Sports
How Palitha Senarath Yapa saved me nearly Rs. 100,000
It’s a misconception that Indian bikes aren’t hardy. It’s also a misconception that Toyota cars are more enduring. I am no mechanical expert. But here’s my experience.
It was Kumar Sangakkara’s 100th Test match. He was supposed to attend a media briefing at SLC on the eve of the match. The game was at SSC.
I was running late for the press conference. This was in 2011 and Maitland Place wasn’t one way. So you could access the road coming via Horton Place and by turning left from St. Bridget’s Primary School. As there was no parking slots near SLC, I tried to park my bike on the opposite side just passing the Badminton courts.
Then a white colour Toyota (not a white van) knocked me from behind. There was hardly any damage for my bike. All that Indian is not bad, after all. However, the car was severely damaged. Obviously, there was an argument as to who was wrong. I did not have time for this and told the driver that I have an important press conference to attend and that I would be back soon.
If anyone knows about Sangakkara’s press conferences; they are pretty long. By the time the media briefing ended and when I progressed towards my bike, the cops had come. Then I realized that the vehicle belonged to Rupavahini. Without inquiring the matter properly, the Police said I was guilty. They were angry that I had fled the scene after an accident, which apparently was a serious offence.
I was taken to the Cinnamon Garden Police station. Although I have some good contacts at Police, they wouldn’t listen to my story or speak to any of my contacts. The Police wouldn’t tolerate anyone who flees an accident scene apparently. But then, Mahindananda’s son? Palitha Range Bandara’s son?
They pinned it on me in such a way that I had to agree to pay for the repairs or they were going to charge me for fleeing an accident scene. I had Hobson’s choice. I agreed.
I had to go to Rupavahini with a cop, give a letter to the Transport Manager agreeing to bear the cost and he had to then inform the Police that I am free to go. That was the deal. A raw deal.
I met the Transport Manager, they had by then taken an estimate for repairs and it was going to cost them some 95,000 Rupees. I agreed in writing, reluctantly. The Transport Manager then told the cop that I am free to go.
As I was walking out of Transport Manager’s office, Palitha Yapa Bandara saw me. He asked me in Sinhalese what the hell are you doing here.
I explained to him what had happened. He then again took me to the Transport Manager and told him that I was a dear friend of Rupavahini and to claim the money from insurance. He took it upon himself to convince the cop as well. I walked away freely. Without paying anything.
Palitha lost his battle with cancer on Sunday. I lost a dear mentor. Rest in Peace dear friend.
Rex
Bangladesh’s veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has finally been cleared of suspect action after suffering months of negativity regarding the same. The 37-year-old had failed the test twice but the latest results suggest that Shakib has finally managed to clear the air around his bowling action.
The development comes as a huge sigh of relief for Shakib who had been excluded for Bangladesh’s Champions Trophy squad as the selectors didn’t want to pick him as a specialist batter. Having been suspended to bowl meant that the all-rounder couldn’t take part of the ICC event which had been earmarked as a farewell tournament for him in international cricket.
The phrase third-time lucky proved right for Shakib who cleared his latest bowling action test in England. When contacted by Cricbuzz, he confirmed the news with an understandable air of happiness.
“The news is right (passing about the bowling test) and I am cleared to bowl again,” Shakib said.
Shakib’s bowling action first came under scrutiny during a County Championship match for Surrey against Somerset in September 2024. Subsequently, the England and
Wales Cricket Board [ECB] suspended him following an independent evaluation that declared his action illegal.
Shakib then underwent two separate reassessments, first in England and then in India, failing both attempts, following which he was suspended from bowling.
Sri Lanka at World Indoor Athletics Championships
In the absence of Aruna Dharshana, Kalinga Kumarage is shouldering an extra burden in living up to the reputation of Asian Champions in the 4×400 metres relay when the World Indoor Championship commences in Nanjing China on Friday.
