Swimming pool for Dharmaraja becomes a reality

by Upananda JAYASUNDERA - Kandy Sports Special Corr.

SWIMMING: January 17 will be a important day in the sporting history of Dharmaraja College, as the school enters another sphere of sporting history - swimming. The new swimming pool will be declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the school premises at the auspicious time of 9 a.m.

That Dharmaraja College goes into swimming is a new chapter in the sporting history of the school. Dharmaraja College situated on a hilly land which gives somewhat of a picturesque sight, also had a new playground constructed and the latest addition of a swimming pool will no doubt broaden the sports activities of the school. The construction of the pool by the Old Boys Union of Dharmaraja College with the assistance of the Colombo Rajans OBU has cost Rs. 35 million. The Government has made a donation of Rs. 15 million towards the swimming pool, parents and old boys Rs. 8 million, a devoted old boy - E. W. Balasuriya donated Rs. 12 million - and that's how the swimming pool has come up. Earlier the Playground Auditorium Headquarters etc. had been constructed with the assistance of the Government, OBU, Parents and Wellwishers.

Two committees have been appointed for the smooth functioning of the swimming pool project: The Working Committee: Patron: S. M. Keerthiratne - the Principal. Chairman: D. M. Dharmathilake (Treasurer, Colombo OBU Branch), Secretary: S. B. Herath (President, Colombo OBU Branch), Members - Jagath Samarasinghe and Sarath Mataraarachchi.

Technical Committee: Chairman Dr. Udaya Dissanayake, Architect: Sarath Kulatunge, Geologist: Dr. Udeni Amarasinghe and Quantity Surveyor: Sarath Sathkumara.