|
|
|
| Sunday, 30 October 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Sports |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Rugby Football can catch glory again - Daham Wimalasena by A. C. de Silva Rugby Football was the most popular sport in late forties and early fifties and then cricket, under the able guidance of late Minister Gamini Dissanayake took over the spotlight. It was Minister Gamini Dissanayake's vision for the improvement of the game bore ample fruit and with the fine supporting role played by Nuski Mohamed and others, cricket prospered and went on to win international acclaim. This was the candid view of that great behind-the-scene worker Daham Wimalasena - a one-time Chairman of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and top cricket administrator under late Gamini Dissanayake's regime, when he 'stood-in' as chief guest at the Observer-Caltex Rugby Awards ceremony on Friday night at Galle Face Hotel. Managing Director of Caltex Kishu Gomes could not keep 'the date' for the show as he was abroad on official business and Daham Wimalasena - a Board Member of Caltex, made an effective substitute when he spoke with authority, both on cricket and rugby football. In the 1950s and 1960s, rugby football held centre stage in Ceylon (as the country was then known) and it was like a lifeline and there were many people who contributed for the development of the game. There were players and administrators in the calibre of Neville Leefe, Kavan Rambukwella, Ashey Cader, Ago Paiva - they were all household names in the game and amongst the gathering present "I also see Y. C. Chang who was also a forceful player and now a top official", Daham Wimalasena said. In those early days, rugby football was the most popular sport - far more popular than cricket. However, cricket, under the able leadership of late Gamini Dissanayake took over the spotlight. Wimalasena was a Vice-President to Dissanayake on the cricket scene. But, rugby football can once again catch the spotlight with people like Priyantha Ekanayake, who with an able team, has laid the foundation for the future. He said that players must be committed to the sport and physical fitness is a primary need for all the players. In rugby football one needs to be fully fit to give off one's best in a game. Sponsors needed Any sport needs sponsors to keep it going and Caltex stepped in to support rugby football and with Lake House group of papers with Observer coming in as media sponsors to the competitions to keep the interest alive among the man followers of the game, rugby football can catch the glory days again. The Rugby Union of Sri Lanka has many knowledgeable people with Priyantha Ekanayake at the head and they can take this game to great heights in the future. Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited Chairman Janadasa Peiris said that the sixth Observer-Caltex Rugby Awards ceremony has brought out many promising players into the limelight and he was happy to be present at the show. ANCL, he said, was happy to be a partner with Caltex in sponsoring the competitions in picking the best player and other award winners. He said that sports essential for the advancement of a country and it was encouraging to see many schools in the outstation town taking to rugby football. Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited with 'Sunday Observer' and 'Daily News' will continue to give the necessary publicity for the encouragement of players and keep the general public informed of the happenings. Just like cricket, rugby football is popular and Kishu Gomes - the Managing Director of Caltex must be thanked for sponsoring this contest and also sponsoring the game at the highest level for another five years upto 2010. ANCL boss said that he liked to congratulate all the winners of the
tournaments and award winners, but, he said that the great thing in sport is
not only the case of winning, but participating in spot is important and
thanked all those who participated in the tournaments. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
