President Rajapaksa wants to make Sri Lanka a model country in Asia - Sports Minister Ratnayake

by S.M. Jiffrey ABDEEN - Kandy Sports Corr.

FELICITATION CEREMONY President Mahinda Rajapaksa has visions making Sri Lanka as a model country in Asia and in achieving this, he has entrusted the task of handling matters regarding sports and the Sports Ministry itself to me and I will carry out all the responsibilities entrusted to me to the best of my ability towards achieving these goals" said the new Minister of Sports C.B. Ratnayake.

He made these observations at a colourful felicitation ceremony organised the Vidyartha College Old Boys Association and the College at the school premises in Kandy on Friday. Minister C.B. Ratnayake is a product of Vidyartha College where he excelled at rugby, cricket, boxing and athletics.

Minister Ratnayake recalled his days at Vidyartha College where he was a boarder for ten years. They played rugby in the grassless compound which often injured their knees and needed medical attention. Then they played in the "Raa Kade grounds" at Mahaiyawa (Toddy Tavern grounds) which was owned by the Kandy Municipality. They underwent all this because Vidyartha College, though participating in all sports did not have a playground of its own.

He said that this shortcoming will be soon overcome and he will take the responsibility of providing Vidyartha College a decent playground with all facilities. Initially the present ground at Nittawela will be extended up to the present car park and a indoor not too will be constructed.

He said that to improve sports the infrastructure must be improved and if not upgraded. To achieve this objective there should be more swimming pools, gymnasiums and indoor stadiums. Initially efforts will be made to provide this facility to every district capital and later it will increased depending on the demand. This should help sportsmen and sportswomen to enhance their talents and skills.

Sportsmen from the outstations have brought honour to the country and Kandy, too, has produced its quota of champions in many fields too numerous to enumerate here. Vidyartha College contributed its mite towards this by producing champion boxers, table tennis players and also excelled in cricket and rugby over the years. The unknown talent in the outstations especially in the rural areas must be tapped by taking sports to the village which is the policy of President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the Mahinda Chinthanaya "Gamata Kreedawa" He said that the prices of sports equipment will be brought down by opening up sports shops in leading towns where people could buy quality sports goods at reasonable prices. By this move boys and girls will take to sports.

He said that we must without wasting time should gear ourselves now itself to make Sri Lanka a model country in Asia and sports will play an important role as it is in sports that a country breaks into limelight than in other matters. What a honour Sri Lanka brought for itself when it won the World Cup in cricket in 1996, defeating all other nations in the world. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has chosen me to head sports in the country and I will do my utmost to discharge the duties entrusted to me to the best of my ability. I will ensure that sports reach higher goals and bring honour to the country.

Chief Minister of the Central Province Sarath Ekanayake and the Chairman of the National Olympic Committee Dian Gomes also spoke.