And so it was that SLRFU Council recently decided to open the doors to non-nationals of Sri Lankan parentage, which is a significant departure from the old practice of confining national selections to only locals. 

The SLRFU's new selection policy has already had one response: Ravindra David Dasanaike, a 26-year three-quarter playing for Wigan RUFC, in England. He was born in England, but both his parents are Sri Lankan-born British nationals. He has an impressive record in services rugby, representing the Royal Navy, Combined Services and the Fire Services.

He joined the Royal Marines and was invited to play for the Royal Navy against the British Army, a traditional and important fixture in the British Services calendar. He had an outstanding match on the wing, was adjudged the Man of the Match - and asked to concentrate on only rugby. And that he did very well, going on to represent the Combined Services. Having left the Navy, he joined the Fire Services and played for his local team, Wigan RUFC. But once his new employers became aware of his rugby talents, he was picked to play for the Fire Services at the county level - and then went on to represent the service at the National level and then the Great Britain Fire Services XV.

"He isn't of course a British Lion, but going by his credentials he looks somebody worth pursuing. He is obviously keen to play rugby at a national level, something he can't do in England. So, he is even prepared to pay for his passage to be in Colombo for the trial matches,'' said CEO Fernando. 

The trials, scheduled for next week, will serve as a basis for the selection of Sri Lanka's 12-man squad for the March31-April2 IRB World Series Hong Kong Sevens. "Obviously (national coach) George Simpkin and the national selectors will watch Dasanaike with a critical eye as we'll have to be doubly sure he is indispensable to the side,'' said Fernando. 

Since the invitation to the Hong Kong event is the first in three years, the Union is keen to make a good impression to ensure we remain on the invitees' list next year as well. But that isn't the only reason why officials hope the Wigan RUFC player would measure up to the requirements. "The more important assignments are in the second round of the World Cup Asian qualifiers where we take on China (April29 in Colombo) and Hong Kong (May14 in HK). The target has to be to beat both opponents and qualify to play in the final of the World Cup Asian qualifier (together with the Asian superpowers Japan and Korea) - which is why we are scouting around in foreign countries for eligible players,'' said Fernando.

Out in Australia, the scouting job has been given to Adrian Keith de Kretser, President of the Boxhill RFC, Melbourne, and also manager of one of the Commonwealth Games training venues. "We spoke to de Kretser about our plans to include players with Sri Lankan links into the national side and he said he's willing to do the searching,'' said Fernando. "In fact, he said one Andrew Patternot could be a player worth chasing as he is thought to be a future candidate for the Victorian state side.''

The Melbourne player concerned is the son of Aubrey Patternot, one of three famed Patternot brothers of the 1960s and 70s. The other two: Rodney and Hamish. Aubrey, a second row forward, played for St Peters, Havelocks, Dimbula and Kelani Valley before migrating to Australia in the early 80s.

The 18th Commonwealth games scheduled to get underway here today with a spectacular opening ceremony at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds ( MCG). The opening ceremony will commence at 8pm ( 2.30pm Sri Lankan time).

Sri Lankan contingent for Games include 71 sportsmen and women and they will compete in 10 sports with a view of bringing glory to their motherland. The balance athletes of the Sri Lankan contingent left the island last Sunday lead by Asian Gold medallist Damayanthi Darsha.

Rugby sevens, Squash, Table Tennis, Weight Lifting, Gymnastics, Swimming, Diving and badminton is due to commence on the following day of the opening ceremony and Sri Lankans are also to compete in those events. Therefore several athletes will not take part in the opening ceremony parade behind the Sri Lankan flag.

Sri Lanka are keeping their medal hopes in athletics and shooting events. Sri Lankans retuned empty handed from the last Commonwealth Games in Manchester in the year 2002. Sri Lanka's main medal hopes were laid on the shoulders of Olympic bronze medallist Susanthika Jayasinghe but unfortunately she was disqualified after stepping out of her track.

Track and field events will get underway on Sunday. Damayanthi Darsha, Prassanna Amarasekera are the only Sri Lanka female and male athletes competing in the individual track events while Anne Maheshi will compete in the women's javelin throw.

Although the medal expectations of Sri Lankans in the other sports are very much limited they expect to better their individual performances in preparation to the South Asian games to be held in August this year in Colombo and for the Asian Games which takes place in Doha during December.

