Thursday 25th February, 2010 15 93rd Battle of the Golds Letter Shopping is A test of character for rivals for Sissies was perturbed over a comment St. Patrick’s College Jaffna College made by Mr. Trevor Chesterfield in Ihis regular column in your esteemed newspaper on 22.02.2010. Writing about terrorism and its effect on sports he retraces the history particularly cricket, in the recent past. Then he directly refers to events that led to the boycott of World Cup match- es in by Australia and West Indies. This is what he wrote: “Now Shane Warne is thinking about his options. He did the same in 1996 during the World Cup when both Australia and West Indies declined to Seated from left: A. M. Monoj, M. D. Sajeenthiran, S. Sahayaraj (PoG), P. Seated from left: M. Thileepan (Asst. Coach), S. Komalatharan, S. Niroshan, S. play their games in Colombo after the Navatheepan (Captain), Rev. Fr. Gero Selvanayaham (Rector), S. Milando Jenifer (V. Seeralan (V. Capt), B. L. Mohanakumar (Physical Director), N. A. Wimalendran truck bomb at the Central Bank. Capt), P. Jeyakumar (MiC), A. S. Nishanthan (Coach), B. Michael Robert, M. V. (Principal), P. Srikugan (Captain), J. Nigethan, B. Prasad, R. Kugan (Coach). Typically,politicians opened their jaws Hamilton. Standing from left: Marino Sanjay, G. Tishanth Tuder, J. Livington, V. Standing from left: S. Vishnujan, P. Sobinathsuvan, R. Bentilkaran, K. Trasopanan, and one crassly suggested how in ref- Kuhabala, A. M. Nobert, G. Morison, Erik Prathap, V. Jehan Regilus, R. Ajith Darwin, T. Priyalakshan, N. Bengamin Nirushan, S. Kirishan, P. Abirahh and S. Pradeep. A. Kavaskar, J. Clington and T. Morris. erence to a remark ‘only sissies go by Reemus Fernando shopping’ when it would have been bet- single outright victory (against St. John’s College ended in a draw. 16, last won in 2007. ter had he said nothing at all. St. Patrick’s College will test their Xavier’s College). They also played “The team is in good form after IMPORTANT STATS “Forgotten is that at the time nei- strength in the Division II tournament against a Division I team, D. S. recording seven victories and we will go commenced in 1916 ther Australia nor the West Indies against a highflying Jaffna College, Senanayake College, Colombo, in a all out to win the trophy,” R. Kugan, the Victory tally: were under siege, nor had they a civil , who have enjoyed remark- friendly match, which they lost by an coach of Jaffna College told ‘’. St. Patrick’s - 31 (Last won in 2007) war raging on their back doorstep as able success in the past few months, innings. Jaffna College will rest their hopes Jaffna College -16 (Last won in 1975) Sri Lanka had, for a number of years. when the two teams clash in the 93rd St. Patrick’s will have their senior on experienced players, skipper Drawn: 27 It is why,so often, politicians need to be ‘Battle of the Golds’ Big Match on Friday players, namely, skipper P. Navatheepan, Pakianathan Srikugan, deputy S. Results not available: 18 more mindful of what they say.Yet, the and Saturday at St. Patrick’s Grounds, his deputy Milando Jenifer, A. M. Monoj, Seeralan, former captain S. Niroshan, difference in security arrangements Jaffna. M. D. Sajeenthiran, Michael Robert and last year’s vice captain J. Nigethan and Highest innings score: between the 1995 tour of the island Jaffna’s second oldest Big Match, the M. V.Hamilton to rely on when they take T. Priyalakshan. They have been the 320 - Jaffna College (1975) with the South African Under-24 side ‘Battle of the Golds’ will be special for St. on their arch rivals, while several other leading players this season for Jaffna 285 - St. Patrick’s College (1999) and three years later with the 1998 Patrick’s College this year as the school enthusiastic youngsters await their College, with Nigethan and South African ‘A’ side was noticeable.” celebrates its 160th anniversary. chance to impress in the big battle. Priyalakshan making a fearsome open- Highest individual score: 155 n.o. by He does not refer