Anatoly Karpov Chess Club opens centre in Peraliya

Anatoly Karpov Chess Club put up a chess centre in Paduma Gabbarama Temple in Peraliya and it was ceremonially opened by Ayrath Akhmathov, the newly appointed Director of the Russian Centre in Colombo recently.

This was a dream of Mrs. Suneetha Wijesuriya, the President of the Anatoly Karpov Chess Club from the time she organized a simultaneous chess exhibition tournament with the help of Indian three Grand Masters, R.B. Ramesh, Arathie Ramaswamy and Miss. Meenakshi Subbaraman under the patronage of Manuel Aaron, Indian First International Master, Sri Lankan fide masters Dr. Harsha Athurupana, Harin Lal Athurupana and Asian gold medallist Luxman Wijesuriya to help the tsunami effected Chess players in Southern Province.

Since Ven. Vimala Thera, the chief incumbent of Paduma Gabbarama Temple had given the fullest corporation to the Anatoly Karpov Chess Club not only by giving the land inside Paduma Gabbarama temple but also by arranging workers etc. This dream became a reality when it was ceremonially opened by the Russian Centre new Director, Akhmathov.

By welcoming all, at the opening ceremony of this chess centre, Mrs. Suneetha Wijesuriya the President of the Anatoly Karpov Chess Club mentioned that she is very happy about the chess promotional work she was able to do in last 10 years (1998 - 2008) under the Russian Centre almost like winning the National Womens Chess Title in 10 years (in between 1980 - 1997).

She did not forget to thank the former Directors, M. Poloskov, and Mikhail Ustinov, and all the ambassadors, and Buddhapriya Ramanayake, the chief executive officer of the Russian Centre, for their support towards these promotional work.

On behalf of all Sri Lankan chess players, Mrs. Wijesuriya, especially thanked Ayrath Akmatov and Madam Akmatova for visiting Peraliya and gracing the ceremony by opening this chess centre for the betterment of chess players.

I am sure that with the support of this new director we have another strength to do more activities to promote chess through the Anatoly Karpov Chess Club not only islandwide but also in the international level.

Ayrath Akhmatov director of Russian center mentions that he is very happy about the chess promotional work that the Anatoly Karpov chess club was done within last ten years under the dynamic president Mrs. Suneetha Wijesuriya. He promised to give his fullest corporation towards chess promotional work conduct by this chess club in the future.