With the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony, the iconic MCG is currently transforming on a scale never before seen in Australia. 80,000 spectators inside the MCG will witness one of the most exciting creative projects ever staged in the country.

Ceremonies executive producer Andrew Walsh said the centerpieces of the spectacular is the aerial flying system and mammoth stage, believed to be the largest temporary stage ever constructed. The stage covers an area in excess of 7300sqm and the aerial flying system, when fully loaded weighs 30 tonnes.

The largest temporary stage ever built in Australia has been installed at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the opening ceremony and the stage covers more than 7,000 square metres, while an aerial flying system has also been installed at the MCG.

Queen Elizabeth arrived in Australia yesterday as organisers and athletes were busily putting the finishing touches to their preparations for the 18th Commonwealth Games.

The Australian Prime Minister John Howard in Canberra greeted the Queen on the first leg of her five-day Australian tour that will culminate with her opening the Games at the Melbourne Cricket Ground today

Most of the 4,500 athletes from 53 countries and 71 competing associations have already arrived in the Victorian state capital, with the rest expected to trickle in over the next few days as Games fever starts sweeping the city.

Aboriginals protest

Aboriginal rights supporters have held a silent but highly visual protest in Melbourne coinciding with the city's popular Moomba parade.

Thirty four members of ANTar Victoria held two-metre-high letters spelling out the words "Stolenwealth Games" on a footbridge across the Yarra River.

The footbridge is 300 metres down river from Princes Bridge where hundreds of people gathered to watch the Moomba celebrations.

The installation, which is a pun on the Commonwealth Games due to start in Melbourne on Wednesday night, remained on the bridge for an hour before being taken in a procession to the Kings Domain where an Aboriginal protest group is camped for the duration of the Games.

Games Village get approval

The Commonwealth Games Village here might have been criticised by various quarters, but it has got the approval of Britain's Prince Edward. The Earl of Wessex inspected the Parkville village after arriving in Australia early Saturday morning.

The games village is getting busier by the day as more and more new residents check in.

Prince Edward was escorted around the development by Australia's former marathon champion Steve Moneghetti, the mayor of the village. The prince greeted athletes and volunteers before attending a ceremony to welcome teams from Ghana, Namibia and Guernsey into the village.

Melbourne: The Commonwealth Games is a once-in-a-lifetime event for the Melburnians and they are even ready for some chaos to go through the experience of hosting the Games.

With the opening ceremony due on Wednesday, the city is bracing itself for chaos which could envelop it as there will be numerous stoppages of trams.

Melbourne takes its turn in hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2006 with some 4500 athletes from 71 nations competing in 16 sports with 24 disciplines.

It's not the first time Australia has hosted the Commonwealth Games which began in Canada in 1930 as the British Empire Games with 11 participant countries.

The Empire/Commonwealth Games had previously been held in Sydney (1938), Perth (1962) and Brisbane (1982).

Sri Lankan contingent to Commonwealth Games 2006

Athletics - (Men) Prasanna Amarasekara, Rohan Pradeep Kumara, Rohitha Pushpa Kumara, S.M. Weerasooriya, S.B. Walgampaya, M.M.W. Marasinghe.(Women) K.V. Damayanthi Darsha, Anne Maheshi Silva, Geetha Nandani Gallege.(Officials) Derwin Perera-Manager, Sunil Gunawardena-Coach, Keerthi Kumar-Coach.

Badminton - (Men) Niluka Karunaratne, C. Kumarapperuma, Thushara Edirisinghe, Dinuka Karunaratne(Women) Thilini Jayasinghe, Renu Chandrika de Silva.(Officials) Rohana de Silva-Manager, K. Gamlath-Coach, P. Hettiarachchi-Asst. Manager

Boxing - (Men) M.D.K. Wanniarachchi, A.K.G.K. Sameera, T.M.C.Tennakoon, S.P.L. Jayantha Kumara, P.R.D. Fernando, R.M.U. Bandara, S.I. Kumara(Officials) Dian Gomes-Manager, Frometa Matos-Coach, R.K. Indrasena-Asst.Coach, Wazir Sourjah-Asst. Manager

Gymnastics - (Men) Sameera Ekanayake, E.A.D. Gunasekera, E.N.D. Gunasekera(Women) Danushka Wijeratne, Achini Shamen(Officials) Padma Gunawardena-Manager, A.A.D. Anura Prasad

