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| Sunday, 21 November 2004 |
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President's Fund helps Sri Lanka U-19 rugby side play in China by Lal Gunesekera The President's Fund has released a sum of Rs. 2.5 million after the intervention of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse to the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) for the Sri Lanka under-19 side's participation at the Junior Asian Championship to be staged in China from December 11 to 18. The Secretary of the SLRFU, Iswan Omar, told the Sunday Observer that Singer (Sri Lanka) Limited too have released Rs. 1 million for the same purpose. There will be 23 players plus six officials - George Simpkin (Technical Adviser), C. P. Abeygunawardene (Coach), Sanath Martis (Assistant Coach), Lasitha Gunaratne (Manager), W. D. O. Wijewansa from Vidyartha (Representative of the SLSRFA) and Anura Rankothge (Referee). Thirteen countries will take part in China. Omar also disclosed that the Indian Oil Company (IOC) has promised Rs. 5 million towards staging an annual two-Test series between Sri Lank and India from next year (2005) with one game to be played in India and the other in Sri Lanka. He further said that the SLRFU is making plans from now to successfully stage the 20th Asiad in Colombo in 2006 and a meeting has been fixed for December 3 in Colombo for discussions among Union officials, Provincial Unions, Sri Lanka Rugby Referees Association (SLRRA) and various others. He said that the Asiad in Colombo is going to cost the SLRFU about Rs. 25 million, but the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) will release 50 per cent to the local body. ESPN and Star Sports are also very keen to give live telecast of the tournament. Omar also said that he together with Priyantha Ekanayake (Deputy President of the SLRFU) and Malik Samarawickrema (a former President of the SLRFU and now a 'live-wire' of the Kandy Sports Club) are to meet officials of both the International Rugby Board (IRB) and ARFU in Dubai on December 2 to discuss and finalise all arrangements for the Singer-SriLankan Airlines International 7's, which is now a part of the IRB Satellite Series, which is to be staged at Nittawela next year (2005), with 16 countries competing. Omar also told the Sunday Observer that he is not keen on sending his nomination for the post of Secretary of the SLRFU for a second term. He said: "If Priyantha Ekanayake, who is now Deputy President of the SLRFU, is elected President at the next annual general meeting, I do not want the two top posts been held by Kandy Sports Club. I also have to travel a lot to Colombo with work connecting to the SLRFU and also I am kept quite busy with organising the Singer-SriLankan International 7's. I would prefer if someone from the Western Province RFU takes over as Secretary of the SLRFU". He further said that the SLRFU has to pay a sum of Rs. 95,000 to the Sri Lanka Rugby Referees Association (SLRRA) and will meet this obligation "very soon". The SLRFU has to pay the referees only their travelling allowances. |
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