Mahela says World Cup final was high point
LAHORE, Pakistan (AFP) — Departing Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene Saturday said the pinnacle of his tenure was lifting his team to the World Cup final in the Caribbean two years ago.
The 31-year-old relinquishes captaincy after the second and final Test against Pakistan starting here from Sunday, ending a three-year stint during which Sri Lanka finished runners-up to Australia in the 2007 World Cup.
"It is difficult to put my finger on it but playing the World Cup final was the big plus point in my career, it was a great honour," said Jayawardene of the match, in which Sri Lanka lost to defending champions Australia by 53 runs.
Jayawardene, who took over from Marvan Atapattu in 2006, has led Sri Lanka in 27 Tests, winning 15 and losing seven. The remaining five Tests ended in draw.
His team drew 1-1 against England in 2006. He led Sri Lanka to their first-ever Test win in the West Indies before squaring the two-Test series 1-1 last year.
The inspirational Jayawardene also led Sri Lanka in 94 one-day internationals with a win-loss record of 54-35. The remaining five matches ended in no results.
Jayawardene said a captain is as good as his team.
"When you are doing well as a team, you always enjoy the captaincy and when you are not doing well the captain goes through that difficult time, you are as good as your team.
"When the team is in good confidence then the captain's job becomes much easier," said Jayawardene, who described a one-day series defeat against India earlier this month as one of his low points.
"Losing one-dayers to India (4-1) and England (3-2 in October 2007) hurt because they were the home series. Otherwise I have enjoyed the captaincy thoroughly and it has been a great honour for me."
Jayawardene termed it a final decision, saying there were enough candidates to take the reins from him.
"No one took the life away from me in the first place. It was my decision (to step down) which I took and at the right time. I am sure that we have so many guys who could lead the side in the future.
"My duty is to help the new captain achieve his goals. I hope this kind of opportunity will not come my way again because we have good leaders who can take us to higher levels."
Wicket-keeper batsman Kumar Sangakkara is seen as the potential replacement for Jayawardene.
Sri Lanka's next assignment is Twenty20 World Cup to be held in England in June before they host Pakistan for a three-Test and five one-day match series in July-August.
Akram hails Murali for
breaking his record
Legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram congratulated Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan for surpassing him as the highest wicket-taker in one-day internationals. Muralitharan reached the milestone after claiming the wicket of Gautam Gambhir in the fourth ODI against India at Colombo to take his tally to 503. ''It is great to know that a bowler of Murali's calibre has surpassed me as the highest wicketer in one-dayers,'' Akram said. ''He is a very talented bowler and fully deserves the record.'' ''When I achieved that record I knew there was only one bowler capable of breaking it and that was Murali,'' the former Pakistan skipper told mediapersons. The Sri Lankan wizard achieved the record in his 328th ODI. He also holds the world record for the most number of wickets in Test cricket with 769 scalps in 125 matches. (UNI)
Susanthika retires from athletics Sri Lanka’s Olympic Games medallist in the Sydney Games Susanthika Jayasinghe announced her retirement from athletics during a meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday.Arjuna granted leave to proceed The Supreme Court yesterday (5) granted leave to proceed with the Fundamental Rights Petition filed by the former Sri Lanka cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga challenging his impugned removal from the Post of Chairman of the Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).Chamara and Chinthaka steer Bloomfield to
comfortable win
A fine knock of 74 by Chamara Silva and a five wicket haul by right arm pacie Chinthaka Jayasinghe helped Bloomfield to record a comfortable 136 run win over Army in their Premier Tier ‘A’ limited over encounter played at Reid Avenue yesterday.
Let the head lines High!
