Facilities are important to improve sports in Kandy

by Hafiz Marikar

Many sports promoters have come and gone. Without exception all these promoters proclaimed that sports development was their priority, for sure certain amount of development has happened in this period, like in every district in the country.

But as in the case of Kandy’s sportsmen, they are in need of sports facilities in general and mostly a well equipped playground to take their talent and skill level to a higher level.

Kandy district has the proud record of having produced some of the greatest sportsmen.

Sports for the past decades has been so popular in Kandy and today with all schools in Kandy taking part in all sports activities, there is a huge necessity for advance facilities for sports.

In respect of Rugby, a big “thank-you” should be extended to Kandy Sports Club for having developed the rugby ground with the infrastructure to international standards.

Trinity college grounds at Asgiriya is fortunate to have an International Cricket Stadium, they help all the schools to play their big matches and their ODIs.

At Katugastota St. Anthony’s have their own turf wicket and below that is the Sri Rahula Ground.

Dharmaraja College has done some good work to put their pint size Lake View Grounds and bring it upto a perfect cricket playing ground.

Kignswood ground at Randles Hill was re-developed, but they are still to play a game of cricket, rugby, football or hockey.

Peradeniya Campus is fortunate to have separate grounds for Athletics, Hockey, Tennis, Cricket and the Rugby and Football ground (together); all this is in-a-row, now it needs a face lift to conform to standards.

At one time, the Peradeniya Campus turf wicket was classified among the best in the country (that was time when late Leslie Hadunge was in-charge, in the good old days, they helped the schools in a big way to play cricket and also for hockey, today it is not so!

Police Grounds is the venue which helped everyone in the field of cricket, football, hockey, athletics, volleyball, now they don’t release the grounds for hockey and football and also schools and clubs don’t play cricket as they have only a matting wicket and the facilities offered are not sufficient.

I remember when former DIG Bodi Liyanage initiated a move to get the grounds re-developed through the Sports Ministry at that time. Nimal Lewke DIG was the SP – sports at Police then he too came on an inspection and got advice of experts to see the possibility of expanding the grounds and tried their best to lay turf wickets, but they needed at least the space of three turf wickets, but the space was insufficient.

Bogambara Stadium which helped most of the sports when it was under the Municipal Council at a affordable rate, today most of the schools and clubs are finding it difficult to play their games due to very high ground charges.

Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium is quite far from the Kandy, but here too the charges are rather high.

Vidyartha College owns a ground which is on lease from the Municipal Council adjoining the Nitawella grounds, there only junior games can be played.

St. Sylvester’s has a miniature ground at Asgiriya where they can have practices. Sri Sumangala has no grounds.

Girls schools

Out of the girls schools St. Anthony’s Convent has a ground which needs upgrading.

Mahamaya got space at the end of the Lake from the Municipal Council, Hillwood, Girls High School, Kandy Convent, Hemamalie, Swarnamali, Seetha Devi, Badurdeen Girls School, Gothami, and there are many international schools who have no place to do their sporting activities.

Now serious thought must be given for development of schools in sports. The twenty six pocket size Municipal Playgrounds, they are not up to standard for matches.

The sporting fraternity of Kandy hope that Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage who is also residing in Kandy, should have the lead for sports development, so over to him, he is sure and capable of doing a good job!