Sri Lanka Premier League(SLPL) 2012:Uva Next WinThrilling Final

Uva-Next-Wins-final--SLPL-2012

Dilshan Munaweera, blasted unbeaten 44 in 23 balls...

Uva Next clinched their maiden Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) 2012 title by beating by Nagenahira Nagas  in SLPL final.
Sri Lanka's find of the tournament, Dilshan Munaweera, blasted unbeaten 44 in 23 balls to take Uva Next to the title of the inaugural Sri Lanka Premier League(SLPL) tournament, concluded at the R. Premadasa Stadium. Chasing 137 in 15 overs, in reply to Nagenahira Nagas total of 134 for 4, Uva Next batters were storming at the middle with 63 for one on the board after 5.1 overs when a pouring rain came down.

Six hit by Dilshan Munaweera-Uva Next

More than 40 ground staffers were struck with a massive cover, few feet away from the wicket as heavy rain dampened the wicket leaving no chance of a replay. However, Uva was home by one ball as the par score on D/L method was 44 after five overs.
Munaweera hit an elegant 44 with five towering sixes and couple of fours while Seekuge Prasanna smashing 15 in 5 balls with two massive sixes.
Earlier Angelo Mathews cracked a power packed unbeaten 73 from 27 balls to steer Nagenahira Nagas to 134 for 4 in 15 overs. The rain hit innings was shortened to 15 overs after play was interrupted by rain in the 10th over.
Mathews hit four towering sixes and 8 boundaries along the ground, leaving only 16 balls to his two partners after the rain. Nagas won the toss and elected to bat under threatening clouds and they were at 47 for 3 when the rain came down after 9.1 overs. However, they picked it up quickly as play resumed and blasted 87 runs off 35 balls.
Mathews hit Dilhara Fernando to all parts of the grounds, steeling 20 runs in 8 balls from his national team-mate.
Being the Nagas skipper, who is also the vice captain of Sri Lanka national team, Mathews completed his half century in 21 balls and ended his innings in style, hoisting a massive six to the last ball of the innings, bowled by Umar Gul. 

Uva Next have also qualified for the Champions League to be held in South Africa. 

Singapore wins 8th Asian Netball Championship 2012

Singapore-wins-8th-Asian-Netball-Championship

Sri Lanka Lose Asian Netball Championship Final by 1 point

Singapore won the 8th Asian Netball Championship after defeating Sri Lanka in final  at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium,Colombo,Sri Lanka

Singapore beat Sri Lanka by one point as the scores were at 48-47 in the end of the match.

Sri Lanka beat Malaysia in the semifinal yesterday to qualify for the final while Singapore reached the final after a 53-27 win over Hong Kong.

Malaysia beat Hong Kong by 56-27 to claim the second runner-up spot.

Sri Lanka Premier League(SLPL) final today

Nagenahira-Nagas-vs-Uva-Next-SLPL-final

SLPL Final Nagenahira Nagas Vs Uva Next

The historic first T20 final in the inaugural Sri Lanka Premier League  tournament(SLPL) between Nagenahira Nagas and Uva Next will be played today(31/08/2012) Match scheduled to begin at 20:00 local time (14:30 GMT)  at the R.Premadasa Stadium Colombo,Sri Lanka

The Nagenahira Nagas advanced to the final on round-robin results, after heavy rain forced abandonment of the second semi-final without a ball being bowled.

The Kandurata Warriors, who sit one point behind the Nagas, will bemoan their luck, as the only other washout was their clash with Uva Next on Saturday, which if they had won, would have seen them through to the final on net run-rate.

