OK Guys went to get the problem checked out. Since the C200 W202 was built in 2000, it has a fully electronic shift lever unit.
They ran diagnostics and as expected the gear shift lever wasn't responding. They than told me to change the whole unit at a cost of about USD800 or so.
Having read this forum on similar problems, I then proceeded to tell them to let me have a go at blowing compressed air into the whole unit after it was taken out. Blew for about 5 minutes into all holes I could see.
Plugged it back in and voila........it worked. !!!
Thanks guys for the excellent posts and replies on all threads.
Matt