Sri Lanka’s squad for ICC 20 -Twenty World Cup

Sri Lanka’s squad of thirty players for the ICC 20 -Twenty World Cup which is scheduled to be held in South Africa this September.

However the selectors have once again omitted former skipper Marvan Atapattu who pulled out of the current series against Bangladesh from the squad while also overlooking new found opener Malinda Warnapura too. However the batsmen Jehan Mubarak and Michael Vandort who have not proved themselves in the shorter version of the game also has been given a chance to prove themselves. Avishka Gunawardena who also was kept in cold storage for a while also has been thought of for the initial squad.

The squad: Mahela Jayawardena, Kumar Sangakkara, Dilruwan Perera, Upul Tharanga, Sanath Jayasuriya, Avishka Gunawardena, Mahela Udawatte, T.M. Dilshan, Chamara Kapugedera, Michael Vandort, Jehan Mubarak, Thilina Kandambi, Chamara Silva, Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Ranga Dias, Dilhara Fernando, Ishara Amerasinghe, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekera, Nuwan Zoysa, Akalanka Ganegama, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Muttiah Muralitharan, Hasantha Fernando, Malinga Bandara, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Gayan Wijekone, Upul Chandana and Dhammika Prasad.

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Chaminda Vaas will miss next week’s third Test against Bangladesh

Sri Lankan paceman Chaminda Vaas has been given permission to skip the third and final cricket Test against Bangladesh in Kandy so he could return to play for English county Middlesex.

A Sri Lanka Cricket official said the 33-year old Vaas who has played in 98 tests has been given special permission to leave the team after Sri Lanka warpped up the series with victory in the second test on Thursday.

“Yes Vaas will not be around for the last test”, said the official.

Sri Lanka won both matches by innings margins and look set for a clean sweep when the final Test starts at the Asgiriya stadium in Kandy on Wednesday. The selectors have all-rounder Farveez Maharoof, left-arm spinner Sujeewa de Silva and leg-spinner Malinga Bandara to chose from, when it comes to picking Vaas’ replacement.

Vaas could find himself playing his 100 Test during Sri Lanka’s tour of Australia in November this year.

Spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who is contracted with Lancashire, will also return to England after the Kandy Test and not play in the three one-dayers along with Vaas.

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Pro-Tiger website Nidarshanam.com has targeted Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka

The pro-Tiger website Nidarshanam.com, which is widely regarded to be under the direct supervision of LTTE intelligence chief Pottu Amman, has targeted Sri Lanka’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Dayan Jayatilleka in its edition of June 26th, (Tuesday) 2007.

Describing Dayan Jayatilleka as “one who knows the history of the Tamil struggle very well”, from “its initial stages”, the Tiger website classifies him as one “capable of crushing the Tamil struggle in the countries of the world”. It notes his recent election as chairman of the governing body of the ILO and denounces his appointment as “a massive plot in place”.

Ambassador Jayatilleka was also unanimously elected a Vice President of the UN Human Rights Council and a member of its Bureau.

Replete with outright falsification, character assassination and distortion, and illustrated with a photograph of the diplomat, the sensationalist and scurrilous article in Tamil, entitled ‘Major change in the Sri Lankan International Intelligence Service’ reads as follows (in translation):

‘There has been a major change in the Sri Lankan International Intelligence Service. People who are suspected to be capable of crushing the Tamils’ struggle in the countries of the world have been appointed as Ambassadors.

Recently, The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry had introduced many Tamil faces to the European Countries. In the same manner Dayan Jayatilleka has been appointed the Chairman of the ILO this year. By his appointment a massive plot is in place.

He was wanted by the Sri Lankan authorities in the 1980s, for plotting to overthrow the government. Like Padhmanabha and Thiranagama he was also a wanted person in Sri Lanka. Those days their pictures were seen on the walls of Sri Lanka. Later the Sri Lankan Intelligence absorbed him and he then joined the EPRLF. He also functioned as a spy for the Sri Lankan Intelligence and tried to break up the Tamil movements. In 1987 he was a Minister in the North East Provincial Council of Varatharajahperumal’s cabinet. During his period, armed training for the youth in the North East was compulsory and on his advice they were called the National Army.

He was also a JVP member in the early days and was accused of being involved directly in the killing of one of the union leaders of the JVP. He was responsible for many killings in the North and East. Just like how he was indirectly working with the EPRLF, Muthiyanselage Uduwarage Henry Perera was indirectly working with PLOTE in the same manner. Uduwarage was a Sinhala racist who was with the JVP and was the link between the PLOTE and the Sinhalese. He was a follower of N.M. Perera and was responsible for many splits in the JVP. In 1990 he was killed in an attack at Musalkuthy.

Dayan Jayatilleka knows the history of the Tamil struggle very well and he is aware of the initial stages of the struggle too. Being appointed as the UN representative for Sri Lanka in Geneva, he has collected a few Tamil traitors in Europe and Switzerland and is plotting against the freedom struggle of the Tamils. He has appointed a few spies to gather information about the LTTE supporters and their activities in Europe and Swiss. It is believed that these spies have infiltrated into some of the Tamil Organizations. These spies meet in Geneva very often and the Sri Lankan Government is funding them.’

Information has leaked that a Tamil person has been appointed to the Norwegian Embassy. It is learnt that he has been appointed to carry forward the propaganda against the National freedom struggle of the Tamil people.’

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Chandrika’s daughter Yaso’s wedding pics

Photograph taken at the wedding of Yasodhara Kumaratunga… daughter of the former President Chandrika Kumaratunga… Yasodhara wed Dr. Roger Walker in London last month. Also in the photograph are former president Chandrika Kumaratunga, Vimukthi Kumaratunga and Mr. Ronnie Peiris and family.

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Facets Sri Lanka adds international flavour

Facets Sri Lanka is tipped to have increased international flavour at this year’s exhibition with improved service for stall holders.

By Sherwani Synon

This was stated at a press briefing held on Tuesday by the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association regarding the 17th consecutive Sri Lankan international Gem and Jewellery Show- Facets Sri Lanka.

The exhibition which will be held from the August 30 till the September 2 is an opportunity given to the Gem merchants and Jewellers in the country to exhibit their exquisite gems and jewellery to the local and the foreign market.

Speaking at the media briefing Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association Chairman Chanaka Ellawala said, “Sri Lanka is known for quality gem cutting, the field has improved vastly with the years.”

Giving the Facets Sri Lanka show an international flavour, rare gems from countries such as Madagascar, Burma, Thailand, India, Hong Kong, Dubai, and Australia will be exhibited at the show.

The committee also agreed to solve issues that were raised by the stall holders present at the press briefing in a bid to provide a good service to all stall holders and help them at the show, Facets Sri Lanka.

The committee is expecting a large number of visitors from the local and foreign market to grace this massive occasion which has been mostly focused on the international market till recent years.

Amana Takaful for the 3rd consecutive year will be the Official Insurer for the event and the exhibits.

When Daily Financial Times spoke to the Director of Finance- Facets who is also the treasurer of the Sri Lanka Gem & Jewellery Association Mr. Akram Mansoor, it was pointed out that “the largest buyers of our industry is USA, Japan, Europe, India and since of recent China and Russia has also showed interest towards this trade.”

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