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By Dinesh Weerawansa

The AAA Executive committee has decided to send letters to Sri Lanka's World Championship athletes - Sriyani Kulawansa, Damayanthi Darsha, Pradeepa Herath and Anoma Sooriyarachchi, asking for explanations as to why they had skipped the relay trials for the Asian Championships.

But the explanation letters sent to four of Sri Lanka's leading women sprinters would not affect their inclusion in the team for next month's Asian Games.

"If they give valid reasons, they will be exonerated and if not, disciplinary action would be taken against those athletes. But this would not affect their participation in the Asian Games," the AAA chief Sunil Jayaweera said yesterday. Meanwhile, six athletes who have been picked in women's 4 x 100m relay team for next month's Asian Games have been summoned for a special meeting at the AAA headquarters next week.

The six women sprinters - Susanthka Jayasinghe, Sriyani Kulawansa, Damayanthi Darsha, Pradeepa Herath, Anoma Sooriyarachchi and Jani Chathurangani, along with their respective coaches, have been called for a meeting with the AAA President on Monday at 2 p.m.

The AAA executive committee, which met last evening, decided to stress more importance on women's relay team and its baton changing after an unimpressive performance, despite winning the bronze after a controversial selection for the recent Asian Championships in Colombo. AAA President Sunil Jayaweera said last night that there will be a special trial to pick the final four who will run in the relay, though all six will make the tour with the remaining two as stand-byes.

As exclusively stated in these columns, Sri Lanka will field a 16-member team for the 14th Asian Games to be worked off in Busan, South Korea from September 28 to October 14, 2002. Meanwhile, Bernard Perera has been appointed Assistant Manager to Brig. Upali Bandaratillake.

Earlier, the executive committee members of the AAA garlanded the Sri Lanka athletic chief Jayaweera, both in customary Sinhala and Tamil traditions, and congratulated him for giving the leadership for the successful holding of the Asian Championship in Colombo. It was also disclosed at the ex-co meeting that only 10% of the Sri Lanka athletes performed to expectations at the recent Asian Championships. Hence, the committee stressed the importance of concentrating more on future international events. Strengthening the district level competition too was discussed and the AAA decided to provide Rs. 25,000/- each for the District Athletic Associations which conduct their own district meets successfully.

Sri Lanka national pool, intermediate and junior pools will be formed and will be given proper training with future meets in mind.

On a proposal which came during the recent meeting of the Sri Lanka athletic team with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe, it was decided to promote track & field in the Mahaweli zones, as in the past.

Two groups of senior and junior athletic coaches will be sent to Patiala and IAAF Regionals Development Centres respective for intensive training and update their knowledge. The AAA also ratified Sri Lanka's participation in the Singapore Open International meet, for which they would be sending a five-member team. Two Sri Lanka athletes picked for next month's Asian Games - Ranga Wimalawansa and Manjula Kumara Wijesekera, have been included in the Sri Lanka team to Singapore Open meet to be worked off on September 7 and 8. Sri Lanka athletic team for Singapore Open International meet: Ranga Wimalawansa (men's 400m), Joy Danushka Perera (men's 100m & 200m), K.L.L.Gunawardena (women's 800m & 1,500m), Manjula Kumara Wijesekera (men's high jump), W.Wijekoon (men's 800m & 1,500m), N.A.T.Jayasinghe (Manager), Ranjith Aluvihare (Coach).

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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