 Sanjeewa Udayakumara Honda JX 125 46.160
Event 20 M – Standard Modified Motorcycles over 100cc upto 125cc 2T
1 W.M.Gihan Sanjeewa Yamaha TZR 42.060
2 Shashika Chamodya Yamaha TZR 42.480
3 T. A. Rusith Shamika Yamaha TZR 43.800
Event 21 M – Standard Modified Motorcycles over 175CC upto 200cc 4T
1 M. G. Sarath Kumarasinghe TVS 41.950
2 Ragunathan Keshev TVS Apache RTR 42.210
3 D Sadeepa Munasinghe TVS 46.420
Event 22 M – Standard Modified Motorcycles over 175cc upto 250cc 4T Supersports
1 Nipun Dilanka Honda CBR 250 37.180
2 Nikila Pathirage Honda CBR 250 37.280
3 Janaka Dinesh Honda CBR 250 38.500
Event 23 M – Standard Modified Motorcycles over 400cc upto 600cc 4T Supersports
1 Vinula Pathirage Honda CBR 600 36.410
2 Nipun Dilanka Honda CBR 600 38.900
3 Lahiru Randeep Hansa Honda CBR600 39.440
Event 24 M – Standard Modified Motorcycles over 900cc upto 1000cc 4T Supersports
1 Sasindu Prashansana Suzuki GSXR1000 36.390
2 Vinula Pathirage Honda CBR 1000 37.700
3 Jeff Chi Yamaha YZF R1 38.590
Event 25 M – Standard Modified Street Trail 125cc 2T & 4T
1 Sanjeewa Kahagalla Kawasaki KDX 44.910
2 Sudesh Jayalath Husqvarna WRE 46.740
3 Hashan Bagya Yamaha DT 47.690
Event 26 M – Standard Modified Streel Trail Motorcycles over 175cc upto 250cc 2T and 4T
1 M. G. Sarath Kumarasinghe Yamaha WR 38.480
2 Maheel Pavithra Kawasaki Klx 41.930
3 Yesith Bimsara Mayadunna Yamaha Serow 250 48.950
Event 27 M – Standard Motorcycle One Make 160CC Yamaha FZ
1 G.Nadeesh Dhanushka Yamaha FZ S V2 42.310
2 W. H. Dilan Rathnayaka Yamaha FZ 44.550
3 W.M.Gihan Sanjeewa Yamaha FZ 150 47.950
Event 28 SM – Super Motard Motorcycles over 175cc upto 250cc 4T
1 Isuru Maduranga Yamaha YZF 37.490
2 Shashika Chamodya Honda CRF 38.660
3 Buddika Dinesh Yamaha YZF 39.250
Event 29 SM – Super Motard motorcycles over 250cc Open
1 Sangeeth Suriyage Yamaha YZ450F 36.270
2 Buddika Dinesh Honda CRF450R 38.780
3 H.G.W. Bhanuka Suranjan Lakmal Yamaha YZ 450F 41.430
Event 30 SM – Super Motard One Make 250cc 4T – KAWASAKI Tracker
1 Maheel Pavithra Kawasaki Tracker 37.860
2 Imesh Pathum Kawazaki Tracker 38.780
3 Ravindu Sankalpa Jayasundara Kawasaki KLX 39.330
[PDES]
Pakistan have complained to match referee Neeyarmur Rashid over the on-field umpire Kumar Dharmasena’s decision to allow Bangladesh to take an lbw review off the penultimate ball of the third ODI in Mirpur. ESPNcricinfo has learnt the Pakistan management registered their complaint on the grounds that they believe Bangladesh took the review after a replay of the delivery flashed up on the big screen.
The decision to take the review, and its ultimate consequences helped Bangladesh assume an unassailable position in the game. Before that delivery, Pakistan needed 12 to win off two balls. Rishad Hossain flighted one up onto leg stump that spun down the leg side, away from Shaheen Afridi. The umpire called it a wide as it went down leg. After brief discussions, Bangladesh decided to take a review for lbw, even though, to the naked eye, the ball was nowhere near Afridi’s legs or any part of his body.
*As per the playing conditions, the fielding team can seek a review for a dismissal only once they have appealed. Also, the appeal can be made any time before the next delivery is bowled. It could not be ascertained whether the on-field umpire, after signalling the wide, informed Bangladesh that in case they want to review, they would need to appeal for lbw or whether Bangladesh asked for the review themselves. Only once the review is signalled by the on-field umpire does the 15-second timer start.
Pakistan have argued normal protocols were not followed, with the big screen at the stadium showing the ball passing the bat, and potentially giving Bangladesh enough information to suggest it may have made contact. Pakistan are also understood to be aggrieved at the possibility Bangladesh were allowed to review outside the maximum 15 seconds within which such a decision must be made. No timer appeared on the broadcast, so whether Bangladesh reviewed in time could not be independently confirmed.
However, the reason for Afridi’s visible frustration became clear as soon as the DRS went to Hawk-Eye, with a spike at the moment the ball passed the bottom of his bat, suggesting it had kissed the toe end and could not, therefore, be a wide. Bangladesh lost the review, but the wide decision was reversed and the equation became 12 in one ball. Afridi was stumped off the final delivery and swung his bat over the stumps in frustration. It secured victory for Bangladesh by 11 runs, and a 2-1 series win.
