National Kite Festival 2016 in Negombo today

Kite Sri Lanka, the National Kite Organization will present ‘Nil Ahase Wasanthaya’ National Kite Festival and Competition today at the Negombo Beach Park. The festival is being conducted for the ninth time.

The kite competition will be opened for both children and open categories. Children less than 14 years can participate for two events naming "The Most Creative Kite" and "Nature Kite" (Kites made under the theme "nature").

The open category consists of three events naming "The Most Creative Kite", "Nature Kite": (the Kites made under the theme nature) and "The Best Fighting Kite". Fighting kites should be made into ‘Combuwa’ or ‘Waula’ style and the size should not exceed 1 1/2 feet.

Apart from the kite festival, there will be a Sand Castle Competition under the theme "World Peace". A mixed team of males and females of five or less members will be eligible for the competition. Registration desk for all the events will be opened from 8:30 – 11:30 am at the venue today.

All the preparations are being done to distribute certificates, trophies, gifts as well as gift vouchers among the winners of the competitions.

Parallel to the Kite Festival, there will be a Kite Parade, under the theme of "A Drug Free Country". Commencing at 8:00 am from the Negombo town, the parade expects to march towards the festival ground at Negombo Beach Park. International Rotary Clubs, Rotaract Clubs and Interact Clubs helps this worthy course under the patronage of Presidential Task Force on Drug Prevention which has joined hands with Kite Sri Lanka this year as well.

The day will become more interactive with kite camps, magic displays, face paintings, fun games, DJ and Papare, films and music. The participants can enjoy the day and to receive gifts from the sponsors and Kite Sri Lanka Organization. The festival also will be featured with the participation of number of celebrities from sports, music and film industries where you will get the opportunity for chatting and photography with them. It will be a space for the whole family to gather and to enjoy together.

X2 Ginseng Drink, Posh Drink , Trisoy Soya Drink whilst Lumala, Nippolac Paints, Shopping Wasi, Lacto Sun Cream co-sponsor for the festival this time. Jobspot.lk, Healthtips.lk, MusicTV, Music.lk, Casterly Crown, Sakwa Creations, Neth Creations, Kalabara News, Negombo News are among the service providers who have joined with the National Kite Festival.

I had sleepless nights as captain – Dilshan

Former captain Tillakaratne Dilshan told that the ten month stint he had as Sri Lanka’s captain was the toughest of his career. He revealed this in an interview with The Island on the eve of his last ODI at Dambulla. Dilshan will retire from international cricket on September the 9th when Sri Lanka take on Australia in the second T-20 International at the RPS.

Captaincy was thrust upon Dilshan after Kumar Sangakkara’s decision to quit following the 2011 World Cup. Dilshan had some of the toughest assignments as captain as Sri Lanka played England, Pakistan and South Africa away from home apart from hosting Australia.

Sri Lanka had just entered the post Muralithara era and Dilshan had very little bowling resources as Nuwan Kulasekara and Ajantha Mendis were injured. Injury also prevented Angelo Mathews from bowling as Dilshan was denied the luxury of an all-rounder.

His first assignment was Sri Lanka’s tour of England. When Chairman of Selectors Duleep Mendis ordered Lasith Malinga to return home early from IPL for a fitness camp, the premier fast bowler out of the blues announced his retirement from Test cricket. It looked an act of sabotage.

From the outset it was very clear that powerful player agent Charlie Austin wasn’t going to make life easy for Dilshan. The divisions within the team were visible when Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene issued statements supporting Malinga’s retirement from Test cricket.

Dilshan told us the tough times as Sri Lanka captain. "There were days I couldn’t sleep. I tried to move forward, but simply couldn’t make any progress," Dilshand told The Island.

"There were lot of problems. I didn’t want this captaincy. I was asked to do this."

"The captaincy helped me to understand the true nature of some people. I learned a lot.," Dilshan said.

"One of the issues I had was there were objections for bringing in some young players. I didn’t give in and resisted those pressures. I see some of those guys who came through doing wonders at the moment. That’s my greatest satisfaction leading the country.

In Dilshan’s last tour as captain, the team actually fared better. He had become the first Sri Lankan captain to win a Test match in South Africa. At the conclusion of the tour, he had vowed to build up the team, but 24 hours later stepped down. "I think something was going on behind the scenes. Some people know what was going on. I am not petty minded to bother about these things. I was given a job and I tried to do it to the best of my ability."

