Raising rowing standards - Henry's goal

by Leslie Fernando

"My aim is to raise the standard of rowing to greater heights in a bid to achieve success at the forthcoming South Asian Games to be held in Colombo and then in other international regattas to be held in future", said Deva Henry who was re-elected President for the third term at the annual general meeting of the Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka (ARASL) held at the Colombo Rowing Club recently.

Henry added that he is happy that the rowing in Sri Lanka has shown a continuous growth and improvement in standard. Currently there are eleven rowing clubs which are members of ARASL.

Henry is one of the senior vice presidents of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka and he was the Chief de Mission of the Sri Lanka contingent to the Commonwealth Games in 2002.

The ARASL under the leadership of Deva Henry has made steady progress last year with all annual fixtures carried out successfully. In keeping with a clearly conceived strategy Henry and his team embarked on a plan which gave promising oarsmen at all levels the much needed international exposure.

Asked about the progress made by ARASL, he said the sport has made significant progress and they hope to carry forward the work with the development of the sport in the country.

Our rowers fared prominently at the last South Asian Federation Games in Islamabad, Pakistan where rowing events was held for the first time.

Sri Lanka won five silvers and two bronze medals. "I hope our oarsmen will be able to get gold at the 2006 April South Asian Games to be held in Colombo," said Henry. He added that Sri Lankan clubs and schools performed well in international arena. This is indicated by the success they have had in the regattas at school and club level. The rowers have performed well at the Hong Kong Rowing Championships, Far East Asian Rowing Association (FEARA) Regattas, Amateur Rowing Association of the East (AEAE) Regattas and dual Regattas between Madras, Calcutta and Royal Air Force.

Henry said that rowing is one sport that can be made popular throughout the island due to the availability of many waterways. The obstacles that confront the progress is the lack of equipment-boats. The ARASL made a request to the sports Ministry regarding the boats.

I am very happy to state that the Deputy Minister of Sports, Siripathi Suriyarachchi has informed the ARASL that the Sports Ministry will provide 16 new boats including four coxless boats" he said.

Henry said that 20-member pool have begun training in reparation for SA Games to be held in April 2006 in Colombo. The 20 oarsmen are training under Lakmal Wickremage-National Rowing coach and Saliya Wijesekera assistant coach on Beira waters on week days.

The rowers are also scheduled to train at the Bolgoda Lake the venue for the rowing events of the SA Games 2006. It will be a straight 2000 metre course at Bolgoda Lake. The distance is the international standard limit for rowing events whereas races held upto now in Sri lanka have been for a distance of 1,000 metres or one mile on the Beira Lake. Henry said that the training pool of rowers will be increased to 30 after the National Rowing Championships.

The Secretariat and Organising Committee of SA Games together with the medical unit inspected the Bolgoda Lake course and approved it. The ARASL have decided to hand over the infrastructure at Bolgoda Lake to the University of Moratuwa after the 2006 SA Games rowing events are completed in a bid to promote and develop rowing amongst the schools and clubs in the area.

Chris Parakrama, the Treasurer of the ARASL will be the Chairman of Rowing Organising Committee of 2006 SA Games. It is also planned to start rowing programs at Koggala Lake for the benefit of Southern clubs and schools, Dulanden Fernando will be in-charge of the rowing project.

Red Gilbert, the Principal of Trinity College have written to ARASL requesting for two boats. Furthermore the principal has stated that the oarsmen will train at Mahaweli behind Polgolla Dam. Henry said that the ARASL will strongly consider Trinity principal's request.

The ARASL does not have a home of its own but operates from the Colombo Rowing Club. All meetings and the regattas are conducted with the patronage of the CRC without cost to the association. The ARASL is making steady plans to build its own headquarters on a land near the Beira Lake.

A former President of ARASL and a reputed oarsman who has represented S. Thomas' and Sri Lanka Rohan Fernando has been entrusted with the challenging task. Henry also said that Sri Lanka's oarsmen will row in the Hong Kong Nationals and are also expected to compete at the Asian Games to be held in 2006, Doha, Qatar.

Henry has held the post of President of Colombo Rowing Club, He was also captain of the CRC and held several other posts.

A former Peterite sportsman Henry revels in administrative matters and became the President of the ARASL in 2002 and now he has reached the top, being the head for three consecutive years.

Henry will no doubt continue to promote rowing, one of the finest aerobic sport in the world.