Moves to develop sports in Tissa

Sanjaya Ariyaratne

Workshop: The Sports Development and Training workshop organised concurrently with the Presidential 'village to village' social service programme for Tissamaharama division in association with Ministry of Sports, Provincial Sports Ministry and National Youth Service Council will be held from November 8 to 13 at Tissamaharama National School, Debarawewa National school, Tissamaharama Public grounds and Salt Corporation grounds.

This was revealed by President's Public Relation Director Vajira Irugal Bandara at a conference held at Temple Trees yesterday morning.

The chief guests will be Yositha Rajapaksa and Agriculture Development Minister Chamal Rajapaksa while Southern Province Sports Minister V.K. Indika and President's Public Relations Director Vajira Irugal Bandara are the main coordinators of the event.

The programme will be implemented through five divisional secretaries areas of Tissamaharama division. The five areas are Sooriyawewa, Lunugamwehera, Ambalantota, Tissamaharama and Hambantota. The main objectives of the programme are as follows: Basic knowledge of rural sports and newly introduced sports into rural areas and improve skills of rural sportsmen and women.

Football, Kabadi, Gymnastic, Netball, Karate, Boxing, Chess, Athletics, Cycling, and Cricket to be promoted in these areas.

Improve facilities and build indoor stadiums for these sports.

Champions of national and district level competitions to be provided with sports equipment and other necessities while the most promising players will be offered scholarships and also a fund will be organised for these affairs. Members of Sports clubs, Youth clubs to be involved in this project so that they could improve their skills to compete at International level.

The coaching camps will take place at following venues: Athletic/Chess - Debarawewa National School on Nov. 08.

Netball- Debarawewa National School on Nov. 09. Football- Salt Corporation grounds and Boxing- Debarawewa National School on Nov. 10. Cycling will start from Salt Corporation grounds and Karate-Debarawewa National School on Nov. 11. Kabadi- Public grounds and Cricket- Debarawewa National School on Nov. 12. Closing ceremony is on November 13.