by Dinesh Weerawansa

Sri Lanka sports has enjoyed its one of the best eras under President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. Her able leadership has greatly contributed to make a new revolution in Sri Lanka sports. It was during the year that President Kumaratunga took office - 1994, that Sri Lanka won silver and a bronze medal at the Hiroshima Asian Games in Japan.

That alone was a historic moment for Sri Lanka, which won both the medals in the same event - women's 200m as Susanthika Jayasinghe and Damayanthi Darsha came second and third respectively. During the same year, our woman shooters rewrote history.

Pushpamali Ramanayake and Mali Wickremasinghe won gold medal in women's target shooting at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria. That was the first ever shooting medal for Sri Lanka in the Commonwealth Games history.

The following year was a highly important one for Sri Lanka cricket team, which made their presence felt at the World Series Cup tournament in Australia. The 1995 became one of the most memorable time for Sri Lanka soccer as our national team beat India by one goal to nil in the final to win the SAARC Gold Cup.

Then came the most significant moment in Sri Lanka cricket as our team, led by reliable left-handed batsman Arjuna Ranatunga emerged World Champions.

Sri Lanka beat much-fancied Australia by seven wickets in the World Cup final played in Lahore on March 17, 1996. Incidentally, our world cup winning skipper, better known as 'captain cool' during his era, now serves as a Deputy Minister of Kumaratunga's ruling party Government.

Sri Lanka batsman Sanath Jayasuriya emerged the Most Valuable Player of the 1996 World Cup cricket tournament, the highest individual award on offer at the tournament.

The Sports Ministry played a key role during this era and found sponsors for each of the sports. Apart from team sponsorships, individual sponsorships too were found for talented but less affluent rural sportsmen and women. That greatly contributed to make a significant improvement in several sports.

The year 2000 opened a new chapter in Sri Lanka sports as Susanthika Jayasinghe gave her country its first Olympic medal in 52 years.

Jayasinghe finished third in women's 200m dash final at the Sydney Olympics to become only the second Sri Lankan medallist in the Olympic Games history after Duncan White who won a silver at the 1948 London Games. Jayasinghe's historic feat gave new life to Sri Lanka sports.

Then PA Government under Kumaratunga's vision towards development of track and field, greatly contributed in Jayasinghe's memorable medal. It was four years prior to the Sydney Olympics that Sri Lankan Government gave priority to its Olympic super pool.

The Sports Ministry identified future medal prospects, including Jayasinghe, and gave then residential training, nutrition, sponsorship and all other necessary support to sharpen their skills.

For the first time in Asian Games history, two Sri Lanka woman sprinters bagged gold medals at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea. Jayasinghe bagged her first Asian Games gold medal (in women's 100m) while Darsha accounted for her third Asian Games gold medal (women's 400m).

The past decade under the Presidency of Kumaratunga proved to be a highly productive one for Sri Lanka sports. During that period, Sri Lanka won an Olympic medal, World Cup cricket title, Mini World Cup cricket title, Commonwealth Games gold medal, two Asian netball championship titles, five Asian Games gold medals, South Asian soccer title and several other feats in various other sports - a feat which would be hard to beat.

Our rugby team too raised up to No. 3 position in Asia by 1998 with a series of Rugby Union test victories. Having beaten Hong Kong and Taiwan, Sri Lanka rugby team was only second to Asian giants Japan and South Korea in this region.

Sri Lanka had its own share in gold too with Anura Rohana winning a silver medal at the 2002 Asian Games in Korea. Rohana has shown good form during this year too, winning many open international titles.

Our cricket team has just completed a successful tour of Pakistan, winning the three-nation Paktel GSM Cup tournament title and drawing the two-Test series with Pakistan one-all. Sri Lanka had a convincing win in the first Test against Pakistan.

Earlier this year, Sri Lanka's spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan accounted for the world record for the highest number of Test wickets. He erased West Indian Courtney Walsh's long standing world record mark of 519 wickets. President Kumaratunga has always given top priority to the areas of Youth Affairs and Sports.

She believes in the vital combination of youth and sports, which are important ingredients to build a strong nation. She has extended her fullest support to the forthcoming South Asian Games to be held in Colombo next year.

The Government has already come forward to pump a massive Rs. 300 million for the tenth edition of the eight-nation Games scheduled for August, 2005.

President Kumaratunga's dream is to provide a better future for Sri Lanka's youth. Sports could play a great role in fulfilling that dream. Sports is a great leveller and Kumaratunga's determination to bring lasting peace for North East problem too could be achieved with the good sporting relationship among sportsmen all over the island.