Nagenahira Nagas squad(SLPL)

• AD Mathews*

• Ahmed Shehzad

• KG Alvitigala

• TR Birt, PVD Chameera

• Elias Sunny

• RMS Eranga

• CS Fernando

• Imran Nazir

• HIA Jayaratne

• MDUS Jayasundera

• S Randiv

• KMDN Kulasekara

• B Laughlin

• VWAG Maneshan

• MR Marsh

• BAW Mendis

• Mushfiqur Rahim

• Nasir Hossain

• SS Pathirana

• AK Perera

• TN Sampath

• AD Solomons

• S Weerakoon

Uva Next squad(SLPL)

• SHT Kandamby*

• S Chanderpaul

• TDD Darshanapriya

• Fawad Alam

• CJ Ferguson

• CRD Fernando

• MVT Fernando

• JEC Franklin

• Hammad Azam

• DHA Isanka

• CU Jayasinghe

• PASS Jeewantha

• AB McDonald

• LD Madushanka

• EMDY Munaweera

• JDP Oram

• S Prasanna

• SMA Priyanjan

• PBB Rajapaksa

• SMSM Senanayake

• Shoaib Malik

• WAAM Silva

• WU Tharanga

• Umar Gul

Sangakkara in running for both ICC Cricketer of the Year and Test Cricketer the Year

ICC Awards 2012

ICC Awards 2012...

Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara,South Africa's Hashim Amla and Vernon Philander, Australia's Michael Clarke  are in the running for the ICC Cricketer of the Year award for 2012. The ICC announced the shortlists for the annual awards on Thursday, and the winners will be announced at a function ahead of the World Twenty20, on September 15, in Colombo,Sri Lanka. 

The four cricketers have also been nominated for ICC Test Cricketer of the Year, while Lasith Malinga, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli join Sangakkara as the contenders for ODI Cricketer of the year.

The nominees were picked off the ICC's longlists, via voting by an academy of 32 people consisting of former players, members of the media, and representatives of the ICC's panel of umpires and match referees. The players were picked based on their performance between August 4, 2011, and August 6, 2012. 

List of nominees for ICC awards 2012

• ICC Cricketer of the Year: Hashim Amla, Michael Clarke, Vernon Philander, Kumar Sangakkara 
• ICC Test Cricketer of the Year: Hashim Amla, Michael Clarke, Vernon Philander, Kumar Sangakkara 
• ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year: MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Lasith Malinga, Kumar Sangakkara 
• ICC T20 Performance of the Year: Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chris Gayle, Richard Levi, Ajantha Mendis 
• ICC Women's ODI Cricketer of the Year: Lydia Greenway (Eng), Anisa Mohammed (WI), Sarah Taylor (Eng), Stafanie Taylor (WI) 
• ICC Women's T20I Cricketer of the Year: Alyssa Healy (Aus), Lisa Sthalekar (Aus), Sarah Taylor (Eng), Stafanie Taylor (WI) 
• ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year: Doug Bracewell, Dinesh Chandimal, Sunil Narine, James Pattinson 
• ICC Associate and Affiliate Cricketer of the Year: Kevin O'Brien, George Dockrell, Ed Joyce, Paul Stirling (all four Ireland), Dawlat Zadran (Afg) 
• ICC Umpire of the Year: Billy Bowden, Aleem Dar, Kumar Dharmasena, Richard Kettleborough, Simon Taufel, Rodney Tucker 
• ICC Spirit of Cricket: Mohammad Hafeez, Jacques Kallis, Daniel Vettori, AB de Villiers 
• People's Choice Award: James Anderson, Jacques Kallis, Vernon Philander, Kumar Sangakkara, Sachin Tendulkar

Sri Lanka Netball team qualifies for Asian Netball Championship final

Sri-Lanka-Netball-team-qualified-final

Sri Lanka beat Malaysia to reach final...

Sri Lanka won the semifinal against Malaysia and qualified for the final in the 8th Asian Netball Championship at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium Colombo,Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Netball team beat Malaysia by 67-58 to reach the final

Sri Lanka will meet  the winner of the second semi-final clash between Hong Kong and Singapore which will be played in Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium Colombo,Sri Lanka.

The 8th Asian Netball Championship  national representative teams:

• Sri Lanka 
• Singapore
• Malaysia
• Hong Kong
• India
• Maldives
• Pakistan
• Nepal
• Japan 
• Brunei

2012 Londo Paralympic Opening Ceremony E-Lanaknews

 

2012 Londo Paralympic Opening Ceremony

London 2012  Paralympic  was opened 

The Queen has declared the London 2012 Paralympics officially open, during a spectacular opening ceremony watched by some 80,000 spectators.Athletes attend the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games in the Olympic Stadium, Aug. 29, 2012.