The men’s 400 metres is Sri Lanka’s biggest strength in track and field events though two javelin throwers currently dominate world athletics top lists for the 2025 season. With the track and field season still in its start, the country’s top sprinters were yet to flex their muscles when the opportunity arose for the 400 metres sprinters to compete at the World Indoor Championships.
Kalinga Kumarage
Kumarage is the only experienced campaigner in the men’s 4×400 metres relay team scheduled to compete against world leading USA, Jamaica, Hungary, Nigeria and China in the men’s 4×400 metres final. Both Aruna Dharshana and Kalinga Kumarage had been involved in some of the fastest relay performances for Sri Lanka at international arena including the Asian Games, Asian Championship and Asian Relays. But Dharshana is not available for the event as he is currently competing in Australia. Kumarage is the only member from the gold winning team at last year’s Asian Relays competing in Nanjing. However, it will be a huge opportunity for Randima Madushan and the two juniors Sadew Rajakaruna and Omel Shashintha when they brush shoulders against top sprinters in a global final.
Apart from the relay, Kalinga will also compete in the men’s 400 metres where he will look to produce a top performance in a bid to improve his rankings.
Sri Lanka is fielding its biggest contingent to a world indoor championship this year. The team is inclusive of sprinter Chamod Yodasinghe who will compete in the 60 metres, hurdler Kaveesha Bandara (60 m hurdles) and the men’s and women’s 4×400 metres relay teams.
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Rajakaruna clarifies on behalf of Dharshana
Asanka Rajakaruna, the coach of leading 400 metres specialist Aruna Djarshana said that his charge was unaware of the 4×400 metres relay invitation extended by World Athletics to Sri Lanka for this week’s World Indoor Championships.
He said this with reference to our article on Tuesday which quoted a Sri Lanka Athletics official as having said that Dharshana had decided to stay in Australia to complete his commitments and was not available for the World Indoor Championships.
“We were not informed about the World Indoor Championships. We have always given priority to national duty. Dharshana would have taken the opportunity with open arms had he been informed of the opportunity to compete at the World Indoor Championship,” Asanka Rajakaruna told The Island.
Sri Lanka received the invitation to include relay teams for the World Indoor Championships well after Aruna Dharshana left for Australia.
by Reemus Fernando
Sri Lanka Athletics has invited India, the Philippines and the Maldives for next month’s Relay Championships conducted by Sri Lanka Schools Athletics Association in a bid to provide the men’s 4×400 metres relay quartet with a chance to reach qualifying standards for the World Relays.
Currently Sri Lanka men’s 4×400 metres relay team is within the required ranking position to compete at the prestigious World Relays taking place in Guangzhou, China. The 3:04.48 seconds finish to win the gold medal of the men’s 4×400 metres at the Asian Relays in May last year has placed Sri Lanka in the 31st position in the ‘Road to Guangzhou’ rankings.
But with many competitions coming up within the next couple of months Sri Lanka Athletics wants to leave no stone unturned in their quest to keep the ranking position within the qualifying range.
The teams in the first 32 positions according to the times produced within the qualifying period (January 1, 2024 to April 13, 2025) become eligible for the World Relays taking place on May 10 and 11 in Guangzhou.
Sri Lanka’s chances of improving the current standings (31st) at this week’s World Indoor Championship in China are minimal as Olympian Aruna Dharshana, who is the fastest of the current crop of athletes will not be available for the event.
Dharshana is currently training and competing in Australia. He is looking forward to reach qualifying standards or reach the required ranking position for World Championships in the 400 metres.
The World Athletics has set a tough standard of 44.85 seconds for the men’s 400 metres. While only 17 are selected through direct qualifying standards, 31 athletes are selected through rankings for the 400 metres. Dharshana is yet yo enter rankings to be eligible for the World Championships.
Sri Lanka Athletics will field Dharshana, Kalinga Kumarage, S.B.R. Madushan and Sadew Rajakaruna for the relay event in April.
by Reemus Fernando
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