Mathews hopes to gain from Mahela’s England knowledge

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews hopes to utilise Mahela Jayawardene’s inside knowledge of the England set-up when the two teams meet in a Test series later this month. 
Jayawardene, one of Sri Lanka’s greatest batsman but retired from international cricket since last year’s 50-over World Cup, recently acted as a batting consultant to England including at the World Twenty20 in India where his ‘adopted’ team reached the final. 
Jayawardene, who is due to have a stint playing for county side Somerset in English domestic cricket’s Twenty20 competition later this season, no longer has any official role with the England set-up ahead of the start of a three-Test series at Headingley on May 19. But according to Mathews, he will be close at hand for advice in his new role as a television commentator. Mathews could also tap into the experience of another Sri Lankan batting star in Kumar Sangakkara, no longer on the international scene but now playing for London-based county side Surrey. “When it comes to international cricket there are no secrets to be honest,” Mathews told reporters at Lord’s, where Sri Lanka were training ahead of this weekend’s tour opener against Essex. “I think we have a lot of video footage, they have video footage of us as well, so there are no real secrets. When you get on the park you know what they are up to and the plan for this, and we get to know it.
 “But there might be a couple of tactical ideas that Mahela can predict. “I’m pretty sure that guys like Mahela and Sangakkara will always come and help us.” Earlier this year, Sri Lanka Cricket president Thilanga Sumathipala criticised Jayawardene when he started his second stint with England at the World Twenty20. But Mathews was far more relaxed about his former team-mate working with a rival nation. “There’s no problem with guys like that working with other countries,” said the all-rounder.
 “They have the freedom to go anywhere and work and we have the luxury of asking them and inviting them to come and help us out as well. So it doesn’t really matter.” 

Singapore fall 17-33 to Sri Lanka in Asia Rugby Div 1 opener

Sri Lanka overcame a disjointed first-half performance to beat Singapore 33-17 in the opening match of the Asia Rugby Championship Division I on Sunday. Ranked 38th in the world and 21 spots higher than their opponents, the Sri Lankans began sluggishly and were put under pressure by the Singaporean forwards. The Republic scored two tries through winger Jay-Hykel Jailani and back Peter McFeeley at the Royal Selangor Stadium in Kuala Lumpur to lead 17-15 at the break. But the South Asian side awoke in the next 40 minutes to score 18 unanswered points to seal the win

Mahinda’s security even better now - SB

Minister S.B. Dissanayake on Monday (09) asserted the police personnel deployed for the security detail of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa are trained on VIP security. The observation was made while responding to media personnel at an event held in Kandy this morning (09). He pointed out thus withdrawal of 50 army personnel has not placed the life of former President in danger. “With the STF, security provided to the former President is even stronger now,” Dissanayake added

Most Ven. Warakagoda Gnanarathana Thera is new Chief Prelate of Asgiri Chapter

The Most Venerable Warakagoda Gnanarathana Thera was unanimously elected as the Mahanayake of the Asgiri Chapter of the Siam Sect on Thursday April 7.
The Most Venerable Thero’s appointment makes him the 22nd Mahanayake of the Asgiri Chapter.
The special Sanga Council meeting to elect the new Mahanayake for the Asgiri Chapter was held at the Asigiri Maha Viharaya on Thursday. The decision to select a Mahanayake Thero is taken with the consent of 19 Theras of the Sangha Council.
Venerable Vendaruwe Upali Anunayake Thero was also proposed for the post of Mahanayake of the Asgiri Chapter.
President Maithripala Sirisena extended his wishes to the newly appointed Mahanayake Thera on Thursday.