2012 Londo Paralympic Opening Ceremony

Queen- 2012 London Paralympic Opening Ceremony

2012 Londo Paralympic Opening Ceremony

William and kate- 2012 London Paralympic Opening Ceremony

Chinese Defence Minister Liang Guanglie to visit Sri Lanka

Chinese-Defence-Minister-Liang-Guanglie-Sri-lanka

Chinese defence minister visit Sri Lanka ...

Chinese Defence Minister Liang Guanglie arrived in Sri Lanka on a five-day state visit on 29th August 2012, local News reported.

Defence Minister Liang Guanglie will visit India and Laos at the invitation of the three countries' defense ministries.

Sri Lanka Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetillake, Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral D.W.A.S. Dissanayake, Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal H.D Abeywickrama and Military Liaison Officer (MLO), Major General  Palitha Fernando at Ministry of Defence extended a warm welcome to the visiting General Liang Guanglie and his 23 member delegation at the Katunayaka Bandaranaike International Airport when they arrival aboard a Chinese aircraft.

He will also visit the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) at Sapugaskanda, Defence Services College, Panagoda Army Cantonment and a few other places, the army News Media unit said.

Duleep Mendis to coach Oman cricket senior national team

Duleep-Mendis-to-coach-Oman-cricket-team

Duleep Mendis is Oman cricket coach for ACC Elite Cup

Rohan Duleep Mendis, a dynamic and dedicated former international cricketer who represented Sri Lanka team in both Test and one-day internationals (ODIs), has been selected to coach the Oman senior national team for the forthcoming ACC Elite Trophy 2012. The tournament will be held in the UAE from October 3 to 13.

Mendis first represented the Sri Lankan national cricket team while as a schoolboy against Pakistan in 1972. He went on to play for Sri Lanka for 18 years in both Tests and ODIs, captaining the team during 1982-1987. Registered the first Test win under his captaincy in 1982 against India led by Kapil Dev.

Mendis was the manager of the Sri Lankan team that won the ICC World Cup in 1996. He went on to guide Sri Lanka to Asia Cup triumph in 1985. He also coached the Sri Lankan Team during 1991-1992. In addition he was the Director of the National Development Centre, Sri Lanka Cricket in the year 2000.

Mendis will arrive in Muscat on September 4 and will handle the coaching/training camp in Muscat. He will travel with the team to the UAE for the Elite Cup and depart from Oman after his return from the UAE around October 15. Oman Cricket thanked Khimji Ramdas Group for agreeing to meet all the expenses related to coach Mendis.

Sri Lankan Nayomi Andibuduge in Miss Italy in the World 2012

Nayomi Andibuduge in Miss Italy 2012

Sri Lankan beauty in Miss Italy finals...

A girl born to Sri Lankan parents, Nayomi Andibuduge has been selected among the six finalists for the Miss Italy of the World Crown in the Miss Italy pageant. 18 years-old Naomi Andibuduge was among the 20 contestants competing in the category and has now been included among the six finalists.
The Miss Italy pageant will take place next month (2012, September 9) and the Miss Italy of the World is a new segment included this year where a foreigner living in Italy for a minimum of one year can take part in the contest.

Nayomi-Andibuduge-in-Miss-Italy

Nayomi Andibuduge was born in Rome to her Sri Lankan parents Reymond and Sandhya, Italian news reports said. 


Miss Italy in the World 2012 six finalists

• Stéphanie Santoromito, Miss Tunisia (already a finalist in Miss Italy in the World 2010) 
• Nayomi Andibuduge, Miss Sri Lanka 
• Nezha Wahib, Miss Morocco 
• Aylen Nail Maranges, Miss Argentina 
• Tetiana Bondarenko, Miss Kazakhstan
• Kaline Basil De Souza, Miss Brazil 

First night of Miss Italy 2012, September 9. Day will be named the winner.

