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| Sunday, 29 June 2003 |
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Army men and women take spotlight in Navy sea swim by LESLIE FERNANDO Sri Lanka Army swimmers, both men and women proved their class and carried away four champions titles at the Sri Lanka Navy inaugural open 2-km Sea Swim and Open Windsurfing Championships conducted by the Sri Lanka Navy Sports Board and Eastern Naval Command last Saturday (June 21) at the Sandy Bay, Trincomalee. Sri Lanka Army Aquatic Club won the inter-club championships with 108 points, Sri Devananda Vidyalaya, Ambalangoda were second with 98 points and Sri Lanka Navy AC third with 17 points. The Soldiers also took the inter-service championships with 108 points, followed by Sri Lanka Navy second 17 points and Sri Lanka Air Force third 8 points. Army also won the men's and women's team championships. The inter-school championship went to Sri Devananda College, Ambalangoda. Eastern Command took the top spot in the Navy Inter-Command followed by Training Command and Northern Command. Sampath Weerakkody of Sri Devananda Ambalangoda was the men's champion swimmer while Thakshila Daluwatta of Panadura AC champion women's swimmer. K. T. J. Prasantha (SDV) and Malshani Medage (RAC) won the youngest boys' and girls' swimmer awards. Upul Kumara of Sri Lanka Army AC was the winner of the Oldest Swimmer Trophy while K. V. G. Priyadarshana of Sri Lanka Army, Best Disabled Swimmer. Swimmers from three Armed Forces, Police, Devananda College, Ambalangoda, Devi Balika College, Dolphin AC, Fishtail AC, Kelani Nadee AC, Nalanda College, Panadura AC, Polhengoda AC, Rainbow AC, St. Paul's Milagiriya, Vihara Maha Devi BV participated in the historic sea swim and all competitors and officials were provided with accommodation and meals by the Sri Lanka Navy, SB and Eastern Naval Command. Prima Ceylon Ltd, Tokyo Cement Corporation (Lanka) Ltd, Hotel Club Oceanic, Nilaweli Beach Hotel and Ceylon Cold Stores made generous contributions to make this event a successful one. Sri Lanka Navy cultural troupe put up a fine performance prior to the prize distribution and afterwards too. Major General Asoka K. Jayawardena, the Governor, Northern and Eastern Command who was the chief guest said that he was pleased to grace the occasion of the inaugural Sri Lanka Navy 2-km Sea Swim and Windsurfing Championships that brought out the sporting spirit of the once forgotten hub of the Northern and Eastern Provinces. The Governor congratulated the Commander of the Navy, the Commander Eastern Naval Area, the President and the Members of NAASU for organising this colourful event in association with Yachting Association and the Tourist Board for the first time in Trincomalee. The Governor also took the opportunity to commend the Navy aquatic committee for their untiring efforts to uplift sports of swimming and windsurfing in an effort to reach international standard and for all the encouragement given to the participants to develop skills. Events like this would certainly bring together various ethnic groups in the area, also the gracious support extended by all sponsors to make this event a reality is highly appreciated. Rear Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, the Commander Eastern Naval Area and President NAASU said that the primary object of this annual event will be to develop an interest in aquatic sports in the Eastern Province as well to create an environment for all ethnic groups to participate and thus strengthen unity through sports. "As the President of National Amateur Aquatic Sports Union, I am confident that the participants in sea swim will derive the maximum benefit from the opportunity made available to them and would serve the schools and clubs well," the NAASU boss said. |
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