Sporting public commend President Rajapaksa for uplifting standards

by Leslie FERNANDO

PRESIDENT - A GUIDING LIGHT: Sri Lanka's 'ace' in the athletic scene - Susanthika Jayasinghe, the Olympic Bronze Medal winner was looked after well by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and when the star athlete decided to 'call it a day' as far as competitive athletics was concerned, President Rajapaksa did not disappoint the runner and presented her with a handsome gift of Rs. five million as a token of Sri Lanka gratitude for the wonderful way she brought honour to the country at the Beijing Olympic Games of 2008.

Susanthika who has done well for Sri Lanka in the athletic scene, valued this gift from the President and remarked any one would like to do well in sports and be recognised and well rewarded by the President. She was of the view that President who was also a sportsman in his young days support sports in a big way. While he was the President of the Amateur Athletic Federation of Sri Lanka, he went all out to improve the standard of athletics. President Mahinda Rajapaksa will definitely offer all assistance for the development and promotion of sports in the years to come.

From athletics to cricket and there's Sanath Jayasuriya will always remember President Mahinda Rajapaksa who personally intervened for his recall to the Test scene and represent Sri Lanka at international level.

Jayasuriya benefits

Jayasuriya called 'time' on his Test career during the fist Test against Pakistan in Kandy in December 2007 - January 2008 and bowed out with a cracking 78 in his final innings. His one-day career was over when he was left-out for the ODIs in the West Indies in 2008. However, superb performance in the IPL tournament in India and ending as the third highest scorer with 514 runs, prompted country's Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge to intervene on his expulsion for the Asia Cup. Actually it was President Mahinda Rajapaksa who was influenced Jayasuriya's re-entry to big-time cricket again.After being included in the Asia Cup, thanks to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Jayasuriya shaped Sri Lanka's title victory with a blistering hudnred under pressure. Jayasuriya who became the second man to cross 13,000 ODI runs and at age of 40 years plus became the oldest man to score an ODI century. So, Jayasuriya seems to be still going strong and will continue to help Sri Lanka cricket. The sportsmen and sportswomen together with institutions, schools, clubs and various sports controlling bodies received tremendous boost and support from the sports-loving Head of State.

School - base of sports

President Rajapaksa, in one of his addresses said if sports in

Sri Lanka are to be developed the ministries of education and sports should work together. For the past 15 years this has been emphasized, but without results. School is the base of sports, therefore when he became the President, he instructed all sports loving officials to work hard and achieve better results.

The President should be commanded for this efforts to put an end to the menace of terrorism after 30 years can be identified as a great service in the sport.

Sri Lanka had the proud privilege of hosting the 10th South Asian Games from 18th-28th August, 2006. President Mahinda Rajapaksa played the most dominant role for its success and took a personal interest in the activities connected with the organisation of the Games, always inquiring into the progress made and saw that all the stadia are put in prime condition and the infrastructure facilities in place to make the stay of our foreign visitors from eight South Asian nations a happy and an enjoyable one.

National sports honours

For the fist time in the history of sports annals in the country, the National Sports Honours Award Ceremony was held in 2008 at the BMICH on the instructions of the President.

Gamini Lokuge, Minister of Sports and Public Recreation, together with his hard working sports officials organised a superb show with 297 sportsmen and sportswomen of various disciplines being honoured.

That was not the end. Enough does not seem to be an answer. President Mahinda Rajapaksa felicitated the winners of the 5th World Carrom Championship (men's team) and runners-up the women's team as well as the officials of the Carrom Federation of Sri Lanka at Temple Trees in August, 2008 to warmly greet them on their fine effort. Monetary gifts were handed to the members of the teams. President Mahinda Rajapaksa requested the Minister of Sports to grant whatever financial assistance and other assistance to the world class carrom players. Sports Minister Lokuge made a grant of Rs. 480,000 needed for the immediate purchase of quality carrom boards which were very essential to maintain their world standard.

New cricket venues

The rural folk have not been forgotten - they have the greatest chance of witnessing World Cup matches at two venues in the year 2011. The two venues are: Suriyawewa Grounds at Hambantota and Pallekele Stadium will be ready for the matches and the construction work is in progress on the initiative taken by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. So, Sri Lanka will have seven venues for international matches. Our netballers brought honours and glory, winning the Asian Netball Championships held in Singapore in 2008. The Sports Ministry funded the Sri Lanka Netball team on the advice of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Special development programmes in all districts are being implemented for the promotion of sporting activities by the Education Minister Susil Premjayantha on the advice of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. These programmes have greatly benefited the rural schoolchildren to show their hidden talent. These programmes will be continued further for the benefit of the schoolchildren.