Sport the victor under President Rajapakse
 

BY DINESH Weerawansa

SRI LANKA'S newly elected President, Mahinda Rajapakse is a great lover and promoter of sports and has been a versatile sportsman during his day.

He has represented Thurstan College at the Public Schools meet and Relay Carnival and has also served as the President of the Athletic Association of Sri Lanka (AASL) and Sri Lanka Elle Federation.

Not only President Rajapakse, but also his entire family members have been involved in sports in a big way.

Rajapakse played a prominent role as Sri Lanka's athletic chief in 1997 and his wife - Madam Shiranthi Rajapakse, was the President of the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka last year. His three sons have been outstanding schoolboy rugby players.

While serving as a senior Minister of the People's Alliance Government, Rajapakse was elected to the top seat of Sri Lanka's athletic governing body in 1997, the year in which star woman sprinter Susanthika Jayasinghe created history by winning Sri Lanka's first ever medal (women's 200m silver) at the IAAF World Championships in Athens, Greece.

He rendered a yeomen service to service to Sri Lanka's track and field as an able administrator and was instrumental in implementing several vital schemes for the benefit of rural athletes. He took on a big responsibility and stood by Olympic medallist Susanthika Jayasinghe, when she had problems.

President-elect, who celebrated his 60th birthday yesterday, is a product of Richmond College, Galle, Nalanda and Thurstan. He has already planned a special sports development plan, which would be implemented after he assumes office.

"All sports associations will be granted annual allowances. This would help those associations to survive and promote their respective sports," the new President states in his policy statement.

Setting up a National Sports Academy (NSA) and introducing university degree program in sports would be amongst his priorities in the field of sports.

A National Sports Academy will be established with qualified lecturers and all necessary facilities. This Academy would give the leadership to improve existing sports academies. This would be an initiative recognizing sports as a degree subject at the University of Kelaniya," he sates.

He also plans to give a helping hand to emerging rural athletes to sharpen their skills.

A special scheme would be introduced to grant a monthly allowance of Rs. 25,000/- each plus reading material and other requirements to sportsmen and women who have gained international repute.

Having headed one of Sri Lanka's national sports association and an active sportsman, President Rajapakse is well and truly aware of the hardships faced by our sportsmen and women, especially those less affluent ones from villages.

Being a regular morning visitor for physical fitness at the Sports Ministry grounds, President Rajapakse has a close rapport with the sports officials and athletes who train there. Hence, he has a practical knowledge regarding the needs of our sportsmen and women.

Rajapakse family has a good sports background. Besides their great father who became the fifth executive President of the country, his three sons Namal, Yosthitha and Rohitha Rajapakse, have been outstanding rugby players at S.Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia.

In fact the trio created history by playing in the Thomian 'pack during the recently concluded season, during which the eldest of the three led the school team with distinction.

Namal Rajapakse also had the honour of leading Sri Lanka Under-19 team to World Cup qualifiers last year. Yoshitha Rajapakse has also been a champion shooter and an emerging racing driver while his mother - Madam Shiranthi Rajapakse was the President of the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka in 2004.