It is not yet clear yet what action the PCB wants from the match referee, though it is believed they expect at minimum a public acknowledgment that an error was made.
The decision is the second in as many games Pakistan have felt they may have come out the wrong side of. Salman Agha was run out after being caught outside his crease trying to hand the ball to Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the second ODI. Agha’s frustration spilled over and he had heated words before throwing his bat and gloves down, earning him a demerit point.
[Cricinfo]
Today marks the 30th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s unforgettable World Cup triumph. Ask any Sri Lankan where they were on the 17th March 1996 and chances are they will recall it in vivid detail. It was a red-letter day for a small island nation that punched above its weight, became world champions and changed the course of its cricket forever.
It had been a crazy, turbulent month. The Central Bank bombing had shaken the country to its core, crippling the economy and casting a shadow over the tournament. Australia and the West Indies refused to travel to Colombo, forfeiting their games amid security fears. Yet capable hands steadied the ship. Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and cricket board president Ana Punchihewa ensured the show went on, steering the nation through stormy waters.
Adversity, as it often does, forged resolve. The troubled times brought the country together and the team responded by playing the brand of cricket that would become their trademark; fearless, inventive and unapologetically bold. Sri Lanka went through the tournament unbeaten, finding a man for every crisis and a solution for every problem.
The signs had been there from 1994 onwards. Sri Lanka were knocking on the door, threatening to do something special, and when the big stage arrived, they did not merely walk through it, they kicked the door down.
Three years earlier, Sir Garry Sobers had been asked who might break his world record of 365 in a Test innings. The great West Indian reckoned the race was between Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar and Aravinda de Silva. Aravinda never quite threatened that particular milestone, but what he did in Lahore remains etched in cricketing folklore. His majestic century in the final, steering a tense run chase with the composure of a grandmaster, remains one of the finest innings played under pressure. Kumar Sangakkara may have better numbers, but for many Sri Lankans Aravinda remains the darling of their cricketing hearts. Travel anywhere in the cricketing world, India, Pakistan, New Zealand or the West Indies and once people learn you are from Sri Lanka, the inevitable question follows: “What is Aravinda doing these days?”
Then there was Sanath Jayasuriya, the man who turned the Powerplay into a demolition derby. Bowlers barely had time to loosen their shoulders before the ball was disappearing over midwicket. His whirlwind starts tore attacks to shreds and rewrote the playbook of one-day cricket. Such was his impact that England captain Michael Atherton famously suggested the ICC should intervene and rethink the playing conditions. Jayasuriya had simply taken the first 15 overs away from them, lock, stock and barrel. Limited-overs cricket has never quite been the same since.
At the helm was Arjuna Ranatunga, a captain cut from rare cloth. Leadership, after all, is not just about calling the shots on the field but about standing by your men when the chips are down. Ranatunga literally opened the doors of his house to more than half a dozen members of that World Cup squad, treating them like family and backing them through thick and thin. Like Allan Border, Clive Lloyd and Imran Khan before him, Arjuna was a leader of men whose tactical acumen and fighting spirit sometimes overshadowed his considerable contributions with the bat.
Every great side also has its unsung heroes. Asanka Gurusinha was one of them. Naturally an aggressive striker of the ball, he curbed his instincts and played the anchor role, allowing the stroke-makers around him to cut loose. That willingness to put the team before personal glory summed up the camaraderie and collective spirit that defined the side.
The World Cup win did more than fill trophy cabinets , it changed the game at home. Cricket in Sri Lanka turned professional almost overnight. Players who once juggled day jobs with the demands of international sport found themselves with central contracts and proper match fees. Schools across the island embraced the game and its popularity soared, inspiring a new generation to pick up bat and ball.
Some argue that Sri Lanka later rested on their laurels. While other nations took a leaf out of our book and modernised their cricket structures, we were slow to move with the times. There may be some truth in that argument.
But what is also true is that players of the calibre of Arjuna, Sanath and Muttiah Muralitharan come along perhaps once in half a century. And as for Aravinda, well, there won’t be another like him, not in our lifetimes.
by Rex Clementine
Sri Lanka registered 3-0 win over Guam as Annaya Norbert, Akesha Silva and Buvindi Jithsara recorded victories in their matches of the 2026 Junior Billie Jean King Cup Asia Oceania Pre-Qualifying Event in Colombo on Monday.
While Annaya Norbert beat Rachel Anne 6-0, 6-1 in the first singles match, Akesha Silva beat Faith Perera 6-1, 6-2 in the second.
In the doubles encounter Annaya Norbet and Buvindi Jithsara beat Faith Perera and Leah san Agustin 6-0, 6-3.
Singapore, Pakistan, Macau, Maldives, Oman, Brunei, Mongolia, Guam, Pacific Oceania, Myanmar, Bhutan and Sri Lanka are the teams taking part in the tournament.
Pakistan lodge official complaint about Bangladesh’s review at end of chase
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