Tuesday 18th March, 2008 Dancing to filthy tunes by Reemus Fernando While the old boys of Royal College and dignitaries, including foreign diplomats, S. Thomas’ College clapped together in to the tents which danced to the tune of Gone are the days when you danced union, (most probably), an old boy of filth. to the tune of ‘Papera Bands’ and one of these schools sang at least a half The ‘Battle of the Blues’ is enduring enjoyed an old Singhala classic or a a dozen songs of filth even a rowdy many things which the outsiders consid- ‘baila’ while the two teams engaged in brought up in the slums would hesitate er unhealthy, but are now becoming a the historic ‘Battle of the Blues’. If you to utter in the presence of mothers and tradition themselves. Bob Woolmer were an ardent fan of the ‘Battle of the children. It was shocking to note that not a sin- Blues’ or an old boy with nostalgic mem- A popular Sinhala song which is ded- gle member of the mega organizing com- ories, before a desktop following the icated to devas of ‘Saman’ was modified mittee which includes the Principal of Woolmer's online updates of the scoreboard of the or rather filtyfied by the singer and reg- Royal College and the Warden of S. 129th edition where only joy and pride of ularly ‘sung’. The song invited the listen- Thomas’ College not taking an interest hosting the historic big match prevailed, ers to come urgently to do to ‘Mrs to nip in the bud the unprecedented acts hotel room a you have dreamt of a by-gone era. Perera’ what couldn’t be written here of shame. Times have changed. The winds of and sadly a group of prefects who car- While the organizers had taken great tourist draw change are blowing fast, taking the ship ried a college flag along the boundary, interest to ensure that their children did KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) – The that found the new land of in Sri danced for a while in front of the tent not fall victim to terror attacks, it was posh Jamaican hotel room where Lanka to a tragic wreckage where cul- that hosted the band. They prefects seem shocking to note that they had allowed a Pakistan's cricket coach died under dis- ture, morality and respect for others will to have been taken up by the filthy ‘cre- group of maniacs to do as they wished. puted circumstances has gone from be the first to suffer. ativity’ of the singer! Ironically, the Education Ministry, which crime scene to tourist draw. Live bands have replaced ‘Papara’. Among other songs sung by the filthy advices schools to take stern action to The body of Bob Woolmer was That was before this encounter. This singer was again an old Sinhala lyric safeguard the security of students and found in Room 374 of the Jamaica Hashan Tillakaratne year going a step ‘further’ we had drunk- which was transfigured into a filthy and players doesn’t care a damn about shield- Pegasus hotel last March, launching an en goons being granted the opportunity racially abusive assault to Muslims and ing the children from the dangers com- international investigation after MCC Honorary and freedom to blast the eardrums of their wives. Ironically, there were several ing their way from their own old boys. Jamaican authorities said he had been thousands of students with filth in an Muslim players representing the two It seems as if the control of the big strangled. In an embarrassing reversal, unprecedented manner. The live bands schools at the match and no one seemed match had changed hands from those police later said experts had concluded Membership that begin playing right from the toss of bothered about it. The greatest irony who cherished the good old days of fos- he died of natural causes, most likely the coin until stumps on day three dedi- was that the listeners of those filth later tering brotherhood and valued tradi- heart disease. for Hashan cated a session each day to dish out filth. had the courage to bring in a number of tions to those who direct it to disaster. Foreigners are still intrigued by his death, said Lloyd Bremner, the hotel's Former Sri Lankan cricket general manager. Hashan Tillakaratne has been bestowed "It's pretty amazing," he said. "Some the rare honour of an Honorary Life people request to be in it; some want to Membership by the Marylebone Cricket be on the same floor." Club – Lords (MCC), from 2008 onwards. The $228-a-day room was renovated Tillakaratne, a stalwart of Sri after police classified it a crime scene Lanka’s 1996 World Cup winning side, and closed it for six weeks, Bremner played 83 Test matches and 200 ODI’s said. for the country. Speculation about foul play swirled After being dropped from both the after Woolmer was found unconscious Test and ODI sides in 1999, he bounced March 18, a day after his heavily back in spectacular style scoring his favored team lost to Ireland in the maiden double hundred in his come- . An inquest ended back series and went onto represent Sri in indecision late last year when a Lanka in the in panel said it had not heard sufficient South . evidence after receiving testimony After his retirement, Tillakaratne from more than 50 people over five was involved in tsunami relief pro- weeks. grammes that Sri Lanka’s cricket board launched. Mahela backs Bravo ready young team to play

