Sri Lankan cricketers have shown vast improvement

Bandula Molligoda

29 August 1998


LONDON, Friday - After 50 days of touring England the Sri Lankan team has shown vast improvement and have corrected their faults according to Sri Lankan team manager Ranjith Fernando.

``Sending a cricketer back to Sri Lanka due to misbehaviour is an act which completely destroys his cricket career. By correcting him and allowing him to continue to play on the tour the country will be able to get the best out of him in the future,'' said Fernando.

Ranjith Fernando said that he is now fully satisfied with team discipline and the performance of the team in the last few games.

A dinner dance was held at the Hilton Hotel, London to felicitate the Sri Lankan cricketers. A ticket was sold at 45 sterling pounds (Rs. 4,775) and the total collection was sterling pounds 33,750 (Rs. 35 lakhs). Out of this only 3,000 sterling pounds was given to the cricketers. Nothing is known about the balance of 30,750 Sterling Pounds (Rs. 30 lakhs) of the collection.

At the dinner, presents were given to all except the manager, coach and cricketer Ravindra Pushpakumara when the people were inquiring why Pushpakumara was not given a present, an individual came to him and offered him a present. The ceremony was organised by a committee.

Pushpakumara was unable to play for two weeks due to a foot injury. He faced another tragedy while the team was occupying the Bay Hotel in Southampton when he lost his bag containing important documents, identity card and some money.

Sri Lankan High Commissioner in London Mr. S. K. Wickremasinghe and Mrs. Wickremasinghe organised a ceremony to welcome the Sri Lankan cricketers at the High Commission on Tuesday night. Several top officials attached to Sri Lankan institutions and several diplomats participated.


Source: The Daily News

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Date-stamped : 01 Sep1998 - 18:26