Sri Lanka women eye giant-killing act under Siddons

Sri Lanka have turned to seasoned Australian campaigner Jammie Siddons to steady the ship and sharpen their edge, with the new women’s head coach making it clear that toppling heavyweights, not merely making up the numbers, will be the name of the game.

Siddons, a well-travelled coach with miles on the clock, has set his sights firmly on the upcoming Women’s World Cup in England, where Sri Lanka will open proceedings against the hosts at Edgbaston in June. It’s a baptism by fire, England in their own backyard, but the message from the dressing room is simple: try and beat top teams regularly.

Drawn alongside England, West Indies, New Zealand, Ireland and Scotland in a six-team group, Sri Lanka know there’s little room for passengers. It’s sink or swim.

“The World Cup is our big focus and we’ve got some tough games coming up,” Siddons told reporters on the sidelines of a floodlit training session at the CCC. “England at home will be a hard nut to crack. West Indies and New Zealand are quality sides as well.”

Before the main event, Sri Lanka will have a dress rehearsal in Bangladesh, a chance to blood fresh faces.

“We’re heading to Bangladesh before the World Cup and that gives us an opportunity to look at some of the new players coming through,” Siddons added, casting an eye on the next crop.

Sri Lanka’s women have made steady strides over the past two years under Rumesh Rathnayake, but as any seasoned observer will tell you, fine margins often decide games at this level and there are still a few loose ends to tie up.

Fielding, particularly in the deep, has been their Achilles’ heel. Dropped catches have cost them dear, while a lack of firepower with the bat has meant they’ve often been caught playing catch-up against the game’s heavyweights; Australia, England and India.

“From a bowling perspective, we need a few more tricks in the bag. The girls have to develop variations, slower balls, cutters and cut down the boundaries. That’s something we’ve been working on,” he said, underlining the need to outthink rather than outmuscle opponents.

For years, Sri Lanka have leaned heavily on the broad shoulders of Chamari Atapattu, their talisman, their match-winner, their go-to player when the chips are down. Siddons knows that while Chamari remains the crown jewel, cricket is no one-woman show.

“She’s our major player and we’ve depended a lot on her,” he admitted. “But we need a few more to put their hands up. Chamari still has plenty to offer.”

Encouragingly, Siddons has already spotted bright talents in the pace department, a rare commodity in the women’s game in Sri Lanka.

“I’ve seen a couple of very exciting fast bowling talents who haven’t played much yet. They could be key for us,” he said, hinting at new-ball options that could ruffle a few feathers.

Off the field, Sri Lanka Cricket has invested heavily over the last five years, the board has cast the net wide taking the game to schools, strengthening domestic competitions and ensuring a steady pipeline of talent.

There has been no shortage of cricket either, with bilateral series home and away giving players valuable time in the middle. The Under-19 side is currently cutting its teeth in Australia, while development squads are being kept busy with regular tours and fixtures.

Central contracts and match fees are now part of the furniture, a far cry from the hand-to-mouth existence of yesteryear, though there remains room for improvement.

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Police bust illegally assembled vehicle racket, arrest eight members of organised gangs

Eight persons, involved in a large-scale racket in which nearly 100 illegally assembled luxury vehicles were sold at low prices and later stolen and resold, have been arrested by the Peliyagoda Crimes Division on Saturday (04).

Police said the organised gang had been operating the scam for a considerable period by selling vehicles, lacking proper registration documents, to bargain hunters, at rock bottom prices.

Investigations revealed that the suspects had secretly installed GPS tracking devices in the vehicles to identify where they were parked after the sale. The gang later used duplicate keys to steal the vehicles and resell them to other buyers.

So far, 25 such vehicles have been taken into custody by investigators, while nearly 75 more are expected to be recovered during the ongoing probe.

According to police, the suspects had obtained unregistered vehicles, vehicles whose owners were unable to continue leasing payments, as well as assembled vehicles and those allegedly brought into the country in violation of customs regulations.

