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| Sunday, 24 October 2004 |
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All must work together - Gomes and Janadasa Peiris by A. C. DE SILVA Kishu Gomes - the Managing Director of Caltex and Janadasa Peiris - Chairman of Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited stressed the need for the authorities concerned to conduct the rugby football tournaments without a break so that Sri Lanka will be in a position to meet international competition. All should work together in harmony to elevate the level of game. Caltex Lubricants Lanka Limited has sponsored the Sri Lanka 'A' division league and knock-out tournaments for the last five years and with the tie-up with Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited, it no doubt gave rugby football a fillip in the country in the last four years. Gomes was speaking at the Observer-Caltex Touchdown Rugby Awards Ceremony held on Friday night at Ceylon Continental Hotel. He said that Caltex, as the major sponsors of rugby football in the country, would like to see some big names emerging in the game in the country in the game manner like Johnny Wilkinson of England who became a hero after the World Cup tournament. Having men like Wilkinson in the team will undoubtedly help to improve the game in many ways and the spectators will come for the matches. Spectators are necessary at any sport and with their encouragement the game will be taken far and wide in the country. Gomes sounded a note of regret saying that the rugby enthusiasts in the country saw some flaws during the season which was a worrying factor for them as number one sponsor of ruby football in the island. This was so not only to Caltex but to all those who support the game in many ways. Some lapses resulted in the final league match not being played and there was an undue delay in conducting the knockout tournament. He made a passionate appeal to all those involved in the game to forget the past and work together in harmony to further elevate the level of rugby in Sri Lanka. The Caltex boss said that Sri Lanka has come a long way in the game, but has a longer way to go before the country can reach the ultimate destination. "The day we can be satisfied is the day when Sri Lanka team starts winning the international matches", Kishu Gomes said and added that at last year's awards ceremony. He said that he had remarked the day he sees kids right around the country playing rugby on paddy fields, coconut estates, empty streets and on beaches is the day we will find the right talent that can win the international matches for Sri Lanka. "I am sure that day is not very far away". ANCL Chairman Janadasa Peiris said that his company has taken a lead role in the development of sport in the country. He said that developing sports in the country also helps to have a healthy society. He said that the unhappy incidents that hit rugby football in the recent past must be overcome in the future and the clubs should get together with the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union to work out ways and means to take the game forward. Tournaments must be conducted. The ANCL boss said that Caltex and ANCL have joined hands in carrying out the rugby contests for the past four years and this competition has kept the rugby followers in the country happy. He hoped that SLRFU will be able to help clubs financially so that rugby football will benefit. "Cricket is on par with the rest of the world and I hope rugby will come on par with cricket," Mr. Peiris said. He further said that the Sri Lanka team is due to go for an Asian tournament and wished the team well. Finally, the ANCL Chairman Peiris held out an assurance to all those who are in charge of the game: "Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited will be there for the development of rugby football in Sri Lanka." |
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