Swimming to be developed in the outstation towns

By Leslie FERNANDO

SWIMMING: Maithripala Sirisena, the Minister of Health is the new President of the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU). He will be returned uncontested as the swimming boss at the annual general meeting of SLASU to be held on May 17 at 9 a.m. at the Sports Development Department Auditorium at Reid Avenue.

Meanwhile, Nethru Nanayakkara, the most senior member of SLASU who captained Royal in waterpolo and represented Sri Lanka in several international matches, will be the Secretary of SLASU. Nethru an experienced administrator who has managed several aquatic sports teams abroad will be uncontested.

Both Minister Maithripala Sirisena and Nethru Nanayakkara were also members of the Interim Committee of SLASU for a period of nearly three years.

Kiran Atapattu who was the Secretary, Interim Committee of SLASU has submitted his nomination for the post of treasurer. He will be contested by Shehan Anthony Ferdinandex.

There are four slots for Vice-President posts and six nominations have been received.

Akhry Ameer, one time SLASU diving coach and co-ordinator for Synchronised Swimming, will be the Assistant Secretary. He has vast experience on aquatic sports scene. He too will be uncontested. Minister Maithripala Sirisena told the 'Sunday Observer' that he will go flat-out to promote and develop swimming at village level. "I have several plans to implement to popularise aquatic sports in the outstations. So swimmers from the villages and outstation towns will be able to show their talent in the pool and will come into limelight with other elite swimmers from Colombo. "SLASU will make every effort to send the medal winners of the South Asian Games abroad for special training program under a qualified international swimming coach. We are also considering to get down a top coach from abroad", Minister Sirisena said.

The local coaches will also stand a great chance to obtain more knowledge attending FINA swimming coaching programmes in the future.

More swimming pools

Minister Sirisena thanked President Mahinda Rajapaksa for providing 12 swimming pools in different districts in the President's Sports Development Programme.

Right now ten more swimming pools are being constructed through the efforts of the President.

The Minister said that already Provincial Councils have been advised to offer all assistance to the swimmers to develop their skills.

During the time he was Chairman of Interim Committee SLASU, Minister said that he was to organise swimming clubs in the outstation towns, Earlier most of the swimming clubs were confined to Colombo. So, at this annual general meeting swimming clubs from outstation will get the opportunity for voting rights.

The nominations of the SLASU: President: Maithripala Sirisena (uncontested), Secretary: Nethru Nanayakkara (uncontested).

Treasurer (I post): Kiran Atapattu, Shehan Anthony Ferdinandez, Vice-President (4 posts): Premasiri Dayananda, H. A. Gamage, H. M. Chulasiri, P. R. Abeywardena, S. M. Mubarak, S. P. de Alwis.

Assistant Secretary: Akhry Ameer (uncontested).