Tuesday 30th May, 2006 11 Vandort leads long-awaited Burgher rebellion

by David Hopps at Edgbaston where," said his , Mahela the new ball was taken. At 97 he hooked he Burghers who chose to stay in Jayawardene. It is a thoroughly sensible uncomfortably at Matthew Hoggard. A Ceylon, as Sri Lanka was then Sri Lankan captain who plays drinks interval delayed him on 98. Tknown, after the British took con- down all questions on race, however inno- Vandort's breakthrough in England trol from the Dutch in the late 18th centu- cent. Russel Arnold, for a long part of his looked unlikely when he made a pair ry could do so only after they had signed career, did not welcome questions about against England A before the Lord's Test, a Treaty of Capitulation. It can be blithe- his Tamil background, fearing that as a Jon Lewis twice dismissing him on a ly assumed that there would have been a fringe player it would not work in his cranky Worcester seamer. There were lot of clauses about bowing and scraping. favour. mutterings that in seaming conditions he When it comes to rebellions against was a walking , that if you the British Empire, the Vandort family removed his straight drive, he barely had have been slower than most - Sri Lanka When it comes to rebellions a shot of consequence left. But Jayawardene said: "We always had the itself won its independence more than 50 against the British Empire, the years ago - but in Birmingham, more faith. The Worcester wicket wasn't the than 200 years later, family honour has Vandort family have been best wicket to bat on. We knew Michael been restored on a cricket field of slower than most - Sri Lanka was going through a phase. He had a very good start to his Test career in England. By Gad, sir, The Empire could itself won its independence not have failed to be impressed by that. Bangladesh and the talent was there. He About 900 Burgher families - defined more than 50 years ago - but in just needed to prove it." by a mix of Sri Lankan and Western In England no longer can it be suggest- Birmingham, more than 200 ed that the most famous cricketing European ancestry - lived in Ceylon at the years later, family honour has time of the British takeover and, if Burgher is Michael Ondaatje. Ondaatje, Michael Vandort ever cared to, he could been restored on a cricket the Sri Lankan-born novelist, was educat- find the names of his ancestors on the field of England. ed in England. He went to Dulwich Treaty of Capitulation. The Vandorts College, as did another Booker prize win- have had a presence in the country since ner, Graham Swift. Ondaatje was quite Cornelis Jansz Van Dort, born in Utrecht, proud to hear that a former teacher, upon docked on the ship Bellois in the fortified Jayawardene said: "Michael batted publicly praising Swift for winning the town of Galle in 1700. They built the wonderfully. He proved he had a lot of Booker, had expressed incredulity that Dutch fort but it was the British who first character and had a very solid defence. Ondaatje had done the same because he had the good sense to play cricket That will give him the confidence he had "always seemed more interested in beneath it. Yes, Vandort might counter, needed and it will solve our problems. cricket". Ondaatje was a privileged child but it was the Sri Lankans who built the has also consistently but his family's fortune was lost in the Galle stadium. been getting runs for the last six months. early years of Sri Lankan independence. For Michael Vandort, the Edgbaston Hopefully that combination will be suc- Many Burghers feared discrimination; Test was a glorious failure. It was never cessful." Ondaatje himself emigrated to Canada to going to be any better than that after Sri Ever since , Sri start a financial career, pronouncing that Lanka had been dismissed for 141 in their Lanka's chairman of selectors, rounded "the colonial game is up". The Vandorts first innings. His lone resistance spanned upon his opening batsmen as inadequate stayed and probably no more than 30,000 more than six-and-a-half hours, and insisted that Sanath Jayasuriya's Burghers now remain in Sri Lanka, out of three days. He laboured 303 balls over his retirement from was a population of 18 million, some fair 105. He took a lot of digging out. reversed, the new generation cannot stop skinned, some dark. About the only other He was last out yesterday (Sunday) making runs. If De Mel proposes bring- famous Vandort was Leonhard Kalenberg morning, an airy drive at ing himself out of retirement for Trent Van Dort, whose watercolours of 19th- blowing his chance of becoming only the Bridge, the young fast bowlers could run Sri Lanka can still be found in second Sri Lankan to bat through a Test riot. Leiden, the famous old Dutch university innings, a feat previously achieved only Vandort was a late developer, chosen town. by Sidath Wettimuny.He is a tall batsman once for his school 1st XI - and St Joseph's As Vandort reached a painstaking with a stately straight drive and upright is by no means the foremost Colombo hundred by square-driving Andrew tread, perfect flag-carrier material. cricketing college. He has needed every Flintoff, he could not even be sure that he "I believe that Michael has a Burgher ounce of Burgher phlegm to get this far. would merit a cricket oil painting by background somewhere but I'm not sure He used 46 balls to navigate the 90s. At 95 Jocelyn Galsworthy. - The Guardian