Miss-Italy-in-the-World-2012 Miss Tunisia

Miss-Italy-in-the-World-2012 Miss Argentina

Miss-Italy-in-the-World-2012 Miss Kazakhstan 

Miss-Italy-in-the-World-2012 Miss Morocco

Miss-Italy-in-the-World-2012 Miss Brazil

Validity period of passports for minors reduced: Sri Lanka

Validity-period-of-passports-reduced

The validity period of passports issued to minors has been reduced.

Issuing a communique, Immigration and Emigration Controller, Chulananda Perera has stated that the current ten year validity period of passports for those under the age of 16, has now been reduced to three years.

Thereby, the rates too have been amended.

The same day service for all-country passports is now Rs. 3500 while the normal service is Rs.1500.
The same day service for passports to Middle Eastern countries is Rs.1500 while the normal service is Rs.1000.

SLPL is a good preparation for the T20 World Cup 2012 :Lasith Malinga Said

T20 world cup 2012 Lasith Malinga  

Sri Lanka premier league is a good preparation for the Twenty20 World Cup 2012

Sri Lanka pacer Lasith Malinga feels that his side will have a distinct advantage over other countries during next month's Twenty20 World Cup 2012 as most of the island nation's players have prepared well by competing in the Sri Lanka Premier League.

"SLPL is a good preparation for the Twenty20 World Cup 2012. All the Sri Lankan players know the conditions very well and we have a chance to win the Twenty20 World Cup 2012," Lasith Malinga Said

"It is advantage for us and we are ready for the T20 World Cup," he added.
Ruhuna crashed out of the SLPL after losing to table toppers Wayamba by 12 runs and Malinga said that his players were their best as many youngsters have are not used to such T20 leagues.
"It's the first year of SLPL and the local players are yet to adjust to T20 leagues. They don't know how to play T20 cricket. They will learn and get better in future. It's a good thing for Sri Lanka," he said.
Malinga was not satisfied with his own performance in the SLPL but said that he hoped to do well in the Twenty20 World Cup.
"Definitely, my performance was not up to the mark. But I am hoping that I will do well in the Twenty20 World Cup," said Malinga who took seven wickets from six matches in SLPL.
Malinga's side lost four matches out of the six in the league phase of SLPL to end the tournament at fifth spot. Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene also backed Malinga's views.
"In a way it was a good preparation but I was a bit worried that injuries might happen to the players just so near the Twenty20 World Cup.
"We had some injuries to players but fortunately they will be OK for the T20 World Cup. In all, there were more positives from the SLPL than the negatives," he said.

Sri Lanka Provincial Council elections 2012 Postal voting today and tomorrow...

Sri Lanka Provincial Council elections 2012

Postal voting for the Sept. 8 North-Central, Eastern and Sabaragamuwa

Sri Lanka Provincial Council elections Postal voting for the Sept. 8 North-Central, Eastern and Sabaragamuwa  will be held today and tomorrow(27-28/08/2012).
There were 100,818 voters eligible for postal voting, Elections Department news sources said.
Of the seven districts coming under the three provinces, Anuradhapura tops the list with the highest number of postal voters numbering 35,000.
A senior official of the department said that special elections officials would be present at the postal voting centres where more than 50 voters were to cast their votes, such as police stations, tri forces and STF camps.
Those who missed the opportunity to cast their votes today can do so tomorrow.

SLT Group 1st Half 2012 Operating Profits up by 15% to Rs. 3.36 bn; Exchange Loss on Translation Dilutes PBT

SriLankaTelecom(SLT),thePioneer telecommunication services provider in Sri Lanka, released its Group and Company financial results for the six months ended 30th June 2012, recording a Rs. 3.36 bn group operating profit, a growth of 15% Year on Year (YoY). Group revenue has increased to Rs 27.50 bn, an increase of 11% YoY. Depreciation of the Sri Lankan rupee continued to have a significant adverse impact on Group Profit before Tax (PBT) and PAT due to US $ exposure in the Group’s Mobile subsidiary Mobitel. With the inclusion of the translation impact of the exchange loss, PBT at Group level declined by 37% to Rs. 2.05 bn while Profit after Tax (PAT) declined by 56% to Rs.1.06 bn. However, once normalized (without exchange loss on translation) the group has reported an impressive PBT of Rs. 3.95 bn, an increase of 24% and PAT of Rs. 2.97 bn, a growth of 26% YoY. 

