Lalith Withana’s vision realised:

Floodlights for SLTA

Floodlights constructed at a sum of rupees 1.5 million has been installed to all tennis courts on the playing section at the Sri Lanka Tennnis Association (SLTA), and a opening ceremony in this regard was held at the SLTA Playing Section under the patronage of one of its former President’s Lalith Withana, last evening at Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha, Colombo 7.

These new floodlights at its Playing Section will enable the players to enjoy their game of tennis until late at night, particularly for those who work till late evening.

It will also help the national pool players to practise longer hours and further enhance their standards with a view to staying in Group 2 next-year as well.

This is a far-sighted ambition of the current set of officials at the Playing Section of the SLTA who cater to the members who want to enjoy the game and stay fit during old age.

The installation of floodlights to the Playing Section of the SLTA was a brainchild of its former President Lalith Withana.

A spokeswoman for the SLTA, speaking to `Sunday Observer’, said the former President had one ambition which he desperately wanted to fullfil.

“He wanted the Playing Section facilities upgraded with all the shortcomings on the infrastructure being rectified.

“It included the office, a proper restaurant for the members and the floodlights the club lost in 1984 before he stepped down”, she said.

After almost a period of 15 years, the SLTA Playing Section emerged as the inter-club singles and doubles overall winner of Sri Lanka and has attracted the cream of the country’s tennis players.

Two-years of Withana’s stewardship at the SLTA put Sri Lanka on the map of tennis administration in the world.

Mini tennis, performance tennis international tournaments, upgrading of facilities including the new gym, outstation tennis promotions and professionalising the SLTA management were a few of the initiatives undertaken by him during his tenure.

ITF named the SLTA as the most improved nation in 2000 while the SLTA was given the ATF award as the next managed association in 2001.

Lalith Withana’s dedicated work saw the ITF to award him with the `Services to the Game Award’ at the ITF AGM held in Mexico in 2001. JK