Written by D.B. Warnasiri
Violins are wailing; trumpets sigh in sorrow! The demise of Dr. Premasiri Khemadasa has left a resounding silence in the aesthetics and performing arts scene in Sri Lanka. Film Music as well as “Khemedasa Symphony”, “Khemedasa Opera”, “Khemedasa Kantata”, became a house-hold name in the cities and suburbs of this Island because of Dr. PremasiriKhemadasa’s ability to adapt the Sri Lanka folk-music to be orchestrated blending western music with melodious Indian varieties; he topped this popularity by taking operatic music and opera in his astounding ground-breaking efforts in “Manasa Vila” , “Agni”, “Doramandalava” and “Pirinivan Mangalyaya” (Kantata) etc. The Maestro of Sri Lankan modern music, Dr Premasiri Kemadasa – adoringly called “Master” by the Sri Lankans in general – has a left an endowment of great aesthetics for posterity. With his demise, Mother Lanka had lost one of her most creative and innovative sons who wove his craft around his central philosophy – Arts for the purpose of up-lift of the spirit and the aspirations of the common man on the rise! He not only pleased, entertained and lifted the spirits of his listeners, Khemedasa Master familiarized and popularized the Symphonic and Operatic music format and styles among the Sri Lankan intelligentsia. Never forgetting or trying to camouflage his simple beginnings, never hiding his aspirations for greater heights, “Master” personified perseverance and dignity of the creative spirit inherent to Man – he never said never again; always exerted to accomplish and perfect his expression – leaving an indelible impression in the music scene regionally and internationally. What he achieved in his simple trip to Czech Republic high-lighted the fact that western mode of music is not confined to a few countries in the West! Music is Music in appealing to the mind, heart and soul via the ears! His craftsmanship and creative manipulations blending traditions and impulsive innovations were beams of light that penetrated the pall of darkness that threatened to surround and suffocate the Lankan music scene that was raising a heavy clouds of dust from the great tussle between the archaic tradition – obsessed school of gate-keepers and the imitators who were groping in the dark to find the right key to open the doors of good taste! Khemadasa took a calculated risk in leaving the orchestra he was heading at state-run Radio Ceylon – the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation – to set-up the “Sangeetha Manjari” in a tiny flat at bustling Maradana – the Northern Centre of Lower middle class social strata. Soon this small gathering of middle-aged musicians lead by Khema was joined by the enthusiastic young musicians who absorbed the inspirational spirit of free and independent creative functionality espoused by this “Leader” whom they began to adoringly call “Master”! Soon Symphony became a house-hold name in the mid-60’s and this symphonious music compelled the popular aesthetists of the time – the film-makers – to take notice: the expressive music “master” help enhance the visual narration of Sirisena Wimalaweera’s “Rodie Kelle” enticed film-maestro Lester James Peries to offer his “Nidhanaya” to Kehema! Instantly Khemedasa Master became the Ennio Moriconie and Elmer Bernstien and Henry Mancini and the Indian Music Maestros wrapped in-one in Sri Lankan Film Music. Khemadasa Master’s creative collaborations are indeed a Study in Spanning of Generation Gap: From the Pioneering Sirisena Wimalaweera to Modernising Master Lester James Peries to Avant Garde stylist Vasantha Obeysekera to populist T. Arjuna to the espouser of the Left Bank (Dr.) Dharmasena Pathirajah who ushered in metaphorically speaking the horizon widening Dharmasiri Bandaranayake, Jayantha Chandrasiri and a host of “New” and “Now” generation of cineastes. His affinity and penchant to work with any one creative augured well for our Sri Lankan disciplines of performing arts – not restricted to Cinema alone! In haven, the heavenly beings must be gathering now to listen to a higher spirit of rendering! May our “Master” attain the Bliss of Nibbana!
Malini wins Silver Peacock award Written by Adabera karaya Wednesday, 03 December 2008 Sri Lanka film legend Malini Fonseka said she was delighted to be awarded the Silver Peacock at the 39 International Film Festival of India (IFFI)."This is the biggest achievement in my forty years of film career," The award was presented for her outstanding performance in Akasa Kusum. In the salutation, the IFFI has paid tributes to Malini Fonseka's "accomplishment" in cinema. Ms. Malini Fonseka holds you from the first shot to the end of the film 'Akasa Kusum'. You know right away that she is a diva whether you know Sri Lankan cinema or not. As the film unfolds, it is magical to see her younger film clips as a major star," it said. It added that the award was a "tribute to her accomplishment and a celebration to cinema". Akasa Kusum (Flowers of the Sky) is directed by Prasanna Vithanage. Ms. Fonseka was also awarded Indian Rs. 15,00,000. 'Tulpan', directed by Sergey Dvortsevoy, a Kazakhstan film produced along with Germany, Switzerland, Russia and Poland, won the Golden Peacock Award as the best film and a cash prize of four million Indian rupees.
Akram hails Murali for
