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by A. C. DE SILVA

Caltex is energy, power and strength like rugby football and that's why Caltex came forward to sponsor the game of rugby football when the government decided that companies dealing in tobacco and liquor should not sponsor sports events - so said Mr. Kishu Gomes - Managing Director of Caltex Lubricants Lanka Limited at the Observer-Caltex Touch Down Rugby Awards Ceremony held on Wednesday night at Hotel Taj Samudra.

Speaking further Gomes, who needs no introduction to sports, said that the officials of the controlling body had difficulty in taking the game forward and that's the reason why they readily came forward to sponsor the game. He further said that Caltex sponsors the league and knock-out rugby tournaments conducted by the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union.

Sri Lanka has produced world class cricketers like skipper Sanath Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan and called on all concerned to join hands with Caltex so that Sri Lanka's rugby could produce players like Jayasuriya and Muralitharan.

The Caltex boss said his establishment has spent around Rs. 70 million in sponsoring sports events that includes motor racing and was happy to have teamed with Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited in having the Observer-Caltex Rugby Awards Ceremony. "We hope to continue our association with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited, in the years to come" Kishu Gomes said.

Capt. Harsha Mayadunne - the President of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union said that the arrival of Caltex on the scene was most welcome when the SLRFU was looking for sponsors after the government impressed bans on liquor and tobacco advertising. Rugby Football is a sport that attracts large amount of spectators and more and more are taking to the game and as a result the quality too should improve.

He said that sponsorship plays a big role in taking the game to the outstations and said that the 'A' Division knock-out final between Kandy and Army produced quality rugby that thrilled the vast crowd that witnessed that match.

Capt. Mayadunne hoped that Caltex will continue with the sponsorship of rugby football for many years.

He also thanked the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited for sponsoring the awards ceremony with Caltex.

The Caltex officials headed by Managing Director Kishu Gomes, Vajira Abeysinghe - Head of Sales and Marketing, Nishantha Wickremaratne - Group Brand Manager and Zahirian Hameen - the Assistant Manager Public Relations and Corporate Affairs did a wonderful job with the show and all were happy with this first show.

The Army Sports Club had a field day at the awards ceremony - besides winning the Most Popular Rugby Club Award and Rs. 50,000 their players - Sgt. H. Karunaratne won the individual award for the Most Popular Ruggerite Award and Rs. 50,000 while the best captain Sgt. J. M. Jayatilleke won a trophy and Rs. 25,000 and the best forward Capt. J. N. Jayasuriya won a trophy and Rs. 25,000.

The Best Ruggerite of the Tournament was Asoka Jayasena of Kandy Sports Club and won a trophy and Rs. 25,000 while the Best Rugby Club of the 2001 tournament was also Kandy Sports Club who won a trophy and Rs. 25,000.

The Best Wing three-quarter of the tournament was Sanjeewa Jayasinghe of Havelocks Sports Club who also won Rs. 25,000 and a trophy.

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