Despite the undue pressure exerted by a top official in the Department of Sri Lanka Customs, a group of officers have succeeded in uncovering information regarding a stock of vehicles imported to the country while evading taxes.
The vehicle parts had arrived at the Colombo Harbour inside a 40ft container on the 18th of March, 2016.
Customs officers yesterday (7) opened the container to examine the contents and found a BMW Z3, Mitsubishi Intercooler Pajero, Isuzu Crane Truck, Komatsu Excavator, Morris Mini Minor and a Honda motorcycle.
Most of the vehicles had been divided into parts of two or more before being stored inside the container, with the intention of reassembling them after being cleared by customs.
Customs sources revealed that the contents of the container had been registered as vehicle spare parts with the intention of evading taxes.
 A retired Additional Director General of Customs has been identified as one of the suspects behind importing the container while a high-ranking official currently serving in the Department had allegedly aided them, sources said.
A group of customs officers had managed to uncover information regarding the racket after preventing the container from being released by customs and opened it, despite the pressure exerted by the aforementioned official.
- See more at: http://adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=34836#sthash.LnRmefxs.dpuf

ICC World Twenty20 2016 Points Table

ICC World Twenty20 2016 Points Table

Gayle, Afridi lead West Indies, Pakistan wins

Chris Gayle has smashed a century while Shahid Afridi rediscovered his boom with the bat as the veteran destroyers powered the West Indies and Pakistan to victories at the World Twenty20. Gayle struck 11 sixes at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium in a 47-ball century as the West Indies comfortably chased down England’s total of 6 for 182 with 11 balls remaining in their tournament opener. Afridi starred with bat and ball as he skippered Pakistan to a comprehensive 55-run victory against Bangladesh in Kolkata, drawing a line under his team’s troubled build-up. Both men had faced some hostile headlines in recent weeks and they revelled in their triumphs, with Gayle saying he had been on a mission to entertain his team-mate Sulieman Benn. “Before I went out Sulieman said you’re going to ‘entertain me’,” said a beaming Gayle after hitting the third fastest international T20 century and the quickest in a World Twenty20 tournament. “I wanted to entertain my team-mate - he’s my drinking partner as well.” After his blistering 19-ball 49 helped Pakistan post a commanding total of 5 for 201, Afridi took two key wickets in a tidy spell that helped limit Bangladesh to 6 for 146 from its 20 overs. A relieved Afridi, accused in some quarters of being a “traitor” for saying he received more “love” from Indian than Pakistani fans, said he was proud to have led by his example. “It’s a big event and I thought I should take responsibility as the captain,” Afridi said after being named man-of-the-match. While his batting pyrotechnics once earned him the nickname “Boom Boom”, Afridi has endured a torrid time at the crease in the last couple of years and some observers felt his ability to play a match-winning innings had gone for good. But after promoting himself to number four in the order, Afridi smacked four boundaries and four sixes to help Pakistan register their second highest score in T20s. “I was hungry. I was keen to perform well for my country... As senior player, I had to lead by example,” he said

Nobody contributed to UPFA expenses - Susil

Former UPFA General Secretary and Minister Susil Premajayantha says that if they had not contested the 2015 General Election as an alliance under the ‘Betel Leaf’ symbol, it would not have been possible to win 95 seats in the Parliament.  If so Ranil Wickremesinghe would have been able to establish a UNP government alone with a clear majority, he said, addressing media after Minister Mahinda Amaraweera officially assumed duties as the UPFA General Secretary.  The Minister of Science Technology and Research further said that during his tenure as UPFA general secretary nobody contributed to the party’s expenses and that only he and Anura Priyadharshana Yapa know about those expenses.  Premajayantha said that he served as UPFA General Secretary under three leaders and that he never even used a short signature without informing the leaders.  The minister said that as a lawyer he represented the alliance in 173 court cases and that he never charged the party for those services. He also said that he has no need for any positions.  Premajayantha said that while life is not eternal one should be ready to give up posts knowing they would die one day.  UPFA General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera, who also addressed the event, said that everyone should unite to work under the alliance in order to form its own government in the future.  He stated that there are no shortcuts to obtain power and that it is no easy task to come into power without doing so.  Amaraweera said that whoever acts without thinking about the alliance coming to power is fulfilling a contract of the UNP - See more at: http://www.adaderana.lk/news/34579/nobody-contributed-to-upfa-expenses-susil#sthash.lXZLmSHz.dpuf