A revolutionary chapter in sport

Dinesh WEERAWANSA

Sri Lanka sport opened a new revolutionary chapter after President Rajapaksa became the First Citizen in November, 2005. The sports-loving President has made an immense contribution for the promotion and development of local sport.

His passion for sport was evident right from his school days. President Rajapaksa has been a versatile athlete during his day and later played a key role as President of the national bodies for athletics and Elle.

As the President of the Athletic Association of Sri Lanka (AASL) in 1997, the President played a key role to have star woman sprinter Susanthika Jayasinghe exonerated of doping charges on medical evidence.

The revival of Sri Lanka athletics, which ultimately gave Sri Lanka an Olympic medal after 52 years began when President Rajapaksa was heading the local athletic governing body.

It was due to his keenness to promote athletics that led Sri Lanka to have a rich harvest of medals at track and field at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and South Asian Games.

The President has always been a keen promoter of sport. As the World Athletic (IAAF) President Lamine Diack pointed out during his recent visit to Sri Lanka, President Rajapaksa is the only IAAF Member Federation President in the world to become a Head of State. It was under his dynamic leadership, as the patron of the Organising Committee, that Sri Lanka successfully hosted the 2006 South Asian Games. Our athletes proved their superiority by winning 12 gold medals, which included a triple each by sprinters Susanthika Jayasinghe and Rohana Pradeep Kumara.

Thanks to the inspiration and motivation given by the sports loving President, Sri Lanka achieved many milestones in the sports arena during the last three years.

The most notable of them was the successful hosting of the 10th South Asian Games, at which Sri Lanka won as many as 37 gold medals, Susanthika Jayasinghe's IAAF World Championship medal in Osaka 2007 and the Sri Lanka cricket team ending as the runners-up at the 2007 World Cup.

The most recent triumph for the country in the world of sport was the annexing of the Asian cricket 'crown'. For the first time in Sri Lanka's Test and one-day international cricket history, a soldier turned out to be a match winner. Ajantha Mendis of Army Sports Club made a dream debut for Sri Lanka and became the architect of Sri Lanka's Asia Cup success.

Several sports development projects have been implemented during the last couple of years. There have been many rural sports development projects to lend a helping hand to up and coming needy sportsmen and women across the island. The Olympic super poolists were paid attractive monthly allowances running upto Rs. 50,000/- per month. This is apart from free medical facilities and nutrition they have been getting as national poolists.

Incidentally, it was President Rajapaksa, as a senior Cabinet Minister of the then PA Government, who headed the Athletic Association of Sri Lanka when Jayasinghe bagged Sri Lanka's first and only IAAF World Championship medal in 1997.

Sri Lanka's most recent achievement in the world athletic arena include the triple success of Shehan Ambepitiya who bagged gold medals in men's 100m, 200m and 4 x 100m relay at the 2008 Junior Commonwealth Games. It was a positive sign for Sri Lanka athletics and proved the country has a good second string team to take over.

Our cricketers had their own share in Sri Lanka's sporting achievements during the past three years. The most significant of them all was Sri Lanka's advancement to the 2006 World Cup final. Led by Mahela Jayawardene, the Lankans emerged runners-up. At this year's ICC annual awards ceremony, Sri Lanka team won the "Spirit of Cricket" Award for the second consecutive year, for the way they play the game.

Sri Lanka soccer team did well to secure the silver medal at the 10th South Asian Games. Despite losing to Pakistan in the final, the Lankans put up a gallant performance.

Teenagers Mayumi Raheem and Andrew Abeysinghe kept the Lion Flag fluttering high at the Sugathadasa Stadium pool - the venue of the 10th SA Games swimming competition. Raheem won a record total of ten medals - three gold, five silver and two bronze medals, a feat which would be hard to beat.

Raheem rewrote Lankan swimming history by becoming the first local to win a swimming medal at a world class meet. Our national rugby team too fared well at Asian level. The Lankan rugby team finished runners up at the 2007 Rugby Asiad worked off in Colombo. Our volleyball team too has proved its capabilities at regional level.

Apart from President Rajapaksa, his family too has a passion for sport. The First Lady, Madam Shiranthi Rajapaksa had served as a President of the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka. She made an immense contribution towards the promotion of netball.

Their three sons - Namal, Yoshitha and Rohitha, excelled in rugby football. All three went on to lead S.Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia. The three lads played in the same team - the 'pack', for S.Thomas' College 1st XV team in 2005, which could well be a record.. The eldest of the three, Namal - the Founder President of Tharunyata Hetak Youth Movement, went on to captain Sri Lanka Under-19 team with distinction while his younger brothers too went on to represent Sri Lanka Youth team.

The country's sports future looks even brighter under the guidance of President Rajapaksa who has always extended a helping hand to the country's talented and rural sportsmen and women.