Swimming and Diving - (Men) Conrad Farncis, Easiri Kankanige, Milinda Wickramasinghe, Daniel Lee, Nilmin Arsakularatne, Arun Karunaratne(Women) Chathuri Abeykoon, Mayumi Raheem, Tharaki Siyaguna, Devinka Gunathilake, Madavi Dharmadasa(Officials) Sirisena Herath-Manager, Ruwan Manawadu, Mahinda Liyanage

Squash - (Men) Naveen Samarasinghe, Yassir Issadeen(Women) Nirasha Guruge, Tehani Guruge(Officials) Yasmin Zarook-Manager/Coach, Tyronne Weerakkody-Asst. Manager)

Shooting - (Men) G.M. Chandana(Women) P.I. Ramanayake, W.A.C.S. Wijesuriya, Ruwani Abeymanna(Officials) Rear Admiral Dharmapriya-Manager, Rohana Nanayakkara-Coach

Table Tennis - (Men) Thilina Piyadasa, Indika Prasad (Women) Ishani Madurangi, Deepika Rodrigo(Officials) Daya Samaraweera, P.D. Ratnasiri

Weightlifting - (Men) C.G. Vidanage, K.A.S. Peiris, D.I. Nicolas, R.A.T. Ranjith Kumara, M.G.N. Emil, P.K.N. Dayan, P.K.S. Narayana(Women) J.N.N. Gunasekera(Officials) R.B. Wickramasinghe-Manager, N.N. Athukorala-Coach

Rugby Sevens -  Sanjeewa Jayasingke (captain) Dhanushka Perera, Sajith Malllikarachchi, Fazil Marija, Amjad Buksh, Chamara Vithanage, Nalaka Weerakkody Erandha Weerakkody. Saliya Kumara, Dilanka Wijesekera, Anuradha Dharmatilake, Aruna Shantha Officials - George Simpkin (coach) Jude Pillai (Manager).

By Hafiz Marikkar in Kandy

The luck of the coin and positive approach will go a long way in deciding the result in the 48th "Battle of Babes" big match at the Asigirya Stadium, which will be played on Sunday and Monday.

The two state run schools have cherished the annual match as a fitting climax to their cricket season. Loyal supporters look forward to this fixture with much enthusiasm and excitement. This encounter is the most looked forward event of both schools which they enjoy in real big match style with lots of singing and dancing.

This encounter was introduced in 1955 and had been abandoned twice in the late '70s, due to a misunderstanding. Out of the 47 matches played St. Sylvester's have the most number of wins 10 and Vidyartha has won in only three outings, the last being in 1967 under A.R.M. Laffir.

This big match is played for the Rev. Fr. Don George Trophy, he is a person who has done a lot for cricket at St. Sylvester's.. This trophy was donated in 1982. This is the third big match of Kandy. Next to Dharamraja-Kingswood and Trinity- St. Anthony's big matches. Sylverstians took up cricket in 1955, due to the efforts of some keen cricket followers. And their first game had been against archrivals Vidyartha. This first game of the Sylverstians was played at the Police grounds matting wicket. This game for the Sylverstians, had been more or less an experiment since they were entering the field for the first time. According to available records the game had turned out to be be a thriving encounter.

Vidyartha batting first had made 106 runs losing all their wickets. With Vernon Nanayakkara taking 3 for 25 and Upasena de Silva 3 for 13. In reply Sylvestians were able to make only 79 runs with S. Idamalgoda scoring 33.

Vidyaratha in their second outing were sent back to the pavilion for 83 runs. Skipper Tony Direckze pocketing 4 for 32 and V. Croos 3 for 7. Leaving the Sylverstians to make 111 runs for their first win in their first outing in sixty minutes. At the end of the days play they were short of 5 runs with 3 wickets in hand.

In the following year Vidyartha led by T.B. Wijesinghe beat Sylvestrians by an innings. It was Vidyartha who beat their rivals first. Vidyartha were senior in the game than the Sylverstians, when they first played in 1952, completely outplayed their rivals. In this game Sylverstians made 124 with pacemen T.B. Wijesinge and K. Bowatte running through the batting line up by taking four wickets each for 37 and 38 runs. S.D. Rajapakse and H.S. de Croos were the top scorers with 23 each.

