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| Sunday, 1 May 2005 |
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SLRFU likely to get Race Course for rugby football by Lal Gunasekera There is a likelihood of the grounds at the Old Race Course, now used by the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) which comes under the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) will be handed over to Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU). The Secretary of the SLRFU, Dilroy Fernando, told the Sunday Observer that during the discussions last week the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Jeevan Kumaranatunga, had with SLRFU President, Priyantha Ekanayake, Treasurer Shantha Kurumbalapitiya, and himself, Minister Kumaranatunga had promised to speak to the Mayor of Colombo Prasanna Gunawardene, on this matter and the Minister will back to the SLRFU. Fernando said that the SLRFU could get the assistance from the International Rugby Board (IRB) to re-develop the Race Course grounds. He said: "We have our own headquarters too at the former Race Course, and possessing a ground in the same premises will be an added advantage. This is a long felt need for the SLRFU, who are exlporing every possibility of getting the approval of both the CMC and the government. He further said that there were two rooms adjoining the present headquarters, which is now occupied by the Samurdhi Ministry and requested Minister Kumaranatunga to discuss this matter with the Samurdhi Minister and hand them (the two rooms) to the SLRFU. The SLRFU trio who held discussions with Minister Kumaranatunga on Union matters, also briefed him on the 2006 Rugby Asiad to be staged in Sri Lanka. The Minister was "very positive" and promised to give the SLRFU "all possible assistance" to conduct the Asiad successfully where 16 countries are to compete for honours. The 20th Asiad could be co-hosted by both Sri Lanka and India due to the increase in the number of countries taking part. There were only 12 countries (Malaysia withdrew at the last moment) at the 19th Asiad held last year (2004) in Hong Kong. The top 10 will play their games in Sri Lanka, while the bottom six will play in India. However, this has not yet been finalised. Fourteen countries are affiliated to the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) with Philippines, Kampuchea and Guam too applying for membership. Sri Lanka are also scheduled to play Thailand in Bangkok on May 21 and Singapore in Singapore on May 28 in the second-round of the World Cup (Asia Qualifying Pool 'A' division III). In the two first-round matches last year (2004), Sri Lanka beat India 54-17 at Bombay and Thailand 35-14 at Longden Place. |
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