to the politician They have things to celebrate in the While Milando Jenifer and A. ing bowling combination and Srikugan, A. R. Churchil (St. Patrick’s - 2001) by name and also does not point out the field of cricket too as they have advanced Kavaskar have impressed in the batting Niroshan and Seeralan making their Best Bowling in a match: exact background to the comment by to the All Island Under-19 Division II department with half centuries during batting strong. Paceman Priyalakshan 13 for 63 by R. Kulasegaram (Jaffna Col. the politician. Let me recap what hap- tournament by virtue of good perform- the season, Erick Prathap and M.V. has five or more wickets on five occa- 1950) pened. When Australia decided not to ances in the lower division. After play- Hamilton boast impressive figures in the sions, and produced a seven wicket haul 13 for 92 by E. M. Thuraisingham (St. play any World Cup matches in Sri ing in the Division III tournament for bowling department. (7/13) against Kokuvil Hindu College Patrick’s 1978) Lanka in 1996, Shane Warne was asked years, St. Patrick’s achieved the promo- while the highlight of the batting depart- by a journalist, the reasons for same. tion, something none of the other Jaffna College performances ment was Seeralan’s century against Best Bowling in an innings: Shane’s lame excuse was that the schools in the peninsula have been able Captained by Pakianathan Srikugan, Union College. 9 for 26 by R. Kalasegaram (Jaffna Col. bombs prevent them from shopping. To to accomplish. Jaffna College have recorded seven out- Jaffna College have not tasted victory 1950) that comment our Foreign Minister at right victories in nine outings this sea- in this historic Big Match since 1975, the 9 for 18 by M. Shanmugamoorthy the time, the late Lakshman St. Patrick’s College son. They beat Kokuvil Hindu College, year they established an all time record (Jaffna Col. 1973) Kadirgamar PC retorted; “shopping is performances Mahajana College, Union College, for the highest innings score (320). They 9 for 54 by S. A. Wijeyasundar (St. for sissies.” What he was alluding to Captained by P. Navatheepan, St. Manipai Hindu College, Victoria hope to continue the good form they Patrick’s 1973) was the fact that sportsmen should Patrick’s played against Division II College, Skandavarodaya College and have shown during the season to record concentrate on their game and not teams from the southern part of the Jaffna Hindu College. The only team to a victory that has not come their way for Best Wicket keeping: other matters and security was a mat- country during the past few months. In beat them this season was Central 35 long years. Eight dismissals (3 caught 5 stumped) ter for the host nation and not sports- six outings, they managed to record a College, while their match against St. St. Patrick’s, who lead the series 31- by A. S. Nishanthan (St. Patrick’s 1993) men. If that comment had come from any other politician, there would have been a howl of protest in the national Inter Internationals Schools’ Scrabble Championships 2010 and international media. Alas, there was none. Why? The answer is obvious - the stature of the man. He was one of the very few from Asia elected to the Lyceum Wattala clinch Overall Championship office of President of the famous Oxford Union. Then his achievements as a professional at the International Labour Organisation is yet to be matched or surpassed. He was a bril- liant lawyer and attained silk purely on merit. Him turning to politics was purely an accident. It was at the insistence of a former president that he reluctantly accepted a very important portfolio. He was not a politician of the traditional sense as he did not seek any political office by the ballot. He was appointed on the national list to Parliament and appointed Foreign Minister. There is Lyceum International School, Mahendran, Treasurer, SLSL was the Gunawardena. Nafise Ahmed of AIS- (1st Runner-up), no doubt in the minds of any Sri Wattala, emerged