Vidyartha in their turn had made 255 runs with three half centuries, coming off the bat of skipper T.B. Wijesinghe 55, N.Navarthne 53 and F.M. Farook 61. U.B. Aluwihare and M. Keppitipola too had done well to score 23 and 21. In bowling G. Alexander, S. Stephen, I.M. Anver and J.D. Suwaris had taken two wickets each.

In the second innings Sylverstians, once again failed to pass the 100 run mark, they were bundled out for 90 runs.. It was once again T.B. Wijesinghe the skipper, K. Bowatte, G.B. Disawa, who bowled to a line and length to take two wickets each. So, Vidyartha XI came back to Mahiyawa, with an innings victory.

Both these schools, have produced some top class cricketers. Sylverstians have produced two test caps, the first is Nihal Samarasekara who learnt his cricket under the late Bertie Nillagoda and Ishak Shahabdeen who was made a good cricketer by Malcolm Perera the present Sri Lanka Cricket Coaching Manager. Some of the others who earned a name at cricket are S.D. Rajapakse, Gerry Alexander, Vernon Nanayakkara, Tony Direckze, Nihal Pelpola, Mervyn Rodrigo is the first Sylverstian to win the best outstation school boy cricketer award in 1963 and also had the privilege of representing the National School team. Mathri Rajapakse, Iqbal Haniffa, Ranjith and Bandu Jayatilake, Bandu too played for the National team, and in that same year Nihal Samarasekara too was selected and had to step down due to insufficient funds.

Sylverstians, in their history of the sport had two superb years the first was in 1966 when Beriti Nilagoda was the coach, the side was led by Lionel Perera and had in players like Nihal Samarasekara, Malcolm Perera was another man who gave off his best for his old school as a coach for over 20 years and produced several top cricketers and a test cap, T.E. Badurdeen, Nimal Lewke, Nimal Rajakaruna, Mervyn Berenger, Gamini Rajapakse, Qunits and Berney Motha, Michael Denlow, T. Sirimanne, in that year the big match came to end before tea.

Their next best year was in 1994 under the guidance of Roland Perera and the side was led by Duncan Arnolda, they won the All Island League championship and lost to Ananda in the Knockout Semis.

Vidyartha too has produced some top class cricketers, but are still to proudue a National cap, Sunil Muansinghe kncoked at the door but failed to open. He was a top class batsmen in the early '70s. The rest are K.Bowatte, Z.M. Anver, Z.M. Zubair, Z.M. Zarook three of them are brothers, C.K. Gajanayake, R.M. Laffir, Nimal Malagamuwa, Sunil Serasinghe, George Jayasena, M.A. Wijesinghe, L.B. Aluwihare, Russell Aluwihare, G.B.S. Disawa, Thushara, Chamara and Chaminda Kodikara, H. Gamage Ariyarathne, G.D.S. Ariyaratne, Anil Jayasinghe, Athula Manchanayake, L. Dias, E. Periers, G. Peries, H.M.A. Manage to name a few.

In this years "Big One" Sylverstians go as favourites, but the rivals are sure to address in the same manner. This time the Sylverstians are led by third year coloursmen Ravi Karunaratne who has done well to lead the side from front to win a couple of games. He is a promising all-rounder and has made over 500 runs and taken over 25 wickets. So, in this big match he should do well both with the bat and the ball and also should lead the side to do well.

His deputy is Chanaka Ranaweera, who is a fine right arm medium-pacemen. with a good haul of wickets. The other talented players in the side are Shana Najurdeen he too is a fine all-rounder and has given off his best. Then there is Mohamed Feshal a technically correct srtroke maker, Dananjaya Karunarathne, Rajitha Wickremarachchi a top notch stumper, Chanka Colombage, should give off their best. Their coach Tudor Gunarathne with limited facilities has done his best.

This time the Vidyartha XI is led by Dilan Senanayake a fine left hand batsman and a left arm spinner, who plays in his fourth year. He has batted with guts and made over 400 runs including a century. He is all out to lead the side from front and give a firm challenge to their rivals.

His deputy is Maduka Weerasekara a third year player, who led the under 17 side. They have Eranga Gangoda last years skipper who is playing in his fifth year. He is a hard hitting right hand middle order batsman. He has made over 500 runs. and taken nearly 50 wickets. The rest of the top players in the side are Sadakelum Chandrasena, Janaka Weersekara, Nadun Basnayake, Asiri Karunarathne and Madushanka Wijerathne. B.P. Ranasinghe has done a superb job as the coach an and he is well backed up by co-coach Chanminda Kodikara. Their P.O.G. Wijewansa and Principal W. B.Gunnepana give them a big hand.

