Stories

A collection of 44 posts

Cricket Featured

Sanga, The Wordsmith Who Made His Bat Talk

Kumar Sangakkara, known for being well spoken and his fashion sense in bespoke tailoring apart from his achievements in cricket, turns 48 years today!

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Stories Featured

Aura-vinda, The Little Giant For Big Occasions

Standing at just 5'3, Aravinda De Silva who turns 60 years today packed a punch with every Pull Shot, and delivered the best all round performance in a World Cup Final

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On This Day

The Captain Who Fought The Smallpox Outbreak

Born today in 1894, Dr. C.H. Gunasekara is a hallowed name in Royal College Cricket like his other family members, and the first Ceylonese to play County Cricket in England.

On This Day

A Sports Minister Whose Name Stood For 'Vision'

V.A. Sugathadasa OBE who was born today in 1912, is best remembered for his generous contributions as Mayor of Colombo, and his services as Ceylon's First Minister of Sports.

On This Day

Mr. Leslie - The Founder Of University Games

Born today in 1921, Mr. Leslie Handunge was not only the first boxer from Ceylon to win a bout at the 1948 Olympics, but also laid the foundation for Sri Lanka University Sports.

Stories

The 'Keeper of Faith' and Promise to his Son

Former Zimbabwe Captain Tatenda Taibu once 'came out of retirement' as an overseas player for Badureliya CC in 2019 because his son never had the chance to see him play!

On This Day

The Day When Sri Lanka Braved Thomson's Fury

50 years ago today, Sri Lanka showed their fighting spirit as they faced one of Cricket's deadliest duos - Jeff Thomson and Dennis Lillee in the World Cup against Australia.

On This Day

Mathews - The Match Winner Of Yesteryear

Angelo Mathews who turns 38 years today, embodies many nostalgic memories from his 17 year long career as a match winning all rounder of generational talent.

On This Day

Mahanama - A Big Name Who Walked The Talk!

Roshan Mahanama who turns 59 years today, is remembered for his fighting knocks and safe hands in the outfield for Sri Lanka, before he became an ICC Match Referee.

On This Day

Wimalasena, A Man Who Weathered The Storm

Wimalasena Perera who turns 80 years today, ran the Marathon at high altitude in the 1968 Mexico Olympics and got to know he finished 51st the next day in hospital.

Cricket

She Let The Ladies Play The Gentleman's Game

An Actress turned Administrator, Mrs.Gwen Herat will be remembered for her giant leaps in Cricket as the Founding President of the Sri Lanka Women's Cricket Association

On This Day

'Billiard' Lafir - The First Ever World Champion

M.J.M. Lafir who was born today in 1930, is a story that started with marbles and a broomstick, and ends with Sri Lanka's first world championship title in any sport!

On This Day

David Wilkie - A Pioneer Of The Swimming Gear

It's been a year since the passing of former Olympian Gold medalist David Wilkie MBE, born in Ceylon and was the first to use the goggles and cap for competitive swimming

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On This Day

Ireland's Forgotten Hero Who Was Born In Ceylon

Born on this day in 1907 in Nuwara Eliya, Robert Tisdall left Ceylon long before he won the Gold medal for Ireland in the Men's 400m Hurdles at the 1932 Olympic Games

Stories

Aravinda's First Taste of England: Where Dreams Were Forged

A 15 year old teenager stepped onto a plane for the very first time, full of excitement, on his way to England with his U19 cricket team. That was Aravinda de Silva's reality in 1981...

Cricket

When 'Hope' Finally Became A Reality

After sharing sorrows as the losing side in four straight World Cup finals, Sri Lanka became the T20 World Cup winners on this day in 2014 at the Sher-E-Bangla Stadium.

On This Day

The CBSL Governor Who Led Sri Lanka Rugby

Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy, who turns 75 years today, is the 14th Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and famously led Sri Lanka in the ASIAD Finals in 1974

On This Day

A Life Around Cricket, Hockey and Insurance!

Chandra Schaffter, founder of Janashakthi Insurance PLC and the oldest living First Class Cricketer who represented Ceylon in Hockey and Cricket, turns 95 years today.

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On This Day

The Bizarre Pitch That Bamboozled Bradman!

On this day in 1948, Colombo came to a halt as more than 20,000 spectators surrounded the P Sara Oval to watch Sir Don Bradman score the same number of runs as the pitch!

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On This Day

Tissera - The Tea Taster, Cricketer and Manager

'Deshabandu' Michael Tissera who turns 86 years today, didn't only taste tea but has also led Ceylon in the Pre-Test Era, famously tasting victory on Indian soil in 1965

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On This Day

From 2nd Fastest Bowler to 2nd In The World

Recent World Lead and Former Schoolboy Fast Bowler Rumesh Tharanga who turns 22 years today, is the first Sri Lankan Athlete to break the 85m barrier in Men's Javelin

On This Day

The Banker Who Took More Than 500 Wickets

Rangana Herath who turns 47 years today, holds the record for the most wickets taken by a Left Arm Test Bowler and the longest span of 19 years for Sri Lanka Cricket!

On This Day

"That's it, all the way to the boundary for four!"

On this day in 1996, the captain's Late Cut towards Third Man saw Sri Lanka conquer the mighty Australians for their first ever World Cup win, inspiring future generations.

On This Day

The Netball Coach Who Ran At The Olympics

'Deshabandu' Thilaka Jindasa who turns 62 years today, is the first sportswoman to be awarded this title when she became Sri Lanka's first female Olympian in 1988

On This Day

The Ceylon Hurdler Who Had The Last Laugh!

Ceylon's First Olympic Medalist Duncan White, who was born today in 1918, had an unusual exchange of words at the starting block before the start of his Olympic Final.