Sri Lanka Beat New Zealenders And Sealed Their Place In The ICC World Cup Finals

Sri Lanka has today qualified for the ICC World Cup Cricket Finals scheduled to be play  in Mumbai ,India on this Saturday(02nd of April) with a cruising 5 wicket win over New Zealenders at the first Semi Final of the World Cup worked out at the R.Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo this evening in front of a large home crowd.

New Zealand won the toss and batted first in a perfect batting pitch but failed to live up to their expectations to get a big score as Sri Lankan Bowlers restricted them to a modest 217 runs off 48.5 overs.All Rounder Scott Styris was the highest run getter for the New Zealenders as he scored well compiled 57 runs from 76 balls.Martin Guptill made 39 runs off 65 balls.For Sri Lanka Off Spinner Ajantha Mendis and Seemer Lasith Malinga took 3 wickets each while Veteran Off Spinner Mutththaia Muralideran who made his final one day international appearance in Sri Lanka took 2 wickets.

When Sri Lankan openers Thilakaratne Dilshan and Upul Thranaga open the innings for Sri Lanka to chase 218 runs for win, everyone has expected them to repeat their powerful batting display against England two days back.However they were only able to put 40 runs for the first wicket  before Upul Tharanga was out for 30 runs.Thilakaratne Dilshan scored well compiled 73 runs and skipper Kumar Sangakkara scored 54 runs.When Sri Lanka is at 160 runs for the loss of one wicket three wickets fell within space of 9 runs.However the Middle order Batsmen Angelo Mathews and Thilan Samaraweera guided Sri Lanka to a 5 wicket win with 13 balls to spare.Skipper Sangakkara was adjudged as Man of the Match.

After the match Muralideran who is scheduled to retired from one day internationals after this world cup waved to the home crowd saying  farewell to Sri Lankans who supported him throughout his career.

This was Sri Lanka's third World Cup Final entry and two in a row and out of the previous two finals only able to win the World Cup in 1996 under the captaincy of Arjuna Ranathunge.In last world cup final worked out in Caribbean in 2007 Sri Lanka was beaten by Australia.The other finalist with whom Sri Lanka will clash in the Grand Final scheduled to be play in  Mumbai on Saturday will be decided in tomorrows Semi Final battle between India and Pakistan.

New Zealand Prime Minister Key Declined The Invitation Of Sri Lankan President To Watch World Cup Semi Finals

The New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has denied the invitation of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksha to attend the ICC World Cup Cricket Semi Finals between Sri Lanka and New Zealand to be worked out in R.Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo tomorrow(29).A Spokesman of the New Zealand Premier's office said that the Prime Minister has to decline the invitation but not given any reasons for that.

Meanwhile Sri Lankan President' Media Office said that the New Zealand Ambassador In India will attend tomorrow's Semi Finals on behalf of  his Premier John Key.

Sri Lanka is to play with New Zealand in their Semi Finals tomorrow  the first of the two semi finals play under the ICC World Cup 2011.The winners of the match will played the winner of the Semi Final between India and Pakistan to be played in Punjab,India on Wednesday(30).The finals of the ICC World Cup 2011 is scheduled to play at Wankhade Stadium in Mumbai,India on 02nd of April.

President Mahinda Rajapaksha Invited New Zealand Premier To Watch ICC World Cup Semi Final In Colombo

President Mahinda Rajapaksha has today invited the New Zealand Prime Minister John Key to watch the ICC World Cup Semi Final scheduled to held in R.Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo this Tuesday(29)

This is similar gesture as the Indian Premier Dr.Manmohan Singh too has invited their neighbor Pakistani President Asif Al Zardari and the Prime Minister of Pakistan to watch the second Semi Final of the ICC World Cup between India and Pakistan to be played in Mohali in Punjab,India on this Wednesday(30).

Sri Lanka qualified for the Semi Finals yesterday by beating England by 10 wickets in the match palyed in R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Sri Lanka Out Played England In ICC World Cup Cricket Quarter Finals And Qualified For The Semis

Sri Lanka recorded a superb 10 wicket win over England in their Quarter Final ICC World Cup Day Night Match played at  R.Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo today and qualified for the semi finals to be played in the same venue against New Zealand on next Tuesday(29th).Both the Sri Lankan Openers T.M Dilshan and Upul Tharanga made an unbroken  opening partnership of 231 runs and reached the winning target easily with 63 balls to spare and with 10 wickets in hand.

T.M Dilshan Scored 108 runs off 115 balls with Ten  fours  and Two sixes and Upul Tharanga has scored well made 102 runs not out with Twelve  fours and one six .Earlier in the day the England Captain Andrew Strauss has won the toss and decided to bat first in the wicket which believed to be favorable for spinners during the night session.However Sri Lankan seemers and spinners were able to restrict the  English batting line up to a modest total of 229 runs  for the loss of 6 wickets with Jonathan Trott scored an unbeaten 86 runs off 115 balls for the English side.

Sri Lanka's veteran Spinner Mutththaia Muralideran got 2 wickets while spinners Mendis Dilshan,and seemers Mathews and Lasith Malinga got one wicket each.This Match was the 100th One Day International Played in the R.Premadasa Cricket Stadium.T.M Dilshan was adjudged as  Man Of The Match.

Health Minister Advised Officials To Take Legal Action Against 767 Tyre Shops And Bus Depots With Mosquto Breeding Places

The Health Minister Maithrepla Sirisena has instructed the officials of National Dengue Control Programme today to take legal action against 767 Tyre Retail Shops and Bus Depots who are running Mosquito Breeding Places in their backyards with immediate effect.

"These Tyre Shops and Bus Depots which are in the earlier occasions were issued notices and get cleaned in  raids carried out  during previous Dengue Control Weeks are not able correct their mistakes and continuously committing the same mistake by keeping Mosquito Breeding Places in their back yards" according to the Health Minister."Therefore no need to issue notices for them again and without a notice taken legal action against them "the Minister has advised the officials.

Drug Authority Has Temporarily Suspended The Selling Of "Apetamin- P" Syrup

The National Drug Authority has temporarily suspended the selling of "Apetamin-P" Syrup through Private Pharmacies Island Wide with immediate effect.The selling of above Syrup which is prescribed for children as well as adults for allergies and food appetite conditions suspended due to an insect was found from a bottle of " Apetamin-P" Syrup bought by a person  in Mahawa Area.

The person who bought the Syrup Bottle from a Private Pharmacy in Mahawa Area have seen the insect inside the bottle and immediately complained on this to the food and drug inspector in Kurunagala(North Western Province) for further action .Then the food and drug inspector informed the incident to the Drug Authority. The  bottle was sent for a laboratory test according to the Drug Authority sources .

President Has Appointed A New Elections Commissioner

President Mahinda Rajapaksha has appointed Mr.Mahinda Deshapariya as the New Elections Commissioner with the effect from tomorrow(25).The new commissioner will replaced the out going Elections Commissioner Mr.Dayananda Dishanayake.