Sandaru cracks double century as Devapathiraja commence season on a strong footing
JXG and Ceylon Chamber launch ‘BREAKTHROUGH’ to power national entrepreneurship
De Silva-Kusal stand of 249* moves Sri Lanka into the ascendancy
Sri Lanka left with a mountain to climb in Rawalpindi
The first death anniversary of Rienzie Wijetilleke just passed us, bringing back memories of the banker, the gentleman and legend.
Much has and will continue to be written about this banking icon not just for his outstanding achievements but also for the values he stood by in a hugely challenging career spanning more than four decades.
While many are conversant with his legendary deeds, to me he was clearly a man of destiny.
A humble beginning with the Bank of Ceylon, where his talents were recognised early by his peers Loganathan and Sirimanne, led to him being assigned to a four year spell in their London branch in 1966.
While life in London at that time posed its own challenges, supported by his soulmate Dammi as he fondly referred to his dear wife, the adjustment was made and soon they were blessed with Harsha and Chamira, during that tenure.
Upon his return and while serving the Bank of Ceylon in their Nuwara Eliya branch he was head hunted by the newly formed Hatton National Bank in 1972. The senior official recognising his growing stature on this occasion was the Bank’ s General Manager Dharmarajah.
This change appeared to lay the foundation for a remarkable career for Rienzie but then a brief distraction took him overseas to the British Bank of the Middle East in Dubai, much to the disappointment of his peers at HNB. Their third son Kusum was born there.
Dharmarajah, a true visionary did not give up on Rienzie and in 1986, convinced him to return to the Bank and placed him in a position that clearly identified his path to the Bank’s Board Room…..Destiny?!
Immediately thereafter two deaths within the family and the premature shocking demise of the Bank’s Chairman Lester Cooray in a short space of time took him emotionally to the verge of depression.
Thanks to his religious faith and strong character he showed glimpses of his leadership qualities by taking adversity head on.
With a total focus on the bank’s activities and expansion, he initiated a network of branches that made the bank the largest private commercial bank in the country and introduced a multitude of products and services for these branches to access.
HNB Towers will be a lasting monument to his innovative leadership and when he was criticised for embarking on such an ambitious project in the times of the conflict he responded by saying ” It’s better to build than to destroy”!
Then came another stroke of destiny.
In 1999, the Cricket Board had sunk to an alarmingly low level with wide spread allegations of extensive financial mismanagement, assaults and intimidation of voters at gun point that drew the world’s attention.
Our name had been sullied in the eyes of the International Cricket Council while our ranking as a Test playing nation had plunged to Nine.
Her Excellency the President Chandrika Kumaratunge was swift to respond in directing her Sports Minister to suspend the Executive Committee and to gazette the appointment of an Interim Committee headed by Rienzie.
The next eleven months saw an amazing resurgence of our on field performances under a new young captain Sanath Jayasuriya facilitated by the return of Dav Whatmore as Coach.
Meanwhile our credibility and image at the ICC was equally restored by the Interim Committe’s official who attended the AGM on the 23rd June 1999 at Lord’s in London.
Rienzie ‘s strong leadership in an area unknown to him previously was admired by the other members of the committee viz Michael Tissera, (Vice Chairman) Skandakumar ( Vice Chairman/ Secretary ), Sidath Wettimuny, (Member and Chairman Selection Committee ), Ashantha De Mel ( Treasurer) and Kushil Gunasekera ( Asst Secretary ) and the rapid change to accountability and professionalism in the functions of the Cricket Board was astounding.
It was also a period in which Rienzie’s own image, most deservedly, received a boost in the public eye to the extent that he came to be associated more with the nation’s cricket than the bank!
While acknowledging the accolades he received for restoring the game from the low depths it had descended to, in his memoirs he wrote on his colleagues as follows
“Yet for all their achievements, their courage and disciplined temperament, there was a touching honesty and modesty in the way they went about their mission.”
“They demonstrated what a small spirited group expounding crisp, clean and clear objectives could achieve in the face of insurmountable odds “
Thank you Rienzie , our coming together in such a worthy national cause was also DESTINY’ !
