No cheer girls for Sri Lanka’s Cuttack ODI

The Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) decided not to go ahead with its earlier plan of cheer girls concept in the forthcoming match.

"Looking at the unnecessary controversy over the issue, we have decided to stall the plan," said OCA secretary Asirbad Behera after a preparatory meeting held here under the chairmanship of state Sports minister Prabin Kumar Bhanjdeo.

OCA had earlier decided to engage cheer girls with traditional attire like Sambalpuri sarees and display various movements of local folk dances during drink intervals and lunch breaks, fall of wickets or when the ball is hit for a four or six in the match.

But a local outfit had threatened to disrupt the match if cheer girls were roped in for the match. The outfit had claimed that the OCA was trying to erode the rich cultural tradition of the state by engaging the girls to perform during a cricket match.

The Sports minister today inaugurated the OCA Corporate Box in the stadium which would have 1050 seats for the spectators to watch the match inside cool comforts under AC with food, soft drinks and beverages. The price of a single seat inside this box is pegged at Rs 8000, sources said.

Lasting peace and expedited development

My main objective in the next term is lasting peace and expedited development, the foundation for which has been already laid, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the Editors and heads of media institutions at Temple Trees, Colombo yesterday morning.

“Having fulfilled the main mandate given to me last time to unify the country, I feel the time is opportune to seek the people’s approval for the progress achieved,” he added.

Since the people of the North could not participate at the last Presidential election, President Rajapaksa said that he felt it an ethical responsibility to let all people, including those in the North and the East have an opportunity to express their choice through the ballot.

Emphasising the need for a stable Government, the President observed that no development is possible if governments are changed often by the use of money or according to the interests of foreign powers.

The President also gave an assurance that he would leave no room for election violence. While thanking the media for the cooperation extended and the responsibility shown he called upon them to be just.

In reply to a query whether he would abolish the Executive Presidency during the next term, President Rajapaksa answered that no one would be more interested than him in abolishing it.
Source www.dailynews.lk

Mahela world's best Test batsman

The sixth wicket partnership between two Jayawardenes; Mahela and Prasanna, created a new world record

Sri Lanka’s former Test cricket captain Mahela Jayawardena has replaced his own captain Kumar Sangakkara as the world’s best Test batsman.

It is the first time in his career that Jayawardena achieved the number-one ranking in the ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen.

His achievement comes after scoring 275 in the drawn first Test against India at Ahmedabad earlier this week.

It is his sixth double-century in 108 Tests.

9000 Test runs

He also became only the ninth batsman to complete 9,000 Test runs, is just 17 points short of becoming only the 25th batsman overall to reach the 900-point mark which, in ranking terms, is the benchmark for top batsmen, according to a statement by the ICC.

	Tendulkar marked his 20th anniversary Test in Ahmedabad

Before Jayawardena, Australia’s Mike Hussey was the last batsman to reach the 900-point mark in the 131-year history of Test cricket.

While India's Sachin Tendulkar marked his 20th anniversary Test, Sri Lanka also had their share in creating new records.

Mahela Jayawardena and wicket keeper Prasanna Jayawardene, not relatives, scored 351 runs between them for the sixth wicket, breaking a 72 year old record of 346 runs between Don Bradman and Jack Fingleton made for Australia against England in 1937.

Sri Lanka's score of 760 in the first innings against India is the highest first innings total scored by any team on Indian soil.
Source : www.bbc.co.uk

Sri Lanka v India first test scoreboard

Nov 20 - Scoreboard at the end of the first test between India and Sri Lanka in Ahmedabad, India on Friday. The match finished in a draw.

India first innings 426 (R. Dravid 177, M. Dhoni 110)

Sri Lanka first innings 760-7 dec (T. Dilshan 112, M. Jayawardene 275, T. Samaraweera 70, P. Jayawardene 154 not out)

India second innings (190-2 overnight) G. Gambhir c Prasad b Herath 114 V. Sehwag c Mathews b Herath 51 R. Dravid lbw b Welegedara 38 A. Mishra c Dilshan b Mathews 24 S. Tendulkar not out 100 V. Laxman not out 51 Extras (b-12, lb-9, w-2, nb-11) 34 Total (four wickets; 129 overs) 412 Fall of wickets: 1-81 2-169 3-209 4-275

Did not bat: Y. Singh, M. Dhoni, H. Singh, Z. Khan, I. Sharma.

Bowling: Welegedara 21-1-76-1 (2nb, 2w), Prasad 13-0-56-0 (3nb), Herath 40-6-97-2, Muralitharan 38-6-124-0 (6nb), Mathews 15-6-29-1, Dilshan 1-0-2-0, Paranavitana 1-0-7-0.

Second test: Nov 24-28, Kanpur

Final test: Dec 2-6, Mumbai (Compiled by Sanjay Rajan; Editing by Neil Maidment; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire.

Upeksha Swarnamali

Upeksha Swarnamali is multi-talented star who has made a sensational entry into the glamour world in this country. Besides the various music videos she is part of, Upeksha is one of the much sought of the new stars in the tele field.


Upeksha is the best Dancer in Sirasa Dancing Star Season 1, unfortunately lost that crown. Known by the masses as Chanchala, will play the title role in Paba together with young star Amila Abeysekara and other seasoned stars..in Sri Lankan Fans. She is the most good looking actress of Sri Lankan Tele Dramas

Upeksha is a Sri Lankan model and television actress, perhaps best known for her roles on the television series "PABA" brodcast on ITN. Also well known Dancer in the Sirasa Dancing Star.

Sri Lanka orders import of A/H1N1 Vaccine

COLOMBO, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's health authorities said on Friday that immediate orders have been placed for Novel A/H1N1 injection to prevent the spread of the disease.

  This follows action to close down schools in the entire Central Province for fear of rapid spread of A/H1N1.

    "There have been 258 cases reported in the country so far and there could be a lot more unconfirmed cases," W. M. B. Wanninnayake, the Health Ministry spokesman said.

    That's why the ministry ordered the immediate placement of orders for the vaccine, Wanninayaka added.

    Chief Minister of Central Province Sarath Ekanayaka said schools in the province have been closed from Friday due to fears of A/H1N1 spread.

    The provincial authorities feared that the fever would spread since a positive case of A/H1N1 was established following medical examination into the death of a boy in Kandy, the capital of the province.

    The boy was among five people who died of fever in the Kandy district recently.

    The first confirmed case of pandemic influenza A/H1N1 in the country was reported in June 2009.

Anusha Rajapaksha-Sri Lankan Tele Drama and Film Actress

Popular upcoming actress Anusha Rajapakse who has shown loads of promise in the film and tele scene in Sri Lanka. She began her career as a Model. Anusha playing the female CID officer in the movie 'Sir Last Chance' by Roy De Silva. Her role in ‘Night Learners’ was remarkable.

Anusha had roles in Bertram Nihal’s ‘Amarapuraya’, Sanjaya Withanage’s ‘Nil Ahasa Wage,’ Chandrarathna Mapitigama’s ‘Kiripabaluvila’ and Tikiri Ratnayake’s ‘Swaraanjali,’ ‘Dehadak Aaderen,’ Piya Ranasinghe’s ‘Samanala Wasanthe’,‘Ranmasu Wessa’,‘Pemberayaneni’ , ‘Marumakarande’ and ‘Pichchamal Bisaw’.