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by Richard Dwight

An eagerly looked forward to event amongst those with hearing difficulties serving as well as a source of encouragement and whipping up much enthusiasm, will be the Netball Tournament for the schools of the Deaf, which takes place on Sunday the 23rd of February at the Deaf School Ratmalana at 9.30 a.m.

This laudable tournament is being sponsored by 'Caltex' for the second consecutive year and organised by the Past Pupils Association of the Deaf School Ratmalana, with the active support of the school itself.

A very salutary step this year, in the name of concord and amity, will be the participation of a Deaf School from Jaffna, an endorsement indeed of the peace that prevails. There will in all be eight teams vying for the Caltex Challenge Cup, they are the A and B teams from the Deaf School Ratmalana, A and B teams from the St. Joseph's, School for the Deaf Ragama, Siviraja Deaf School Mahawewa, Sri Sudarshi Deaf and Blind School, Ella, Bandarawela, Deaf and Blind School Anuradhapura and the Nufield Deaf and Blind School, Kallady, Jaffna.

The tournament will get under way at the school for the Deaf, Borupana Road, Ratmalana, commencing at 9.30 a.m. with the finals from 3.00 p.m. and the awards ceremony thereafter.

Addressing the media at a briefing held at the conference room of 'Caltex House' Kollupitiya, the Head of Sales and Marketing, Caltex, Vajira Abeysinghe said at the last year's tournament, they were stirred with emotion at the display of interest, zeal and vigour, by the principals staff and students of the Deaf Schools and the commitment of the past pupils association - which led to Caltex agreeing to sponsor tournaments in Netball, Cricket and Volleyball for Deaf Schools, for three successive years.

The Deaf School Past Pupils' Association of Ratmalana, with the support of Caltex has been in the forefront of furthering the sporting opportunities of the students of the Deaf Community. This apart, Abeysinghe added that the company has developed a Rs. 10 million budget for 10 Deaf and Blind schools from around the country out of the 19 Deaf and Blind schools and on the basis of priority will initially assist in the upgrading of computer laboratories, refurbishing hostels, developing playgrounds, supplying Braille machines, supplying of group hearing aids and the upgrading and development of vocational training needs etc. Truly a benevolent gesture, in the cause of the needy in trying times.

Abeysinghe also made mention, that since the company came into being in 1994, they were actively involved in motor racing and took pride in the fact that they had a team of 22 drivers not forgetting as well, its support extended for rugby and being the sponsor of cricket at the SSC. But by far the most touching was, when he said that a lesser known and less fancied, in Seevali College, Ratnapura, without basic needs, sans coaching and training equipment for Boxing, is surprisingly producing National Champs.

Caltex in recognition of this, acted positively by looking into the needs of boxing at Seevali, a current request for a boxing ring will soon be a reality in April, through the efforts of Caltex. Chairman organizing committee and vice president past pupils association, Shivantha Vivekanandan expressed his thanks to the sponsors Caltex, schools and all others involved with event. The principal of the Deaf school Ratmalana, Mrs. Marie Wijeratne delivered the vote of thanks.

Also associated at the media briefing were Caltex Group Brand Manager, Nishantha Wickremaratne and Caltex Manager PR and Corporate Affairs, Zaharine R. Hameen.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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