"Let’s bury the past and support the team. I don’t want to make further divisions by talking about it. No need to wash dirty linen in public," Dilshan added.

Soon after Dilshan quit, Sri Lanka toured Australia and reached the finals of the tri-nation series against the hosts at the expense of India. Sri Lanka also pushed Australia to the third final before losing the final game narrowly. Many were singing hosannas of new captain Mahela Jayawardene for helping the team get back to winning ways, but few realized that a man called Tillekeratne Dilshan had accumulated over 500 runs in the series. He was named Player of the Series.

Dilshan will turn 40 this year. Despite age, he remains Sri Lanka’s best fielder competing with some of the players half his age. He was also prolific with the bat last year and was the third highest scorer in ODI cricket in the world. In 29 ODIs last year, Dilshan scored two centuries and six fifties and averaged over 50 with a strike rate of above 90.

"You see, there are lot of younger guys coming through. After this series, there’s a long break. If I leave now, it will help the selectors to groom another player and prepare him for the series in South Africa. That’s the way forward. Generally, you sense when the right time has come. It happened to me when I wanted to quit Test cricket too."

During his career that spanned for 17 years, Dilshan has established some memorable records. He owns the record for most runs in an innings by a Sri Lankan at Lord’s.

"Obviously, winning my Test cap was a huge moment. I also love my 193 at Lord’s. All cricketers want to make a hundred at Lord’s. For me to go onto make 193 was very special.

Does he regret not making the double century. "Yes, I felt gutted. But that’s how it happens in cricket. There are no fairytales. What happened was I had got hit on the hand by Steven Finn and there was a fracture. I took pain killers and batted through. By the evening I was starting to get the pain again. I was bowled off an inside edge."

Dilshan had a simple message for younger players. "Value the opportunity you get. Lot of people want to represent their country, but only few are chosen. We are lucky to be in that lost. You may have differences with people, but once you cross the boundary rope, you want your team to win."`

Hotelier shot dead in Pilimathalawa

A 30-year-old hotelier was shot dead by two men arrived on a motorbike at a hotel in Pilimathalawa last night, Police said. 

They said the victim was pronounced dead on admission to the Peradeniya Hospital. The victim was identified as Sanjaya Bandara Herath, a resident of Nanuoya Pilimathalawa. The motive of the killing was yet to be ascertained and no suspects have been identified. Peradeniya Police are investigating.

Eight die in road accidents daily

Chairman of the National Council for Road Safety Dr. Sisira Kodagoda said that deaths caused by road accidents amount to a daily average of 8 in Sri Lanka.

He said there were 1,568 fatal motor accidents between 1 January 2016 to 31st July 2016 in which 1,632 persons died. There were 686 deaths caused in 666 motorcycle accidents with most victims being young employed males.

Though most of these deaths were due to riders and pillion riders either wearing safety helmets or using sub-standard helmets , Dr. Kodagoda said it was a pity that there was no SLS standards stipulation for helmets imposed by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI ) which has granted a period of one year for vehicle owners and institutions to obtain the SLS certification. No one has however shown any interest in observing these directives, he added.

Brothel raided in Wellawatte

Three women were arrested on charges of having run a brothel under the guise of an Ayurvedic massage parlour at Havelock Road in Wellawatte last night, Police said. 

They said another man was also arrested for managing the brothel. The women, aged 28, 31 and 41 were residents of Moratuwa, Anuradhapura and Piliyandala. They are to be produced in the Hulftsdorp Magistrate’s Court today.

Another teenager makes his way into ODI squad

Sri Lanka cricket selectors continued to keep faith on performing youngsters when they included 19-year-old right-arm fast-medium bowler Lahiru Kumara in the 16-member squad named for the third One-Day International against Australia at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium on Sunday.

Educated at Trinity College, Kandy, Kumara was one of the top performers in the Sri Lanka Under 19 team’s recent tour of England where he bowled them to a series victory in the second U19 Youth test at Northampton with a haul of 11 wickets for 134 runs.

Kumara who took seven wickets for 82 runs in the first innings inflicted on England a rare home defeat when they lost by seven wickets and with it the two-match series. Kumara was made man of the match.

Kumara is the second teenager the national selection committee has given recognition to during the on-going series with Australia.

Another top performer on the Sri Lanka Under 19 tour to England opening bat Avishka Fernando who scored back to back centuries in the Under 19 Youth ODI series is already a part of the 16-member squad having been brought in at the start of the five-match series.