Rest in Peace dear friend! Your Legacy lives on…
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Dhananjaya de Silva answered his critics with the bat and Kusal Mendis led from the front as Sri Lanka hauled themselves off the ropes to leave Pakistan toiling on the third day of the opening Test in Rawalpindi.
The former captain and his successor struck unbeaten centuries in an unbroken fifth wicket stand of 249, transforming a precarious position into one brimming with promise. Sri Lanka closed on 404 for four, just 30 short of Pakistan’s 434 for nine declared, with six wickets in the bank.
De Silva was unbeaten on 167 and Mendis on 117. A contest Pakistan had threatened to dictate was now a far more even affair, with Sri Lanka in a position to push for a first innings lead.
For de Silva, this was a timely return to form. A prolonged lean spell had left his place under scrutiny, and handing over the captaincy before the tour had done little to ease the pressure. The middle order berth still had to be earned.
He made his case emphatically. With his side needing both runs and reassurance, de Silva supplied them in abundance, scoring freely without allowing the demands of the rescue act to tie him down.
Kamindu Mendis played his part in laying the platform, making 53 and sharing a useful stand with de Silva. His dismissal gave Pakistan a chance to prise open the middle order. Instead, they ran into a partnership that would occupy them for the rest of the day.
Kusal Mendis initially played himself in, content to let de Silva set the pace. Once established, the captain widened his range, mixing patience with the willingness to take the aerial route. Four sixes punctuated his innings as Pakistan struggled to keep either batter on a tight leash.
The pair complemented each other well. There was enough enterprise to keep the scoreboard moving and enough discipline to ensure Pakistan’s solitary breakthrough remained just that. As the stand grew, the pressure changed dressing rooms.
De Silva reached three figures from 151 balls, but there was no loosening of his grip. With his hundred secured, he pressed on towards 150, turning an important contribution into the sort of substantial innings Sri Lanka had sorely needed.
Mendis followed him to a century from 152 deliveries, marking his first Test as captain with a telling contribution. Leadership had brought an immediate examination; his response was to help bat Sri Lanka back into the contest.
By stumps, de Silva had struck 20 boundaries and Mendis ten fours to go with his four sixes. More telling than the boundary count, however, was the empty wickets column Pakistan had endured after Kamindu’s departure.
Sri Lanka still have to finish the job. Drawing level is within touching distance; building a substantial lead will require another disciplined session. But after spending the early part of this Test chasing the game, they have given themselves a chance to call the shots.
Continue Reading Sports Sandaru cracks double century as Devapathiraja commence season on a strong footing Published
Sandaru Malshan extended his fine form with the Sri Lanka Under 17 team to the First XI cricket season as he cracked an unbeaten double century for Devapathiraja College Ratgama to take vital first innings points against St. Anthony’s College, Wattala in the Under-19 Division I Tier ‘B’ two-day cricket encounter at Wattala on Wednesday.
Malshan remained unbeaten on 200 as he formed the backbone of Devapathiraja’s imposing 320 for five declared (in 59.2 over) in reply to the home team’s 157.
Malshan’s double century came in just 156 balls as he struck 27 fours and three sixes.
Yasiru Lakshan supported him with 61 off 99 balls, while Puljith Wathsuka contributed 29.
Malshan was equally effective with the ball. He took two wickets for 37 runs in 15 overs in St. Anthony’s first innings of 157, before claiming another wicket for just six runs in four overs when the hosts reached 23 for one in their second innings.
It was the first match of the season for Devapathiraja.
Koshendra shines for St. Sebastian’s
Meanwhile, Koshendra Fernando produced an outstanding all-round performance as St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa secured first-innings points over Gurukula College, Kelaniya in their Under-19 Division I Tier ‘A’ two-day cricket encounter at Moratuwa.
The match ended in a draw, with St. Sebastian’s taking the crucial first-innings points after declaring on a commanding 350 for nine in 71 overs.
Koshendra was the top scorer for the hosts as he struck a superb 101 off 137 balls, including 15 fours.
