Sri Lankan rowers to take part in regattas in Singapore and India

Leslie Fernando

The Sri Lanka Rowers will be involved in five major rowing championships for the year 2008 two foreign regattas in Singapore and Chennai, India and three championships here.

Deva Henry, the President of the Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka (ARASL) said that in addition to five major international championships meets Sri Lanka will also concentrate on domestic events.

Henry added ARASL main objective is the two rowers Guyan Jayaratne of Colombo Rowing Club and Amenthi Weerasinghe training in Beijing, China venue for 2008 Olympic Games.

International Governing Body for Rowin (FISA) offered the opportunity for two rowers to train in Beijing due to the recognition received by ARASL. Our main aim is the Manchester Olympic Games in 2012. The two rowers Jayaratne and Weerasinghe will train in Beijing from April and FISA will arrange further training programmes alternatively in different countries, said Henry.

According to Henry the championships at which our rowers will participate are Asian Junior Rowing Championships in Singapore in June, the prestigious Colombo-Madras Regatta in Chennai in July, ARFA Regatta in Colombo in August, Invitation Regatta in Colombo date not finalised and Asian Senior Regatta in Colombo in December.

The ARASL under the leadership of Deva Henry has made steady progress last year with all annual fixtures carried out successfully. The Amateur Rowing Association of East Regatta was held in India and our rowers fared very well.

Henry who is also a senior vice-president of National Olympic Committee added that rowing is not only a sport, it's a total exercise. The sport is gaining popularity due to facilities and latest instruments has grown up.

The ARASL is planning to start a national training pool and will begin training on the Beira Waters from end of next month.

The opening regatta for the year 2008 will take place on February 16 on Beira Waters, Colombo Rowing Club. The events to be worked off are pairs for Vanlangenburg Trophy, sculls for Golden Armstrong Trophy, fours for HMS Enterprise Trophy, Ladies pairs for novices and junior boys and girls.