Vidyartha played against Kalutara Vidiyalaya, Maliyadeva, Kingswood, Dharmaraja, Panadura Royal, St. Mary's Kegalle, St.Thomas Matara., St. Anne's Kurunegala and St. Anthonys Katugastota. Although all matches ended in no decisions they had seven first innings wins.

St. Sylvester's - Ravi Karunaratne (Capt), Chanaka Ranaweera (Vice Capt), M. Prem Kumar, Dhananja Karunarathne, Nuwan Silva, Menaka Nanayakkara, Chanka Colombage, Yahira Chanuka, Chanaka Silva, Roshan Jayatissa, Kasun Alwis, Mohamed Feshal, Nuski Mohamed, Shana Najurdeen.

Vidyartha - Dilan Senanayake (Capt), Maduka Weerasekara (Vice Capt), Eranga Gangoda, Sadakelum Chandrasena, Janaka Weerasekara, Nadun Basnayake, Asiri Karunarathne, Madushanka Wijerathne, Pathum Aluthge, Kasun Ekanayake, Dilana Kaushliya, Theekshana Wedagedera, Sameera Abeyrathne, Eraj Chandrasekara, Ravi Thalgodage, Kasun Shriml, Gayan Gunatilake.

Just when you think you've seen it all in sports, it keeps amasing us with more and more dramatic twists and turns.

Commonwealth Games 2006 in Melbourne is the buzz around Australia these days. The Melbourne 2006 Games will start on March 15 and end on  March 26.

Though the games haven't started yet, one result that you can put your house on is that this mega event will be organised deliciously. Aussies are marvels at hosting mass scale sporting events and we should look no further than the 2000 Olympics and 2003 Rugby World Cup for confirmation.

The news that has hit the Australians harder than any Terrorism threat is the withdrawal of the legendary Ian Thorpe from this year's games. A tired, drained and pale looking figure of Ian Thorpe attended the press conference last week to announce his withdrawal from the event he has made his own in the last 6 years. Thorpe, who many believe as the greatest swimmer of all time, is the current of 200m and 400m free style world record holder. He has broken 22 world records thus far and he's Australia's greatest Olympian with 9 medals including 5 gold medals.

When whole of Australia is mourning the withdrawal of Thorpe due to illness there's one young man who must be confused and happy at the same time about all this. That is Craig Stevens, the man replacing Thorpe at this year's Commonwealth Games.

The Thorpe and Stevens story has more twists and turns than an Erle Stanley Gardner's best selling novel. In the swimming qualifiers for the 2004 Athens Olympics, Ian Thorpe was disqualified from the 400m freestyle due to a false start. It took a long time for the Organisers, Thorpe, other swimmers and the Australian public to realise that Thorpe will not be there to defend his pet event at the Olympics.

Craig Stevens was the swimmer who came second in the final and qualified for the Olympics. What a moment in a young man's life. If you grew up dreaming about being a professional swimmer, swimming at the Olympics would be the icing on the cake for any sportsman. But Craig Stevens couldn't celebrate very long.

The Australian officials and Thorpe's management found out that the only way Ian Thorpe could swim at the Olympics 400m event was if Craig Stevens pulled out and sacrificed his place to Thorpe. Ian Thorpe is one of Australia's favourite sons, so I need not say who the Australian public wanted to see at the Olympics. What pressure put on an up and coming young swimmer?

Craig Stevens was faced with the decision of his life. We will never know whether what he did was the right thing or whether Stevens would have won a medal at the Olympics because he did sacrifice his place to Thorpe. Ian Thorpe the champion he is went on to defend his Olympic title and win gold at the Athens Olympics.  Surely, it must have been dream shattering for Craig Stevens to step down from the Olympics but destiny has a funny way of revealing it self. This time Craig Stevens did not qualify for the Commonwealth games 400m swimming event but because Ian Thorpe pulled out Stevens will now be swimming for his country in Melbourne.

I am sure no one is expecting Stevens to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games. But with all he's been through in the last couple of years you never know.

Only thing Craig Stevens will be hoping for is that Ian Thorpe will not change his decision again. Now that would be a catastrophe.