Police have obtained court permission to detain and question three suspects, including the alleged mastermind behind the racket, while the remaining five suspects have been produced before court and remanded.

The suspects are residents of Buttala, Moneragala, Mahiyangana, Kandy, Ja-Ela and Nittambuwa.

Police urged members of the public, who may have fallen victim to the racket, to lodge complaints with the Peliyagoda Crimes Division.

by Norman Palihawadane and Hemantha Randunu

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Sri Lanka sees silver lining in ties with Russia and Britain amid Middle East shocks

As geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue to unsettle global energy and trade flows, Sri Lanka appears to be finding a degree of resilience by deepening economic engagement with partners such as Russia and the United Kingdom.

Recent diplomatic and trade developments suggest Colombo is positioning itself to benefit from both energy cooperation with Moscow and expanded export opportunities in the British market, potentially softening the impact of external shocks on its fragile economy.

During talks in Colombo last week, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath met visiting Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.

Rudenko has described the island as a long-standing friend of Russia and pledged support in several key areas, including oil supplies, investment promotion, and tourism cooperation.

The assurance of energy support comes at a time when global oil markets remain volatile due to geopolitical tensions and shifting sanctions regimes. Russia indicated it was prepared to assist Sri Lanka with oil supplies if needed, though Rudenko earlier clarified at a policy discussion that Moscow prefers long-term contractual supply arrangements rather than short-term spot deals arising from temporary market disruptions.

For Sri Lanka, which has faced severe fuel shortages in the recent past, such arrangements could offer greater stability in energy procurement during periods of global uncertainty.

Russia also signalled interest in encouraging its investors to explore opportunities in Sri Lanka and increasing tourist arrivals, while expressing readiness to provide compensation for Sri Lankan war veterans who lost their lives while serving in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Colombo, in turn, emphasized the historic nature of the relationship. Herath noted that the two countries share nearly seven decades of diplomatic ties, adding that the current moment presents an opportunity to expand cooperation through longer-term trade and economic agreements.

While Russia offers potential relief on the energy front, Sri Lanka is simultaneously gaining a competitive edge in exports through new trade arrangements with Britain.

Under the revised Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) introduced by the United Kingdom in January 2026, Sri Lanka’s apparel sector – the country’s largest export industry – stands to benefit significantly.

The scheme eases rules of origin requirements, allowing exporters greater flexibility in sourcing raw materials while still maintaining preferential access to the UK market. For Sri Lankan manufacturers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, this change addresses a longstanding constraint that had limited their ability to compete with larger regional producers.

Industry participants say the reform could improve pricing competitiveness, shorten production lead times, and allow exporters to respond more effectively to the fast-moving demands of global apparel buyers.

Apparel exporter Joe Jayawardena noted that while the scheme provides duty concessions for developing economies, its most valuable feature is the commercial flexibility it offers producers. With more freedom in sourcing fabrics and inputs, Sri Lankan exporters can negotiate more effectively on price, delivery schedules and product specifications – factors that often determine whether orders are secured in the global fashion supply chain.

For Sri Lanka’s economy, the convergence of these developments could provide a modest but important buffer against global turbulence.

Energy cooperation with Russia may help stabilise supply during volatile periods, while enhanced access to the British market could strengthen export momentum in one of Sri Lanka’s most important trading sectors.

An independent economic analyst told this reporter that the offers coming from both countries would be widely welcomed in Sri Lanka, as they are driven primarily by mutual trade interests rather than by deeper strategic or political considerations.

