Lanka's sporting milestones during President's tenure

Sri Lanka achieved many significant milestones in the sports arena during the last two years. The most notable of them was the successful hosting of the 10th South Asian Games, at which Sri Lanka won as many as 37 gold medals, Susanthika Jayasinghe's IAAF World Championship medal and Sri Lanka cricket team ending as the runners-up at the 2006 World Cup.

Several sports development projects have taken place during the last couple of years. 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.

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 24 months. The most significant of them all was Sri Lanka team's advancement to the 2006 World Cup final. Led by Mahela Jayawardene, the Lankan team emerged runners up.

The ICC Best Captain's award was won by Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene at the 2006 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. Raheem rewrote Lankan swimming history by become the first local to win a swimming medal at a World class meet.

Our national rugby team too fared well at the recent Asian meet. The Lankan rugby team finished Runners Up at the 2007 Rugby Asiad worked off in Colombo.

Sri Lanka also had the honour of Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly at which Sri Lanka NOC President Hemasiri Fernando was unanimously elected Vice President.

The President's family too 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 in 2005. The eldest, Namal, went on to captain Sri Lanka Under-19 team with distinction while his younger brothers too went on to represent Sri Lanka Youth team.

Dinesh

--------------------------
<< back to main page