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| Sunday, 14 December 2003 |
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A swimmer's dream - the Panadura Aquatic Club by Leslie Fernando For the starry eyed suburban youngster whose career lies in the swirling waters, the Panadura Aquatic Club by the tropical Bolgoda lake along the Panadura river is a stepping stone to realising that dream. This ambitious multi million rupee complex has just begun to bubble in furthering swimming by catching 'em young. Right now nearly 600 swimmers from schools in the area are using the facilities of the pool to improve their swimming capabilities. It is the first private club of its kind out of Colombo and is a big boon to the young 'uns. The construction of this 25-metre swimming pool with six lanes were completed end of July this year and other work is on in what would be a wholesome complex with all amenities. The official opening ceremony is scheduled to take place in early January, according to C. Vijitha Fernando, Chairman of the management committee of the Panadura Aquatic Club. Four Ministers-Milinda Moragoda, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Imtiaz Bakeer Markar, Chief Minister WPC Reginald Cooray and Deepthi Abeywickrema, the Chairman Panadura Urban Council are expected to grace the occasion. The swimming pool is constructed at Hudson Park owned by the Urban Council, Panadura. There is no public swimming pool in the Western Province and Panadura Aquatic Club was given the land free for a 35 year term. With the participation of the Urban Council the Panadura Aquatic Club started on this big project. The whole cost of the project is Rs. 11.8 million. The pool was completed with Rs. 6.1 million. The National Lotteries Board contributed with Rs. 3 million, the Development Lotteries Board supported with Rs. 2.1 million, Ms. Sarala Fernando Sri Lanka's Ambassador to UN and Switzerland donated Rs. 1 million said Vijitha Fernando who gifted himself Rs. 1 million towards the project with a further Rs. 4 million borrowed from friends and well wishers. "The Panadura Aquatic Club will raise funds to settle the borrowed monies", Fernando added. The kiddies pool was completed with donations from the Panadura Aquatic Club life savers and life guards employed in the Middle East. Everything is modern at the pool site, plant room, changing rooms, administrative office, restaurant and other facilities. Despite it being a private pool, schools in the vicinity like Sri Sumangala Balika Vidyalaya, Sri Sumangala Boys School, St. Anthony's Boys and Girls School, Good Shepherd Convent, Agamathi Balika Vidyalaya, Bauddhaloka Maha Vidyalaya, Royal College, Panadura, St. John's College, Mahanama Vidyalaya, Methodist College, Udaya Vidyalaya, Panadura Balika, St. Mary's College, Wadduwa, Leeds International School, Lycium International School, Twinkle Stars Montessori, Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa, Princess of Wales, Moratuwa will greatly benefit. School children use the pool from 7.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Level II qualified coaches from Sri Lanka Aquatic Coaches Association are in charge of coaching the swimmers. For the public the pool is open from 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m. Baratha P. Lenora is in charge of administration of the swimming pool. |
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