“We brought in Kumara because we want an extra fast bowler in the squad for Dambulla and Pallekele where conditions are likely to favour fast bowlers,” said chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya.

Making way for Kumara is left-arm spin all-rounder Milinda Siriwardana. The rest of the squad remains unchanged.

The selectors also included another in-form bowler to the squad at the start of the series 23-year-old left-arm spinner Amila Aponso who has created many problems to the Aussie batsmen with his spin variations in the ODI series.

Aponso was picked on the back of his 13-wicket match haul for Sri Lanka Development Emerging team against South Africa Emerging Players in the four-day game at Potchefstroom on their recent tour to South Africa.

Sri Lanka are currently undergoing a rare period where they have to cope with a series of injuries to their fast bowlers – Dhammika Prasad, Chameera Dushmantha and Nuwan Pradeep. A fourth bowler Shaminda Eranga has been suspended by the ICC who has deemed his bowling action illegal.

The third ODI at Dambulla will be veteran opener Tillakaratne Dilshan’s final ODI appearance before he retires from that format. He will retire from all levels of cricket when he plays in the second T20 International against Australia at the R Premadasa Stadium on September 9.

The selectors have not named a squad for the fourth and fifth ODIs having Dilshan’s retirement in mind.

With Kusal Perera likely to occupy the number seven slot where he made a superb half-century in Sri Lanka’s 82-run win over Australia in the second ODI at the R Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday, the vacancy for an opener exists.

“Danushka Gunathilaka will fill one of the opener’s berths, there is also Niroshan Dickwella who has been performing well in that position with the Sri Lanka ‘A’ squad,” said Jayasuriya..

In the two ODIs so far Sri Lanka has not got the starts they expect from the openers. Dilshan and Kusal Perera made three and, Dilshan and Danuska Gunathilaka 12.

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews speaking in the defence of his openers said, “Our opening partnerships have not been great right from the Test series and the ODIs we need to try and put a big effort. (Mitchell) Starc is bowling pretty well and he has been getting wickets upfront with the new ball. It’s not easy for the openers to face him in this kind of form.”

The pitches the Aussies have encountered in the first two ODIs have been spin-oriented, but they can expect some kind of assistance for their fast bowlers at Dambulla where the strong winds could help them to swing the ball.

SRI LANKA SQUAD FOR 3RD ODI: Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dinesh Chandimal (vice-captain), Angelo Mathews (captain), Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Perera, Avishka Fernando, Danushka Gunathilaka, Suranga Lakmal, Thisara Perera, Dilruwan Perera, Seekkuge Prasanna, Lakshan Sandakan, Amila Aponso, Lahiru Kumara.

Former Rivira editor Upali identifies officer who assaulted him

Former Rivira editor Upali Tennakoon and his wife Dhammika, at an identification parade held at the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court, yesterday identified Warrant Officer 1 Premananda Udalagama of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) as the person who had assaulted them on the morning of January 23, 2009 at Imbulgoda, Gampaha,

Tennakoon was on his way to office when four men on motorcycles blocked their path and attacked them.

The suspect had been in remand custody following his arrest on August 15, this year in connection with the killing of The Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickrematunga on the morning of January 8, 2009. Gampaha Additional Magistrate Lalith Kannagara remanded the suspect till August 29 in connection with the assault case.

Tennakoon, formerly the editor of Divaina and Mrs Tennakoon, who fled the country after the attempt on their lives, returned to the country in view of the case.

Army headquarters recently conducted two separate investigations into the alleged disappearance of various documents sought by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) probing the disappearance of media personality Prageeth Ekneligoda on the eve of January 26, 2010 presidential polls and the killing of Wickrematunga.

Earlier Udalagama was identified at an identification parade as the kidnapper of Wickrematunga’s driver, Dias. The abduction had taken place a few months after Wickrematunga’s assassination.

Perera fined for breaching ICC Code of Conduct

Sri Lanka all rounder Thisara Perera was fined while Australian Mitchell Starc reprimand by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for their behaviour in two separate incidents during the second one-day international in Colombo. He has been fined 15 percent of his match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct.

Perera was fined for his reaction after dismissing David Warner in the second over of the Australian innings. He used language and displayed actions which could have provoked a reaction from David Warner the ICC said in a statement on Thursday.

Fast bowler Starc was charged for throwing the ball in the direction of batsman Dinesh Chandimal, who was inside the crease at the striker’s end and not attempting a run.
Both players accepted the sanctions and there was no need for a formal hearing.