Thurstanites should take cue from President Rajapaksa and forge
ahead - Minister Lokuge
CRICKET: A new pavilion and scoreboard which were long-felt needs for
the newly constructed cricket ground of Thurstan College, bordering Reid
Avenue and Baudhaloka Mawatha (Old Buller's Road) were declared open by
Chief Guest, Minister of Sports and Public Recreation Gamini Lokuge with
other distinguished old boys of the school in attendance on Friday
morning.
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Opening of pavilion and new scoreboard
at Thurstan College....Governor of Northern Province Dickson
Sarathchandra Dela a distinguished old boy, Minister of
Sports and Public Recreation Gamini Lokuge, IGP Jayantha
Wickremaratne and Deshabandu Kumar Dewapura - Chairman Tri
Star Apparels - an old boy officiating at the opening of the
new scoreboard at Thurstan grounds at Bauddhaloka Mawatha on
Friday morning. Picture by Herbert Perera. |
Minister Lokuge addressing schoolboys, masters and guests after the
opening ceremony urged them to aspire for greater deeds in the field of
sports by using modern facilities available.
"Thurstan is a school that has produced several distinguished old
boys in many fields and in their ranks they have produced no less a
person than President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who, despite his pressing
commitments, has rendered immeasurable service to his alma-mater.
Therefore, I urge Thurstainites, young and old, to take the one from
him and make an everlasting contribution in their chosen fields to the
society and country in the future," Minister Lokuge added.
The minister also thanked leading businessmen Kumar Devapura and Lal
Wijeratne for personally funding the construction of the new pavilion
and the scoreboard.
The pavilion cost over rupees nine million and the scoreboard one
million rupees.
Another old boys of the school - Jayantha Wickremaratne, the current
IGP, speaking on the occasion, said that he was pleased that two old
boys of the calibre of Devapura and Wijeratne had lavishly contributed
their personal wealth for the construction of the new pavilion and the
scoreboard which he termed as a `boon' for budding cricketers in the
city and the outstations.
Principal of Thurstan College - Wimal Guneratne making the welcome
address, thanked President Mahinda Rajapaksa for allocating a part of
the land which previously belonged to the National Film Corporation (NFC)
to build a new rugby ground and assured that his 'charges' will derive
the maximum from the facilities available to put Thurstan on the local
school cricket map.
Two other old boys of Thurstan College - Northern Province Governor
Dickson Dela and ex-IGP Chandra Fernando also graced the occasion.
After the opening ceremony, a T20 cricket tournament contested by
four teams was played for the Kumar Devapura Challenge Trophy.
The main feature of the tournament was a combined schools team from
the North-East playing along with `Wesley, Trinity and the hosts
Thurstan.
J.K.
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