Lanka has a slight chance to win a wild card at next Olympics, says Rohan

Leslie FERNANDO

Rohan Fernando, former S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia, Colombo Rowing Club and Sri Lanka reputed oarsman is the new boss of Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka. This is the fifth time Rohan is heading the ARASL as President. He was the President of ARASL in 1997 and continued to be the chief until year 2000 - four-year term. Rohan was persuaded to accept the hot seat of rowing by all affiliated institutions of ARASL.

Much success

Rohan who has tasted much success in rowing became the youngest President of the Colombo Rowing Club. He was the captain of the CRC and also held the post as Secretary. For Rohan adminstration was in his blood and he became the President of ARASL in 1997 and now he has reached the apex, being the head once again. Rohan will no doubt continue to promote rowing, one of the finest aerobic sports in the world.

Rohan started rowing in 1973. He loved rowing and continued rowing because it was part of his life. Rohan has led the Thomians to several victories in the annual Regattas. Leaving school Rohan joined Colombo Rowing Club and represented it at the annual, Madras, Calcutta, Hong Kong Regattas. Rohan also has represented Sri Lanka at several international regattas.

Appreciation

Rohan in an exclusive interview with the Daily News said that he wished to record his appreciation for placing their trust in him to lead the ARASL during the year 2009. He was pleased to note that it was a unanimous decision arrived at by all rowing institutions possessing voting rights. The team of committee members elected for 2009 have the approval and blessings of all rowing institutions. This I trust is a good omen and the right recipe for success in our march forward, added Rohan.

Rohan said that at a time when other sports bodies and sports institutions engage in fierce campaigns to hold office, the peaceful and dignified transition of power at the ARASL should be an example how not to have conflicts in sports administration. However, there may be a fundamental difference between the ARASL and the other institutions I referred to earlier. Where there isn't big money, hardly anybody will be interested to get involved and when there are cash surpluses most non-performers in real life kill each other to hold important decision-making positions. This is a sad situation we see all round us and I hope and pray this sports cancer will not spread to Rowing even in the future. One way we could ensure that our sport won't fall pray to this is by creating a succession platform with capable people of rowing background being drafted into the ARASL management structure.

Rohan said that he was persuaded to accept the top position of Rowing by all the institutions affiliated to the ARASL at a meeting held a few days ago. At this meeting attended by all the coaches I witnessed their resolve to take Rowing to a higher level. Ours is a sport which boasts of a long history and a sport which has its earliest links to our island.

National sport

Yet we are bogged down without being able to make an impression even to be recognised as a national sport, leave alone international recognition.

Do you believe that Rowing has the right pedigree to be elevated to the top of the national sports agenda? I believe it has only if we have the tenacity to push for it. Then what must be done? Rohan explained we must all look at ourselves in the mirror and ask the question will I give the best in me to make this sport the finest in the country?

The answer lies there. On my part I will do my utmost to unearth all buried strengths and opportunities to prepare for the journey. You must drive it to its destination. When I accepted the offer to take the top post I was asked by the representatives of the institutions as to what I would achieve for the ARASL. My reply was very simple. I will not; we will.

From this day onwards we must have a mission. The structure of the ARASL needs to be strengthened with the right representation of decision-makers. The secretariat must be empowered to engage all affiliates to participate at all meetings which we must have regularly as per the sports law. The vision I would like to share is on the macro picture of the sport looked at from several angles.

For years we have been cocoons at the CRC living comfortably with the support and co-operation of the club. The need to be independent was not a pressing issue but now with the expansion of membership and the resultant influx of equipment the old faithful guard is bursting at its seams. It will be a disservice to the club if we continue regardless and disturb the old world charm and exclusivity of this unique and ancient club which in my opinion should be protected as a heritage site the birth place of modern rowing.

Priority issue

Re-location of the ARASL headquarters is therefore a must for the benefit of all concerned. I suggest that the incoming committee should take this as a priority issue to be handled by a powerful sub-committee.

Sports development is yet another area which needs urgent attention. Urgent I said having seen the past performance of our athletes at international events within the Asian circuit. A rowing academy with technical support to develop skills and stamina is a crying need in my mind.

Propagation of the sport is as important as sports development and these two are irrevocably connected. If we are to develop the sport we must draw on the talent available throughout the island. The elitist label attached to Rowing stems from the fact that we are anchored in Colombo with hardly any attempt to move out into the districts.

Having said this I am aware of certain developments in the recent past where rowing events were held in far away places like Hambantota. Sri Lanka was known as the kingdom of reservoirs built mostly by man. Canoeing and paddle boat racing were common in ancient Lanka. Taking the sport to the districts outside the Colombo is of paramount importance if we are to attract fresh talent and national acceptance for Rowing.

All these will become pipe dreams if we do not have the funds. I do not think we have much savings in the kitty. Obtaining sponsorships will be a herculean task in the backdrop of world recession.

We will have to think out of the box for new ideas to raise funds and perhaps be adopted by a rich sports institute or a business establishment who will look at us differently. Since this is a very important for all our programs ahead we will have to form the most influential sub-committee to focus on finances.

The vision I share with you is not easy to be achieved in a short spell but if we develop our strategy based on a medium to long term spells we might stand a slight chance to win a wild card at the next Olympic Games to be held in London.

Having said all these we cannot forget the past and more importantly the immediate past. The work performed by previous committees to keep the flag of rowing flying amidst all obstacles and constraints must be recognised. Deva Henry, Chris Parakrama, Chanaka, Iqbal, Lakmal and all members of sub-committees have given their best freely in the true spirit of sportsmanship. When we take over the reins from them we offer them our gratitude for passing on the baton safely.

Little secret

Rohan finally said that he wished to share a little secret amongst the members about himself. I have all my life believed in the principle never say die. The motto of one of our school boarding houses the Miller-Chapman house may have been instrumental in this thinking. "Determined, dared and done." In fact in 1988 when the Special Forces unit of Sri Lanka Army was formed they took this motto translated to Sinhala by the all time great scholar at STC. Arisen Ahubudu, Adhishtanayen abeethawa aramuna kara. I believe this is more pertinent today than ever before.