Minister keen on Sports Museum

by Ranjan ANANDAPPA

MILO COLOURS AWARDS: Minister of Sports C.B.Ratnayake gave a clear indication of building a sports museum in the near future which has been lacking in the country.

He disclosed this at the Milo Schools Colours Award ceremony last Wednesday at the BMICH and sought the support of Nestle Lanka PLC ltd. to make this dream a reality.

While commending the support rendered by Nestle's to the development of sports, the minister said that the world exists due to the sun and the mothers milk.

"The human being is the only creature in this world who consumes milk from its birth to its demise. So Nestle has understood this and has been in the forefront of the dairy product for a long period of time" said the Minister and added "Amidst many hardships, parents send their children to school to study and engage in extra curricular activities which enhance them to provide the background to victory."

He further said that sports not only keeps one healthy, but instils discipline, makes the individual law-abiding and provides the right platform to forge ahead.

"Sri Lanka is a small dot in the world map, and people were inquisitive to find more about this 'dot' when the first woman prime minister was elected. Mrs Sirimavo Bandaranaike proved to the world how true is the adage " the hand that rocks the cradle, rules the world." by becoming the first woman premier."

"Then people were more inquisitive to find about the guerilla war that was taking place and later the winning of the World Cup cricket and then was eager to find about the country which defeated terrorism and brought peace. The President has appointed me as the minister of sports to overcome all barriers and develop sports from the Grama Sevaka area level" he said. He continued saying that we should rectify our mistakes and take right decisions to march forward towards prosperity.

Towards this forward march, Nestle's has played a pivotal role.

Shehan Ambeypitiya (athletics) of Gateway International School and Miniruwani Samarakoon (swimming) of Girls High School, Kandy were adjudged the Most Outstanding Sportsman and Sportswoman for year 2009 respectively.

Tharinda Dharshini Weerakoon (table tennis) of Maliyadeva BV, Kurunegala and Charith Kapukotuwa (athletics) of Royal College were adjudged the emerging sportsman and Sportswoman for 2009.