‘Kandy Sports Development Foundation was formed to help sports stars develop their skills’

S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports correspondent

SPORTS DEVELOPMENT: “District Sports Development Foundations were established by the then Minister of Sports with a view of harnessing talent and providing both the urban and rural sportsmen and sportswomen with the necessary facilities to develop their skills and the Kandy District Sports Development Foundation has been most active in this respect, said the Chairman of the Kandy District Sports Development Foundation General Anuruddha Ratwatte.

He made these observations when he addressed the Officers In Charge of Police Stations, Assistant Government Agents, Sports Officers, Officers from the Youths Services Council and the Media at a media briefing held at the E.L. Senanayake Library Auditorium in Kandy.

Also associated at this conference were DIG Central Province Nimal Mediwake, SSP Kandy Division Gunatillake Bandara, Deputy Mayor Suminda Wickremasinghe, Vice President of the Foundation Maurice Perera. General Anuruddha Ratwatte said funds should not be a constraint and we must find the funds.

For example the Sports Foundation spent Rs. 89 million to develop the Bogambara Stadium into a fully fledged stadium with all facilities to stage International events. That was in 1998 for the Golden Jubilee of our Independence and since then no development has been made in this stadium which is administered by another body.

General Anuruddha Ratwatte said you all have your official duties to perform but please extend your fullest co-operation in the running of this Sports Foundation. Youths must be provided with a forum to display their talents as otherwise, they will go astray which in turn is bad for society. We must make them responsible citizens and build up a healthy society.

General Anuruddha Ratwatte said that the State does not give grants to run the Sports Development Foundations, we must generate our own funds for our activities with the support of all concerned.

Our Sports Foundation has conducted Sorts Festivals, Boxing meets, provided the associations with sports materials and also provided with the infrastructure especially in the rural areas. We must help the sportsmen to pursue their sports career after leaving school as otherwise all their objectives will end there.

We must take sports to the villages as otherwise it will be restricted only to the urban areas and the big schools. We must improve the existing facilities. We have the funds and there are no regulations or red tapes forming barriers.

General Anuruddha Ratwatte also said as an initial step the Officers In Charge of Police Stations with the Assistant Government Agents, Sports Officers and the Youth Services Officers in the respective areas should form sports committees as an initial step and if you require assistance, we will provide you. We want to help the rural youth and keep them occupied. We will provide the funds where necessary and if there are problems we will face them.