Koshendra also made his contribution with the ball claiming four wickets for 67 runs in 24 overs, including seven maidens, as Gurukula were bowled out for 191 in 66.1 overs.
Following on Gurukula were 120 for six in their second innings when the match ended.
Koshendra continued his impressive bowling performance, taking another three wickets for 40 runs in 18 overs, giving him a match haul of seven wickets.
The Janashakthi Group (JXG) has officially partnered with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce to launch BREAKTHROUGH, a National Entrepreneur Development Programme designed to accelerate business growth across Sri Lanka. Unveiled at a joint press conference, the initiative seeks to dismantle structural barriers, cultivate future-ready enterprises, and build a resilient economic ecosystem across all nine provinces.
The programme draws direct inspiration from the entrepreneurial journey of JXG’s Founder and Chairman Emeritus, C.T.A. Schaffter, widely regarded as a pioneer of Sri Lanka’s insurance industry. Beginning his career as an insurance clerk in 1952 before founding Janashakthi in his sixties, Schaffter demonstrated a willingness to venture beyond familiar territory – most notably founding the iconic dairy brand Kotmale in 1978 alongside diverse interests in education, manufacturing, exports, and agriculture.
Reflecting on his father’s legacy, Ramesh Schaffter, Managing Director and Group CEO of JXG, noted that building a sustainable enterprise requires the courage to look beyond conventional boundaries and turn ideas into tangible value.
“Look at what Sri Lankan entrepreneurs have achieved. Expolanka grew from a fresh produce business into a global logistics operation. Virtusa, co-founded by Sri Lankan Kris Canekeratne, developed from a small team working between Boston and Colombo into a global technology company. Vega Innovations took on the ambitious challenge of developing an electric supercar through local engineering capabilities,” Schaffter said.
“We need to create more opportunities for Sri Lankan entrepreneurs to take those steps. Through BREAKTHROUGH, JXG is making its business experience and professional capabilities available in support of this national cause – putting our purpose of ‘Breaking Barriers, Forging Futures’ into action.”
Krishan Balendra, Chairperson of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, stated that the programme provides aspiring entrepreneurs, startups, and SMEs with the visibility, mentorship, and business connections needed to scale from early-stage operations to international markets.
“The ultimate goal is to develop innovative, professionally managed, standards-compliant, and export-ready enterprises capable of participating in global value chains, nurturing the business leaders of tomorrow,” Balendra said.
Shiran Fernando, CEO of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, underscored the Chamber’s long-standing commitment to SME resilience, particularly in addressing vulnerabilities exposed in recent years. He noted that BREAKTHROUGH builds upon an established foundation that includes the Chamber’s Center for SMEs, the annual Scale-Up Sri Lanka forum, and youth entrepreneurship initiatives like SPARK, conducted in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Aligned with the strategic goals of the Ministry of Industries, the 12-month programme aims to help selected entrepreneurs overcome operational challenges, strengthen their business models, and sharpen market competitiveness.
Gamika De Silva, Group Chief Marketing Officer of JXG, added that the programme is structured to deliver lasting national impact rather than mere commercial recognition, noting that its core objective aligns closely with national economic priorities.
Leveraging the Chamber’s provincial networks, BREAKTHROUGH adopts a multi-tiered framework to uplift enterprises islandwide:
Comprehensive Sector Inclusivity: Open to businesses across diverse industries, spanning agriculture, technology, manufacturing, and services.
Ecosystem Collaboration: Inviting broader ecosystem partners to contribute resources, technical expertise, and strategic guidance.
Rigorous Evaluation and Mentorship: Selected participants will undergo financial readiness assessments and receive specialized guidance utilizing the intellectual property, technological acumen, legal frameworks, and marketing strategies of JXG and its partners.
Applications for the inaugural cohort of BREAKTHROUGH are open until January 20 via dedicated web portals. Structured as a comprehensive 12-month programme – with initial selection milestones concluding in March – the initiative is designed to provide sustained engagement and support the emergence of globally competitive enterprises originating from Sri Lanka.
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