Dwayne Bravo has been cleared to play for West Indies in the first Test against Sri Lanka, starting on Saturday Force India Formula One driver in Guyana, AFP reported on Monday. Giancarlo Fisichella of Italy crash- best way to Bravo was sidelined with a discom- es at turn one at the start of the fort in his back for the sixth round of Australian Grand Prix at the Albert matches in the West Indies first-class globalise cricket – Gilchrist championship, when his native Park circuit in Melbourne, Trinidad and Tobago faced the Australia, Sunday, March 16, 2008. by Russell Palipane Combined Campuses and Colleges. (AP) and Agencies "Unless we open the doors of cricket to the new audience, it will not grow. The Former Australian keeper bat inaugural T20 World Cup was a success is circumspect about the and it brought a new audience to the future of the Indian Premier League game," noted Gilchrist. is (IPL), but believes the Twenty20 format The wicket-keeper batsman, who just welcomed to the Caribbean is the only way through which cricket can retired from international cricket, believes Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene, take root in other countries, the Indo- the future of IPL can be known in a few believes the West Indies tour will be a great Asian News Service reported on years but noted that the concept was opportunity for the younger players in the squad Monday. "unique". to make a mark. Jayawardene is leading a rela- "Twenty20 is a vital product for the "It is a unique and interesting con- tively inexperienced team - only five from their growth of the game in countries less cept. A lot people will be slightly 15-member party have played Tests in the West familiar with cricket. China has a great uneasiny with it at the beginning. But Indies. market and they are trying to learn the let's give it some time and let's not be "We've got some youngsters coming game. The new version of the game pessimistic about it. We will have to see through the set-up now so it's going to be a very draws people. It will make them sit and where it goes in a few years and only good experience for those guys and West Indies watch the game," Gilchrist was quoted then will the picture be clear," Gilchrist is a very good side so we're definitely looking as having said. said. forward to the challenge," Jayawardene said He said cricket is still played in a Gilchrist said players will represent after arriving in Guyana. Among the batsmen, Jayawardene and handful of countries and it was important different clubs in the IPL, but their alle- have plenty of experience, that other nations start playing the game. giance to their countries will remain. with 164 Tests and more than 13,000 runs "I was brought up in News South between them, but the absence of Sanath Wales (NSW), but I played domestic Jayasuriya and means the cricket from Western Australia. I had to opening pair will be short on international move because there was no place in the games: Michael Vandort and Malinda NSW team and it gave me a chance to Warnapura, the specialist openers, have only get into the Australian team. You have to played 16 Tests between them. Jayawardene make these decisions sometimes, but admitted that the onus would be on him and the allegiance with the National team will Sangakkara to lead the way with the bat. remain,” he said. "With the changes we are getting and differ- He feels that the Twenty20 extrava- ent people coming through the set-up, the sen- ganza will provide more opportunities to ior players will have to take the burden and the youngsters, but pay cheques will only responsibility and that is with any team. Both come with performance. Kumar and myself are both happy to do that but "It (the IPL), will throw more opportu- we've got some exciting youngsters coming nities to the youngsters. I believe money through but as soon as they hit their strides they will come as long as a player is perform- will put their hand up and take a bit more ing. You are not going to rake them in responsibility and I'm looking forward to that but just like that,” Gilchrist added. till they are ready it is up to us [senior batsman] Adam Gilchrist to steady the ship."

Published by Upali Newspapers Ltd, 223, Bloemendhal Road, 13. and Printed at 195/187, High Level Road, Homagama on Tuesday 18th March, 2008