All welcome inspiring new Sports Minister

By Hafiz MARIKAR

NEW SPORTS MINISTER: The appointment of the new Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage is another milestone in sports revolution to Sri Lanka, with his inspiring leadership, strong character which makes him even more ambitious to render an invaluable service to the country in the field of sports.

A dynamic personality from Kandy District and a versatile young politician with great commitment to serve the general public, in comparison to his contemporaries in the Sports Ministry such as the Late V.A. Sugathadasa, Late K.B. Ratnayake, late Vincent Perera, Nanda Mathew, S.B. Dissanayake, Lakshman Kiriella, Johnston Fernando, Gamini Lokuge and C.B. Ratnayake.

The new Minister initiates development especially to promote youth at grass root level with the concept that we have inherited wisdom to tolerate all opinion and take mature decisions, as we have a tradition of understanding our problems and conflicts and finding solutions for them. He further is of the opinion that there will be no development in the absence of peace, nor peace in the absence of development.

The new Sports Minister Mahindananda has tremendous experience to lift sports activities in the country, perhaps the character he chose to fulfill from childhood dreams, he said that the untiring efforts and good job done by his predecessor C.B. Ratnayake will be continued.

Mahindananda is a very lovable person, and knows how to get going with his responsibilities with of course a Ministry he can thrive on and focus will be to win the economic war with sports to support it and usher in an era of prosperity.

He wishes to see everyone in this land become a stakeholder in future victories that will follow the influence and guidance of the President. The new Minister is keen to promote sports at various levels and Sri Lanka to live upto expectations as a great sporting nation in the Asian region while making vast strides on the international scene, both here and overseas in all games.

Mahindananda started his schooling at Gangasiripura Vidyalaya and at the end of grade three he was shifted to Royal College, Colombo by his father knowing his potential and talent as an all-rounder.

At Royal he concentrated in his studies and played Football, Rugger and Cricket at house level, he was a very keen Cadet, now he plays a little bit of Badminton when time permits.

Supports sports

Since taking over to politics, in 1993, he has been supporting sports in a big way both financially and in person. It was only in year 2000 he got the big break in politics when he entered parliament. In four years he was elevated as a Minister.

Whenever sports events are organized in the Kandy district, he extends a helping hand without any bias to religion, cast, status or political parties. His focus would be only for the job well done and helps anyone who goes to him with a genuine cause.

In the good old days the Minister of Sports and Parliamentary affairs were tied together, and later one minister was in-charge of Sports and Tourism, and now this sports loving minister has got the right job, it may be god's sent gift to him, to help the up and coming youth.

He is bound to give a significant contribution for all sports. There are plenty of young sportsmen and women in the villages, they should be given the right place and opportunity. The Minister must promote sports like Football, Cricket, Rugger, Hockey, Volleyball, Netball, Swimming, Basketball in the curriculum of all schools.

In the past schools had coaches for all sports and they were the master- in-charge too, unlike now, where the coaches come from 'outside'.

Schools must be enrolled with coaches with a good background and sports training from the Sports Ministry or Provincial Sports Training Unit.

It is only then all sports can maintain discipline, leadership, teamwork and to accept both victory and defeat in the same sprit with inspiration and motivation. Today this is lacking because outsiders handle coaching, and they find it difficult to maintain discipline.

School sportsmen are like flowers, less likely to bloom unless matured in the proper way. Even today, we would like to see the emergence of such capable instructors of our own that will add great strength to our schools sector.

Facilities necessary

Further this accelerates if proper playing grounds and facilities are made available in main towns and villages. In Kandy, when the Bogambara Stadium was under the Kandy Municipal Council, they used to hire the grounds at a very nominal rate and sports like Football, Hockey, Athletics, Basketball, Netball at affordable rates and all sports were able to thrive with highlights as records reveal.

Now with the increase in rates, less fortunate sports organizations lack proper sponsorship and are not in a position to pay a big packet as ground fees. Besides this the venue is handled by the Sugathadasa Complex in Colombo and its operational structure from there as a result of attention and expenses are on the high side towards maintenance.

It would be advantages if the new Minister can hand over the grounds back to the Municipal Council as they are capable of doing a better job with adequate supervision at rates affordable to sports organizations in the district. Where the present commissioner of the Municipal Council Chandana Tenakoon _ a keen sports follower is all out to take over and give a good performance.

A great rugby player of the 1970s, a rugby promoter of Kandy Iswan Omar, former Chairman Organizing Committee of the International - IRB recognized "Singer Sri Lankan Airlines Sevens" tournament from 1999 to 2008 with Kandy Sports Club, says, undoubtedly, the most glamorous and much looked forward to Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has taken over from the Central Province to restructure the sports mechanism to effect changes in organizing activates with the concept "Gamata Kreeda" in keeping with sports development in the country and in Asia.

Using new technology is one area that needs to be expidited and this could be achieved working alongside with the Chairman Youth Organization "Tharunyata Hetak" in the outskirts of the country to boost sports in the right areas for a bright future.

Expedite work on World Cup venues

Minister's main aim at present is to expedite the completion of the three World Cup venues _ Pallekelle, Khettarama and Hambantota. He visited the Pallekelle Stadium and was happy over the speed and targets to complete the stadium ahead of time by Sri Lanka Cricket, this was the aim of the former Minister C.B. Ratnayake too. The new Minister, who took office on 25th of November, kicked off his ministership, by being the guest of honour at the Carlton International Rugby 7s. He is keen in giving a helping hand and guide to all 54 affiliated governing bodies. He says that he is new to this game, therefore, to give him a little time to do the job.

He said his key policy objectives are to give all sports what they require for development, with his common vision to make every child in the country, talented and keen in sports by giving them right guiding to excel.