Inter-Schools Under-14 and 16 12-a-side Rugby Tournament Badminton coaching in Badulla on Jun.3,4 by T. Rajah, Badulla Sport Royal College bag honours Correspondent. Badulla District Badminton Association with tournament conducted by the Western while Under 16, skippered by Dhammika Jamaldeen’s) footsteps. Nizam is the for- Text and photos by the assistance of Sri Lanka Badminton Province Schools Rugby Football Union Attygalle, beat St. Peter’s 14-0 in their mer Police kicker. M. Farook Lantra Association will organise a badminton coaching at Zahira College and Havelocks Park final. The chief guest was Dr. K. D. programme for youths under 13 and under 17. last week. The youngest player in the Under-14 Punniyadasa (Principal, Isipatana Royal College Under 14 and 16 This coaching programme will be conducted stamped their class in the schools rugby Royal Under 14 led by Rukshan 'B' segment was Arshad Jamaldeen, who College, and President, WPSRFU). Fernando beat Isipatana 5-0 in the final is following his father’s (Nizam at the Uva Club hall in Unugalla Estate, Hali Ela on June 3 and 4. The Badulla District coach Zuhair Azeez will be in charge of the coaching camp. Arrangements are also made to conduct an open badminton tournament on June 4 at the Uva Club courts. Those willing to participate are requested to communicate with Zuhar Azees, 9/2 B. Bandarawela Road, Badulla.

Charles Robinson hockey on June 18 Eighteen teams will complete at the 10th Charles Robinson Memorial All-Island Inter Club Seven-a-Side Hockey Tournament, organized by the Matale Old Thomians' The captain of Royal College Under 16 team Duminda The skipper of Thurstan College receives the Plate trophy The skipper of Wesley College, Azmil Omar receives the Association (Colombo Branch) on June 18 Attigalle receives the Cup Championship trophy from Dr. K. from Rohitha Indunil (Secretary, WPSRFU). Bowl trophy from Gamini Sarathchandra (Vice President, from 8 a.m. onwards at Police Park, D. Punniyadasa (Principal, Isipatana College). SLSRFA). Bambalapitiya. Group 'A': Sri Lanka Army, Old Peterites Sports Club, Old Kingswood SC Zahira Sports Club, Old Anandians Group 'B': Wennappuwa Sports Club, Royal Hockey Club, Park Sports Club, Christ Church Sports Club Group 'C': Police Sports Club, Malwatte Sports Club, CH & FC, Thomian's Sports Club Group 'D': Sri Lanka Air Force, Vijaya Sports Club, Sylvestrian's Sports Club, B.R.C, Maris Stella Hockey Club. The winners will receive Rs. 15,000, a challenge trophy, a replica and individual awards. The first runner-up will receive Rs. 10,000, a challenge trophy, a replica and indi- vidual awards. The second runner-up will receive Rs. 5,000, a challenge trophy, a repli- S. Thomas’ College captain S.C. Kapuwatta receives the Royal College Under 14 captain Rukshan Fernando receives The skipper of S. de S. Jayasinghe College, Dehiwela, ca and individual awards. The Most Shield award from A. P. Jayasooriya (Dep. President, the Cup champions trophy from N. J. Mudannayaka receives the Plate trophy from N. J. Mudannayaka Outstanding player will receive the Best Star Disciplinary Committee). (Tournament Chairman, SLSRFU). (Tournament Chairman, SLSRFU). Player Trophy.