Deaf Schools netball and cricket sixes May 26

DEAF SPORTS: The School for the Deaf, Ratmalana is fancied to win the Caltex Trophies at the Deaf Schools' Netball and Six-A-Side Softball Cricket Tournaments, when these two tournaments will be played at the De Soysa Stadium, Moratuwa on May 26 starting at 8.30 a.m.

The tournaments are organised by the Deaf School Past Pupils' Association and sponsored by Caltex Lubricants Lanka Limited for the sixth successive year.

The teams that have entered for cricket - The School for the Deaf, Ratmalana - the defending champions, last year's runners-up: Sri Sudarshi Deaf and Blind School, Bandarawela, Islamic Centre for Physically Handicapped, Thihariya, Rohana Special School, Matara, Yasodara Deaf and Blind School, Tangalle, Sayana Deaf School, Matale and Siviraja Deaf and Blind School, Mahawewa.

In netball, Siviraja Deaf and Blind School, Mahawewa will offer stiff competition to the Ratmalana Deaf and Blind School and the other contenders are Rohana Special School, Matara and Sri Sudarshi Deaf and Blind School, Bandarawela.

The chief guest will be Imal Fonseka, Director/General Manager, Caltex Lubricants Lanka Limited while Miss Manoji Samararatne, Marketing Manager, Microsoft Sri Lanka (Pvt) Limited will be the guest of honour.

A former Sports Star Shivantha Vivekanandan - the President and Chairman of the Organising Committee, Deaf School Past Pupils' Association said that the main purpose of conducting sports activities like netball, cricket and volleyball was the popularise and promote sports among the deaf community.

There have been many sponsors like Caltex Lubricants Lanka Limited, Microsoft Sri Lanka Pvt. Limited, Seylan Bank Limited, Darley Butler and Company Limited, SriLankan Airlines, Ceylon Cold Stores Limited, Strassen Group and Suntel Limited and wished to thank them for the generous sponsorship.

The organisers also received the unstinted support of Mrs. Marie Wijeyaratne - the Principal and members of the Deaf School Past Pupils' Association and the Parent-Teachers Association of the School for the Deaf, Ratmalana.

The popularity of cricket has also helped to uplift the standard of leatherball cricket among the deaf. Sri Lanka Deaf Cricket Association will pick a pool of cricketers who will be trained by former Nomads Cricketer Jayalath Aponso.