During the 1st half 2012, the SLT group has invested Rs 7.9 bn in strategically important areas including fixed and mobile broadband, IPTV, Mobile network expansion and in particular the i-Sri Lanka program to ensure high speed broadband connectivity for Mega Line fixed customers. These investments enhance the Group footprint and capabilities in the telecommunication market both locally and internationally.

Mr. Nimal Welgama, Chairman of Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) commenting on 1 H 2012 results said “as the country’s national telecommunications service provider with an unmatched service portfolio, SLT continues to take the lead role in advancing the telecommunication industry in Sri Lanka to the next level. SLT has powered the economy by boosting the telecommunication sector over the last few decades and is poised to do so in the future  with the group’s vision aligned with the national vision for an IT enabled country. At operating level, the SLT Group has delivered solid financial performance for the 1st half 2012 and I am confident that the group will deliver strong operating results for the financial year 2012.”

Parent company SLT has recorded a revenue growth of 7.3 % to reach Rs. 17.15 bn, the highest 1H revenue growth since 2006. This revenue growth has been driven by non-traditional revenue streams such as Fixed Broadband, PEOTV, Wholesale, Enterprise and International. PBT of SLT Company increased by 16% to Rs.2.73 bn while PAT increased by 16% to Rs.2.04bn. Company EBITDA margin has reduced to 32% from 35% in the corresponding period in 2011, mainly driven by increases in international telecommunication levy, energy costs, forex impact on direct and operating costs and domestic expense increases.

Mobitel, the Group’s flagship subsidiary, saw its 1H revenue grow by 12% to Rs.11.75 bn. EBITDA margin increased to 33% from 31% in the corresponding period in 2011, driven by the revenue growth and cost optimization initiatives. Operating profits increased to Rs. 1.42 bn, an impressive growth of 27%. However, exchange loss of Rs.1.99 bn on translation triggered a loss after tax of Rs. 987 Mn for 1H 2012. Normalized to exclude exchange loss, Mobitel profit before tax of Rs.1.27 bn and profit after tax of Rs. 1 bn increased by 45% and 55% respectively YoY.
(Colombo, Sri Lanka, August 13^th 2012)

2012 London Olympics Close with rocking Ceremony-E-Lankanews

The London 2012 London Olympics have ended with rocking ceremony and the official handover to the next host city, Rio de Janeiro 2016.(Brazil)

The three-hour show featured some of the biggest names of British pop from decades past, including the Spice Girls, George Michael and Elbow.

2012 Olympic games ended with America on top of the medal standings, winning 104 overall, including 46 gold.

China’s finished second with 87 medals that included 38 gold. Britain finished third in the gold medal count, winning five more than Russia. Russia finished third in overall medals, while Britain landed in fourth.

85 countries won at least one medal.

Yuvaraj Singh come back for T20 World Cup 2012-Sri Lanka

India Top Order batsman Yuvraj Singh, who recovered from lung cancer, has been named in India’s squad for the ICC World Twenty20 next month in Sri Lanka.

yuvaraj singh , the man of the tournament in the 2011 World Cup, had last played for India in November 2011 before being diagnosed with a rare germ cell cancer.

K Srikkanth, chairman of selectors, said “Yuvraj Singh is crucial factor. We are very happy Yuvraj is back. We appreciate the kind of effort he has put.

“I am sure this combination we have a great chance to win the World T20,” he added.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, pacer L Balaji and leg-spinner Piyush Chawla have also made a comeback into the 15-member squad.

The fourth ICC World Twenty20 competition, will be played in Sri Lanka between September 18 and October 7, 2012.