CLASSMATES AND THE TRICKERY OF LIFE There is something both amusing and tragic about classmates. When we are young, sitting side by side on stiff wooden desks, everything feels equal. We wear the same uniforms, complain about the same teachers, and dream the same big dreams. We believe, with the foolish confidence of youth, that life will reward us fairly. That the one who topped the class will top in life, that the one who struggled will always struggle, that effort will always equal success. But life is not a classroom. Life is a trickster, a mischievous storyteller who loves plot twists. Then one day, years later, we meet again at ordinations, weddings, funerals, airports, or by accident at a supermarket. And suddenly, we see what nobody warned us about. The boy who never did his assignments now owns a mansion. The one who won all the academic prizes is ...
Fast improving Sri Lanka fall in spirited contest with UAE. Better preparation will raise Sri Lanka’s expectations. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor). From a team humiliated by Hong Kong China in their last outing, Sri Lanka remarkably recovered their composure to make the bigger and stronger UAE exert every sinew of their muscle before they pulled ahead late in the game to win 29-21 at the Racecourse ground in Colombo. The battle was relentless as a spirited Sri Lankan squad tackled the bigger opposition to a standstill, and some would argue this was a game well within their grasp for the taking if they had capitalised on their opportunities. The battle in Colombo was one where Sri Lanka enjoyed climatic advantage against a team bigger but struggling to handle the energy sapping humidity. Two lead changes was a clear indication of the battle for supremacy as ...
Sri Lanka take one-day series on the back of a Kusal Mendis blinder. Bangladesh never in the hunt of run chase. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor). Sri Lanka appears to have found their mojo at long last in the one day game, and their fans must surely be breathing a sigh of relief after years of disappointment since the glory days of over a decade ago. But the question that remains to be answered is, can they translate the past seven series triumphs at home to replicating it away to prove they are the real deal. The wins at home included the importance scalps of India and Australia. For the moment we will hold that thought and celebrate a well synchronised win in the third and deciding game at Pallekelle which has them holding aloft the Test and one-day spoils. Now, with confidence sky high, a ...
Eighty Club luncheon at the Grand on Princes was a popular sellout. – By Trevine Rodrigo in Melbourne For the full set of photos, please visit eLanka Facebook page For the full set of photos, please visit eLanka Facebook page Click here to receive your free copy of the eLanka Newsletter twice a week delivered directly to your inbox! ...
Final one-day showdown expected to go down to the wire. Sri Lanka’s chances of series win rests on batters. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor). Sri Lanka’s bubble bursting loss to a defiant Bangladesh in game two of the one-dayers must surely have jolted them to the realisation that taking the foot off the pedal often courts disaster. I was pretty sure after Sri Lanka’s face saving comeback in game one, that the road ahead needed calm, careful composure against a team ranked above them in the shorter version of the game. Home ground advantage doesn’t count for much these days with the international commitments involving franchise cricket where players from most countries gain familiarity with different playing conditions. Bangladesh is a seasoned and experienced competitor who at their best can worry most of the best teams in world cricket. This sets up the decider today as ...
Jul 8, 2025
Posted
Articles, Trevine Rodrigo
Tagged athum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu, Kusal Mendis, Sanath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka Vs Bangladesh
Bangladesh left stunned and bewildered by spirited comeback. BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor). In a game of contrasts, yet drawing parallels, skipper Charith Asalanka blasted a match saving century when the situation looked bleak at the beginning, then the bowlers turned in a miraculous performance to humble a bewildered Bangladesh in the first one-dayer at Kettharama Stadium in Colombo. Losing Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Udara and Kamindu Mendis (3 for 29 in 6.1 overs), in quick succession within the first 10 overs and with not much on the scoreboard, things looked dire for Sri Lanka until Asalanka took matters into his hands to alter its course. Asalanka 106 off 133 balls with 4 sixers and 6 fours, joined in -form Kusal Mendis, 45 off43 balls, as they set about resurrecting Sri Lanka’s innings and they took them to a respectable 244 off 49.2 overs. Sri Lanka looked ...
Sri Lanka on the cusp of Test series victory thanks to a master-class Pathum Nissanka. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor). Sri Lanka batted themselves into the cusp of a series win over Bangladesh and the architect of this important Test success lies squarely on fantastic opening batter Pathum Nissanka. The explosive and diminutive opening batting sensation produced two defining centuries to put the home team in control and well on course of winning the deciding Test and another promising start to Sri Lanka’s quest to win the new format that is in South Africa’s trophy cabinet. Not since the last tournament when Dimuth Karunaratne’s men looked like they were destined to make the final, then fell away dramatically did Sri Lanka look like a serious contender. Under Dhananjaya de Silva, the air of expectation has got renewed expectation. Many would argue that it’s a big call ...
Sri Lanka return home to face UAE and redemption from a Hong Kong China mauling. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor). Sri Lanka’s battered image in Asian rugby readies for another test of their ability and justification to be in the top four against UAE at the Racecourse ground in Colombo. After a mauling by Hong Kong China last week, Sri Lanka will be backpedalling and urgently seeking answers and redress for their embarrassment after failing qualification and the dream of playing in the World Cup in Australia in 2027. There’s no use mulling over the past few games which has clearly identified Sri Lanka’s forwards being substandard for rugby at its highest. There’s clearly no quick fix for the Lankans, whose limited preparation for a tournament of this nature and chaotic coaching structure is responsible for their disjointed performance. The blame game does not rest ...
Test two will be intense as the Bangladesh challenge looms real. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor). Sri Lanka escaped embarrassment in Galle thanks to the weather gods and now has to reassess and regroup in Colombo at the SSC, to try and overcome a determined Bangladesh. Once the easybeats in world cricket, Bangladesh is anything but, right now. So Sri Lanka’s task of taking a series lead will be an acid test and expose their strength at home in the opening World Test Championship. The draw in Galle confirmed Sri Lanka’s vulnerability at a venue that was once a potential advantage to the home side. Unusual totals in Galle signalled a change in the characteristics of the pitches although Sri Lanka struggled on day five and could have lost if Bangladesh skipper Shanto timed his declaration better. A leading scribe in Sri Lanka good humouredly suggested ...
Jun 24, 2025
Posted
Articles, Trevine Rodrigo
Tagged Angelo Matthews, Bangladesh vs sri lanka test, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Milan Rathnayake, Pathum Nissanka, World Cricket
Hong Kong China smash Sri Lanka’s World Cup Rugby aspirations with 78-7 thrashing. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor) Hong Kong China gave Sri Lanka a Rugby lesson while underlining the recently elevated Tuskers worst held fear that they are not ready to join Rugby Union’s elite. The fourth game of the round robin play-offs to gain qualification to the upcoming Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2027, showed that Hong Kong China, South Korea and the UAE are better equipped to take the next step as Asian debutants with Sri Lanka lagging far behind after a 78-7 shallacking at the Hong Kong stadium. The IRB has ventured to expand the world competition by including a second Asian or African qualifier which gives the number one in this competition automatic inclusion while the second placed team is pitted against the top side from Africa 2 to gain the ...
Jun 23, 2025
Posted
Articles, Trevine Rodrigo
Tagged Hong Kong China smash Sri Lanka's World Cup Rugby, Rugby World Cup in Australia, Sri Lanka rugby, TREVINE RODRIGO