By Sanath Nanayakkare

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Thoughts about “People and Events”

The start of the People and Events column in the Sunday Island was incidental, informal and fortuitous. At a Kandy Girls’ High School OGA dinner dance in the late 1990s I was at the same table with Gamini Weerakoon, then editor of the Island/Sunday Island and his wife Rajitha, a past pupil of KHS. Gamini and I were non-dancers so over drinks, and in spite of the loud music, we chatted. Suddenly Gamini said: “Why don’t you write a weekly column in The Island?” Being modest, I asked him whether he was sure but then consented readily. He asked me what title I would give the column, I promptly replied: “People and Events.” Later on, I realized how judicious I had been in my spontaneous choice. This title gave me a wide spectrum within which to write.

I selected the first three letters of my first name as my pseudonym for the column. Writing pseudonymously was not a tactic to hide, but it was because I was initially shy and a little hesitant. Later of course, when I commented adversely on political situations in the country at certain periods of time, it was a useful cover, or so I presumed.

I found Gamini easy going as an editor and it was not taxing to write for him. He was undemanding and published every column I sent. Manik de Silva succeeded Gamini as the editor of the Sunday Island in 1997 and I sat up straighter. The first article he received from me was my tribute to Bhikkhuni Ayya Khema, which he said was very well written. He always appreciated the human-interest articles I wrote. A few years later he also told me in his usual polite manner: “your forte is not political matters.” I accepted his subtle admonition and tried to refrain from commenting on how things were in the country on account of politicians. I am very grateful to Manik for his support of me over the years. From being my editor he has gone on to become a sincere friend.

I have been writing People and Events for over 30 years now and over this period of time I believe I have written well over 1,000 columns. Initially I would type my article and give the pages for someone to deliver. After I got a computer, the process became more streamlined and I would e-mail the finished article to Manik. Even when I traveled overseas for long or short stays, I kept my column going. My second son would take me to his office after hours and I would work on it there and send it from the US. Wednesdays were always a focal point for me, as I would aim to have my column completed by then.

There is a personal element to what I write; I comment, opine and judge. Often I have selected the topic for my article based on some connection, like visiting a place or reading about something and having my interest aroused. I do have a slant towards women in any sphere of activity or life. I have written about people, many consequent to actually interviewing them. Attending book launches and award ceremonies have been grist to my writing wrist. So also books I have read, Sinhala films and theatre productions I have seen, which I have then reviewed.

Interviewing people for this column meant that I got to talk to people that I wouldn’t have dreamed of meeting. Among the most memorable are:

= Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala – the first Sri Lankan to summit Mount Everest;

= Barbara Sansoni – artist and designer whose unique approach to colour was eye-opening;

= Ishvari Corea, distinguished librarian and author;

= Actor Gagan Malik who played the role of Siddartha Gautama in the film produced by Navin Gooneratne.

In 2008 I received the W.A. Siriwardena award for Columnist of the Year writing in English from the Sri Lanka Press Institute. My memory of the awards ceremony at the Mount Lavinia Hotel was that I unwisely drank two glasses of wine to quench my thirst, and was quite shaky walking down the steps and had to hand my trophy to my older son to carry for me!

During the Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020, I decided to go through the articles I written and select what I felt were timeless for publication. In the end I narrowed it down to 45 articles and published a book titled “People, Events, Places” in 2022.

I get pleasure from writing and I am a fast writer. It is also a sort of meditation for me since I am completely within my thinking, creating mind when I write. However, after my recent illness I stopped writing and I very much miss being able to sit in front of my computer and type up an article – this was one of my greatest pleasures. It has become an entirely different process now to dictate my column and then review it and make changes.

I am pleased when people telephone or e-mail me to say they approved of my article of the week, or better when they say they enjoyed reading it. Alternatively, I am not at all perturbed when criticized, which happens occasionally. Criticism is what I value more than praise since I know there is improvement possible.

Writing this column has brought me much fulfillment and joy. It gave me a sense of purpose. My readers are usually non-critical, and appreciative of what I write, inquiring after me when a column fails to appear in the paper. Certain readers, even from overseas, have reached out to me to comment on a column and we have become friends as a result. I am so very grateful to all of you for reading “People and Events” over all these years!

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