President Rajapaksa props sports to many milestones
 

by Dinesh Weerawansa

Sri Lanka achieved many significant milestones in the sports arena during the last 12 months. The most important of them was the successful hosting of the 10th South Asian Games, at which Sri Lanka won as many as 37 gold medals.

Several sports development projects have been conducted under the direction of the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Jeewan Kumaratunga. There have been many rural sports development projects to lend a helping hand to up and coming needy sportsmen and women across the island.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa gave dynamic leadership to the Organising Committee of the 10th South Asian Games. As the Patron of the all-important Steering Committee of the 10th South Asian Games, President Rajapaksa was instrumental in giving able leadership to the organisers.

Unlike in the past, the eight-nation South Asian version of the Olympics had a truly Sri Lankan taste. Our traditional Vesak lantern - 'ata pattama' was used for the decorations while the opening and closing ceremonies saw a rich blend of our true Sri Lankan art and culture.

Sri Lanka bagged as many as 37 gold medals to finish second to regional giants India in the final medals standings of the 10th South Asian Games. Our athletes had a rich harvest of 12 gold medals, which included a triple each by sprinters Susanthika Jayasinghe and Rohan Pradeep Kumara.

Incidentally, it was President Mahinda Rajapaksa, as a senior Cabinet Minister of the then PA Government, who headed the Athletic Association of Sri Lanka when Jayasinghe bagged Sri Lanka's first and the only IAAF World Championship medal in 1997. As a former AASL chief, President Rajapaksa played a key role in promoting track and field.

Our cricketers had their own share in Sri Lanka's sporting achievements during the past 12 months. The most significant of them all was the ICC Best captain's award won by Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardena at the recent ICC awards ceremony in India.

Earlier during the 2006 summer, Sri Lanka whitewashed England 5-0 in the five match one-day international series after holding the hosts to a one-all tie in the three-Test series. Having lost the first Test, Sri Lanka staged a magnificent comeback to square the series in great fashion.

Sri Lanka soccer team did well to secure the silver medal at the 10th South Asian Games. Despite losing to Pakistan in the final, the Lankans put up a gallant performance.

In swimming, teenagers Mayumi Raheem and Andrew Abeysinghe kept the Lion Flag fluttering high at the Sugathadasa Stadium pool - the venue for the 10th SA Games swimming competition. Raheem won a record total of ten medals - three gold, five silver and two bronze medals, a feat which would be hard to beat.

In fact, Sri Lanka would have lost the two gold medals won by US-based Abeysinghe. When the 15-year-old Lankan was at the receiving end due to selection blunders, it was President Rajapaksa who found a fair deal for the young boy, who justified that move with a golden double.

The President's family has a passion for sport. President Rajapaksa has been a versatile athlete during his day and later played a key role as a President of the national bodies for athletics and elle. The First Lady, Madam Shiranthi Rajapaksa was the President of the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka.

The three sons of President Rajapaksa - Namal, Yoshitha and Rohitha, are talented rugby players. All three played in the same team - the 'pack', for S.Thomas' College 1st XV team. The eldest, Namal, went on to captain Sri Lanka Under-19 team with distinction.

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