|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 29 December 2002 |
 |
|
 |
Sports |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Don Walter and Shanika Rajapaksa bag top Police Awards by PELHAM JURIANSZ Ace Shooter Don Gratien Walter and versatile sportswoman Shanika Rasanjanie Rajapaksa were adjudged the Best Sportsman and Sportswoman respectively at the Police Colours Awards 2002 held at the BMICH on Friday. Veteran shooter Don Walter has captained the Police Small Arms team from 1994 to date. Rasanjanie Rajapaksa was awarded colours in three sports, namely Soccer, netball and athletics. She was adjudged the Best Netball Player of the Tournament conducted by the Netball Association in the year 2000. Chief Guest Inspector General of Police T.E. Anandarajah commended the Police award winners as they were not able to give much of their time to sports in the past two years due to their commitment in the North and East. "It is indeed creditable that they have given of their best even though time was restricted," the Police Chief said. L.A. Perera, Senior Superintendent of Police and Secretary of the Police Sports Club said that sports contribute greatly in building up our character and we learn to discipline ourselves even when we compete at school level. "The conducive recreational environment made available by the Police Sports Club not only paves the way for the Police personnel of all ranks, to obtain full sports excellence but it also moulds their characters physically, emotionally and morally by providing them with the choice of participating in 25 games and sports in which the Police field teams including at national levels", said Perera. The Police athletics team was rewarded for their excellence at the 2000 and 2001 State Services Athletics Festival where they were the overall champions in men's and women's events, amateur champions in men's and women's events. The archery team and aquatic teams were awarded colours, the latter having won the 2-mile sSea swimming competition. Colours were also awarded to the Life Saving and Water Polo teams. The Badminton team were recognised for their achievements in winning the State Services Championships in year 2000 in the A, B, and C divisions in both men and women's categories. Basketball and Billiards and Snooker colours were awarded and also the very successful Police Boxing team especially C.P. Abeyratne the best boxer at the Nationals 2001, and the Cricket team was rewarded colours for winning the State services "Champions Trophy" conducted by the BCCSL. The Cycling and Golf teams were commended next as was the Hockey team that represented the Police in the State Services tournaments. Kabbadi a new sport to Sri Lanka has been a favourite sport of the Men and Women in khaki as has been Martial Arts, namely Karate and Judo. The Netball team came in for high praise as Ayomi Palihena and Kanthi Manel toured Australia with the Western Province in 2002, and they were runners-up in the Western Province Netball Championship. Rugger has been a favourite sport and the Police team annexed the runners-up trophy in the Prime Minister's competition in 2001. The smallbore and Soccer teams received their colours next with the latter having won the State Services Division I Tournament. Even women play soccer and they were the next recipients of colours. Tennis is a popular sport as is Volleyball. No doubt, the Police Sports Complex at Narahenpita has helped in the disciplines that were rewarded and Squash could be another sport to be rewarded in the future. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
