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| Sunday, 13 October 2002 |
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Caltex steps forward to sponsor champion Seevali Central boxers by A.C. DE SILVA Around 200 boxers are seen around the classroom that is the practice arena for boxers at Seevali Central School, Ratnapura, but the school does not possess a boxing ring to call their own where the boys would be able to train for the meets. However, rather than lament about things they do not have, the boys and the school authorities have thought about other alternatives and have triumphed over difficulties and have done well in boxing. Seevali Madhya Maha Vidyalaya was their name before and after the name switch to Seevali Central School, the school have had enough success in the sport the school cherish so much, though with little or no facilities and without much cash to go for lavish equipment wither. Boxing really got moving at the school in 1995 when a determined effort was made with 25 boxers turning up for training and some success did come their way when they became the runners-up in the L.V. Jayaweera Shield meet and this turned out to be somewhat of a tonic to the young boxers and the school authorities. "Earlier in 1994, there was just one boxer in young Samath Kumara - the younger brother of present coach Wasantha Kumara who won the best boxer's award in grade 8 at the National Schools Meet, but it was not from the school. This, however, was an eye-opener for all and the school boxing authorities wrote to us and inquired from us whether we would be able to stage the L.V. Jayaweera Meet the following year - that's 1995. This was a big challenge but we accepted it and having borrowed a ring from St. Sylvester's College, Kandy, the L.V. Jayaweera Meet was held at the college." said Sumith Edirisuriya - Assistant Principal of Seevali Central School. Though boxing got moving at the school in 1995, yet the school has not been able to provide their boxers the somewhat essential requirement of having a ring of their own so that the boxers would be able to train for the important meets. 100 trophies Though having to face upto many handicaps, the school had done excellently in competitive boxing and "we have won around 100 trophies until now since having the first taste of boxing in 1994". added Edirisuriya. What encourages the school authorities to carry on with the sport is the encouragement extended to them by the parents of the boys who attend training in boxing and according to the school authorities never have the parents complained about their sons taking to boxing. In fact, the parents from time to time have helped in staging meets, but, the school was on the look out for a big sponsor so that they could really forge ahead in their activities as the number attending training too started to grow each year. It has been at this critical juncture that Caltex Managing Director Kishu Gomes was appraised about the state of things at Seevali Central School. Now, Caltex is involved in the sponsorship of many sports events, but the plight of Seevali Central School, Ratnapura must surely have touched the heart of Caltex Managing Director Kishu Gomes, who after summoning his directorate was prompt to stretch out his hand of friendship, not only with kind words of satisfaction, but with material assistance. Caltex Managing Director Kishu Gomes is a very busy man these days, but he took time off from his desk at the Kollupitiya office and with a full compliment of his office staff motored all the way to Ratnapura last Wednesday to give the great news to the Seevali Central School authorities and to the vast population of students at the school that Caltex will initially sponsor the boxing activities of the school for the next two years. It was a big occasion for Ratnapura in general and for Seevali Central in particular as the area around the school took a festive air with the school western and hewisi bands in attendance and somewhat of a holiday atmosphere prevailed with the schoolchildren lining the route from the entrance to the main hall to welcome and conduct the Caltex people to the meeting area. The contract signed by Caltex Managing director Kishu Gomes and the Seevali Central School Principal D.M. Gunaratne was for the supply of all equipment for two years and also for the payment of a monthly stipend of Rs. 2,599 for the coach for the development of boxing. It is said that no sooner Mr. D.M. Gunaratne assumed duties at Seevali Central as Principal in 2000, he was prompt in his assistance towards boxing. Gunaratne was a boxer in his day at Poramadulla Central College in Kandy and as the saying goes, once a boxer always a boxer. This is to say that once one takes a liking to a sport, he or she will always support that particular sport - and Seevali Central School is fortunate in having D.M. Gunaratne and Seevali Central School is fortunate in having D.M. Gunaratne as the principal. Earlier Mr. W.M. Gunatilleke was principal from 1988 to 2000. Top billing Mr. Gunaratne said that Seevali Central School takes top billing both in academic studies and inboxing taking the performances of all schools in the island. "We are a poor school with the parents of the school getting an average income. If we get the support from various people we should be able to forge ahead," he said. Mr. Gunaratne added that if the school continues to get the support from other sponsors as well, "We will be able to build a better student population and through boxing and sports in general, it will be possible to build a prosperous Sri Lanka in the years to come, "We owe a obligation by the younger generation, he added. At Seevali Central, there is a large student population." Mr. Dinesh Punchinilime the Co-ordinating Secretary to the Minister of Small Holders Development, said that the Education Department is helpless right now and though they wish to provide funds for sports activities, there are no funds in the department's coffers and so they are unable to provide funds for sports at the moment. Caltex Managing Director Kishu Gomes said that he was 'touched' by the welcome ceremony his team received on entry into the school compound. He announced: "We have come forward to support a worthy cause. We have recognised the areas that need support and have set apart around Rs. 25 million for sports sponsorship. We have supported big-time events like cricket, rugby football, motor racing but we have also to support the less fortunate people too. We have ear-marked 19 deaf and blind schools in the island and rather than make them a constraint on the government for their existence, we will be supporting them. It all started when I consulted my directorate and inquired what we should do for the society and after weighing the pros and cons of various sponsorship applications, we picked out deserving cases in various fields, besides making good the applications where our product goes well." Kishu Gomes sounded an appeal to other establishments: "If they come forward and spread the hand of friendship in sponsoring sports events in Sri Lanka, it will not only lighten the burden on the government and help sport to prosper. Sumith Edirisuriya - the Assistant Principal of Seevali Central said that the school has had to abandon boxing in the past for want of funds. He said that boxing at the school started around 1984 but it died a natural death then but the sport is now rooted deep within the hearts of both the staff and students alike. The arrival of Caltex as sponsors of the school's boxing activities is a 'God send' and Seevali Central boxers should make best use of the facilities that have come their way. |
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