Overall champions to adjudicator. Vishmika Fernando of LPIS- (2nd clinch the Lyceum Challenge Trophy at Eight schools, namely Asian RESULTS: Runner-up). Lankan, that he was the best Foreign the Inter-International Schools’ International School, Burhani Junior Category: Migara Highest Game Score– Rushda Minister Sri Lanka has ever produced. Scrabble Championships held at LIS Serendib School, Colombo Jayasinghe of Lyceum Wattala Othman of LIS, Wattala. Given this background of the man, Wattala on February 21. International School, Gateway College, (Champion), Nusrath Sariffodeen of Highest Word Score– Heshan now we have Mr. Trevor Chesterfield Colombo International School and Kandy, Ikra International School, LIS, Wattala (1st Runner-up), Dinelka Abeygunasekara of LIS, Wattala. telling us that the politician should Gateway College, Kandy, were the first Leighton Park International School, Perera of LIS, Wattala (2nd Runner- Senior Category: Murtaza Zohair have kept his mouth shut. Let us and second runners-up. The event was Lyceum International School, Wattala up). of BSS - (Champion), Asvirndra remind Mr. Chesterfield that the late organized by Lyceum Wattala for the and Stafford International School par- Highest Game Score– Migara Ravindra of CIS - (1st Runner-up), Mr. Kadirgamar PC was not a man third consecutive year and was spon- ticipated in this tournament. A total of Jayasinghe of LIS, Wattala. Khadija Zoeb of BSS - (2nd Runner-up). given to loose talk. When he made that sored by VS Hydro (Pvt) Limited. Dr. 112 players participated in the Junior, Highest Word Score- Nusrath Highest Game Score– Dinal famous quote, surely he had enough Lalantha Amarasinghe, President of Intermediate and Senior categories. Sariffodeen of LIS, Wattala. Perera of LIS, Wattala. and more material to support his the Sri Lanka Scrabble League (SLSL) The champion team, Lyceum Intermediate Category: Rushda Highest Word Score – claim. What Mr. Kadirgamar PC, said was the chief guest and Kandhan Wattala was trained by Malinda Othman of LIS, Wattala (Champion), Burhanuddin Hamza of LIS, Wattala. in essence was that Sri Lanka was safe to play cricket in. After all, he was the Foreign Minister and he ought to have In the Under-15 Boys’ Kumite had his facts right with regard to secu- 6,5,4 - 3,2,1 Kyu event held at rity arrangements when it comes to the Matale International S. K. any international event. A. Karate Tournament 2010, Let us also remind Mr. Chesterfield Grade 10 student L. D. that Sri Lanka is and was capable of Ravinath Prabashitha of providing adequate security to any Kalyani Predeepa international sports event. More than Vidyayathana Pirivena, Australia, India was at risk by playing Delgoda, won a gold medal. In cricket in Sri Lanka due to the Tamil the Under-15 Boys’ Kumite politics at the time. Yet, India played in 3,2,1 Kyu event held at the Sri Lanka without any trouble. This is Colombo National Karate what prompted Mr. Kadirgamar to Tournament 2009, he won confidently utter what he did at the third place and in the Under- time. 15 Boys’ Kumite event held at It was Albert Einstein who said the Colombo 2nd International that the world is a bad place not Shotokam Karate Tournament because of bad people but because the 2008, he was placed second. good people do nothing about it. Mr. He is a member of the Kadirgamar PC, did everything possi- International Gi Toku Kai ble to make Sri Lanka a better place, Association. Ravinath but we have Mr. Chesterfield advising Prabashitha’s Instructor is him not to do anything. The Annual Inter-House Sports Meet of Daranagama Maha Vidyalaya was held at the school grounds last Friday. Western Provincial Council Member Gunasiri Jayanath presents a trophy Mahesh Kumarage, who is a to the skipper, D. Umeda and Hasitha Rangana of the champion Sagara House team. Principal well known national instructor Amila K. Perera, Mrs. Shiranthi Biyatris Dissanayake was also present. (Delgoda - W. D. Vithana) (Delgoda - W. D. Vithana) Kandy.