Protect and preserve NEGC - Chitty

P. Rajaratnam in Nuwara Eliya

The outgoing President of the Nuwara Eliya Golf Club Ajit Chitty who addressed the 119th Annual General Meeting held at the Club House stressed the importance of preserving and protecting this ancient and historical club in this country and in the Asian region as a whole.

He told a full house of its membership present that golfing has become an important tourist attraction in this part of the country hence it was necessary for its membership and the entire citizens to preserve and protect the Nuwara Eliya golf course.

Outlining the history and the aesthetic beauties of Nuwara Eliya which comprised places like the Loversleap, the Piduruthalagala, the Ambewela Bopathalawa farms, the World's end, the number of tea plantations surrounded by huge mountains from the British era, which included the famous Barnes Hall, the present Grand Hotel, and the 130 year old Hill club and world famous Golf links and its club house.

Chitty also mentioned of the fact that the forestry around the city limits continue to be destroyed and the wanton destructions of huge trees around, and added that he as the President of the Golf clubs in the country had helped and has taken steps to plant over two thousand trees both in Colombo and Nuwara Eliya which stood to his memory even today. He appealed the membership to enure that these trees were protected and preserved, while new trees being planted periodically.

He congratulated the course staff and others towards maintaining the golf course in excellent conditions.

The new committee comprised Messrs, Umesh de Silva as President, Vice President Ken Murray, Ajantha de Zoysa, Bathiya Jayaratne, Trevor Nugawela, D. N. Ratwatta, Mahesh Wanigasuriya, Harsha Wickramasinghe and Ajit Chitty as members.