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by Sa'adi Thawfeeq

Singer (Sri Lanka) Ltd chairman Hemaka Amarasuriya sent out a warning signal to the local rugby fraternity that if there is no improvements in the standard of the game here internationally, sponsors would be reluctant to come forward in the future to support the sport.

"As much as we sponsor rugby events we also expect a certain amount of progress of the national team at international level," said Amarasuriya addressing the Singer Sri Lankan Airlines Sevens media conference held at Kandy SC, Nittawela on Tuesday.

"We support the sport not purely for its commercial value but to raise the standard of the sport to reach its true potential. It is sad to say that in rugby in this country, I don't see any vision or any improvement in standards. As sponsors we like to see standards improve. In cricket, despite its politics we are an icon nation ranked along with Australia, South Africa and Pakistan," he said.

Amarasuriya said that it was during the Kandy Sports Club's 125th anniversary year in 1998 that the Singer Sri Lankan Airlines rugby sevens tournament was inaugurated.

"The organisational capabilities of Kandy SC in the past three years has shown that they can stand up to any other international tournament in any part of the world. I sincerely hope the International Rugby Board (IRB) recognises this tournament and includes it in their calendar," said Amarasuriya.

"The ultimate goal of Kandy SC should be to achieve this recognition from the IRB. When that happens it will become a milestone in the history of Sri Lankan rugby," he said.

The 16 participating countries are Sri Lanka, South Korea, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, India, Singapore, Arabian Gulf, Germany, Denmark, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Chinese Taipei, Portugal, Spain and Kenya. All the matches will be played at Bogambara Stadium in Kandy.

Singer (Sri Lanka) donated Kandy SC with a cabinet to display the trophies they had won over the years. Kandy SC are going for their third title for the current year. Having won the Sevens and the inter-club league, Kandy SC meet Army SC in the inter-club knockout final at Nittawela today.

Singer (Sri Lanka) also felicitated the Kandy SC rugby team led by Pradeep Basnayake to a dinner in recognition of their becoming 'A' division league champs for 2002. Hyacinth Silva said that for the fourth consecutive year Sri Lankan Airlines was flying the 15 participating countries from various destinations at a specially discounted air fare. She said the officials are being flown on a complimentary basis.

Kandy SC president Dr. Sarath Kapuwatte, Kandy SC organising committee chairman Iswan Omar and Arjun Dharmadasa of Hotel Connaissance also spoke.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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