Warm welcome for Lankan Cricketers

Australia is no strange country for our cricketers says High Commissioner

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting

The Sri Lankan Cricketers who lost their warm-up match to Queensland Bulls' were given a thunderous ovation when they arrived at the Sir Walter Burnett Hall for the dinner dance in their honour on Sunday.

The dinner dance, according to the Sri Lankans domiciled in Brisbane and the Australians who were present was easily the best dance organised and the Sri Lankan Sports Association of Queensland Inc. headed by former Sri Lankan ruggerite Maurice de Silva and his band of hardworking men certainly deserve congratulations.

All tickets numbering 620 were sold out well in advance even before the Lankan cricketers arrived in Brisbane.

When the announcement was made that the team had arrived there was no one who did not put their hands together and greet the cricketers with an ear splitting ovation.

The Chief Guest was Kusumsiri Balapatabendi and Mrs. Balapatabendi and the guest of honour Anton Swan, the former Sri Lankan swimmer and waterpolo player and Mrs. Swan. Anton is the Honourary Consul for Sri Lanka in Queensland.

After the lighting of the traditional oil lamp and the singing of the national anthems of Sri Lanka and Australia, speeches were made by Maurice de Silva, President, SLSA who announced that Sri Lanka Cricket had appointed the SLSA as its representative in Queensland.

'The primary objective of SLSA is the development of junior cricket in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has come a long way since receiving ICC status 25 years ago. Gone are the days when they were considered minnows and thought of as 'pushovers'. I am sure you will join me in congratulating Mahela and his team for their many achievements, especially winning the ICC 'Spirit of Cricket' award this year', said de Silva, to loud applause.

Kusumsiri Balapatabendi, PC, High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Australia speaking said that Australia is no strange country for the cricketers as they have played many a series with Australian teams year after year with a proven prowess in the game.

'Sri Lanka is a proud nation having a team of players from all communities, Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Burgher and Malay and of all religions - Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and Islam. The unity in diversity in the cricket team demonstrates Sri Lanka's unique social, cultural and religious binding among all peoples of the nation' said the High Commissioner.

To mark the occasion, the SLSA had brought out an excellent souvenir edited by former Sports Editor of the 'SUN' newspaper in Sri Lanka Lawrence Heyn. Heyn also played cricket for St. Peter's and was an outstanding batsman. He also played for my club the Saracens.

Heyn has done a wonderful job with articles titled; 'Passing the Test', 'Best of the Best', 'Murali has the world in a spin'. Also contributing to the souvenir are Premasara Epasinghe, who needs no introduction to sports fans in Sri Lanka.

He has written an article on the giants of Sri Lanka cricket. Siva Illankesan a former 'SUN' reporter has contributed a piece on Chaminda Vaas.

Corrine Almedia and Sohan Weerasinghe-sporting a 'Blues brothers of US fame Nat, made popular by Sunil Perera of the Gypsies, provided some excellent music and singing that saw the dancers having a jolly good time.

Brisbane, Queensland, Tuesday