Jetwing’s drive to boost tennis and tourism

Richard Dwight

The Jetwing Hotels of Negombo, which apart from having made quite a name for itself in the hospitality trade, has also been very much alive of its social responsibility to the community at large.

Evidence of this is being seen in its hotels - The Beach - Blue Oceanic, Sea Shells and Ayurveda pavilions, coming together in common bond for jetwing to actively sponsor and organize the Sri Lanka Tennis Association’s Open Ranking Tennis tournament that takes place in the recently opened SLTA’s state-of-the-art tennis courts at its centre in Negombo, from April 29 to May 03.

The tournament assumes a measure of importance in that this will be the first open ranking tournament to be held outside Colombo in the sea- side resort of Negombo, and that too at the SLTA’s tennis centre.

Commitment

Making a tangible expression of Jetwing’s support and commitment, was the MD of Jetwing Hotels, Ruwan Samarasinghe, who presented the sponsorship package and cheque to the Chairman SLTA’s Interim committee, Janaka Bogollagama, at a Media briefing held last Wednesday at the SLTA.

It was gathered from Samarasinghe, that jetwing began in a small way in 1970 and rapidly progressed to have a family of Jetwing Hotels in pristine locations around Sri Lanka.

The hotels did identify itself within its respective neighbourhood and districts by espousing the cause of sports amongst children, in the different schools in the area. As hosts of this tournament, according to Samarasinghe, Jetwing Resort Hotels in Negombo are putting together an excellent line-up of related activities and special events on top of fantastic accommodation rates just for this prestigious event.

In addition a special Ayurveda program could be availed of at the Ayurveda pavilion - while a variety of social events have also been arranged for participants, non-participants and yet others to make their stay most enjoyable.

Bogollagama, whilst thanking Jetwing for the assistance given in the cause of tennis, felt that the thrust must be made by broadening the game out to the districts, through the respective schools.

The answer to improve standards and popularise the sport away from Colombo may rest, he felt in there being more tennis academies and trained coaches.

Both Bogollagama and the secretary SLTA Interim Committee, Maxwell de Silva, were highly pleased of our Davis Cup squad’s performance in Syria, where they successfully gained promotion from Asia/Oceania Group 3 to Group 2.

Constraints

Their splendid showing becomes all the more creditable, in that it was achieved under much financial constraints unlike in cricket where money abounds.

From the details given by the outstation tennis development officer, Christopher Baruthiraj Pillai, there will be players from Sri Lanka and within the region participating at this 5 day tournament from Wednesday April 29.

This will be a ‘C’ grade ranking tournament and events will be held in the following age groups:

Under 12 Boys/girls -

Singles

Under 12 Boys/girls -

Doubles

Under 16 Boys/girls -

Singles

Under 16 Boys/girls -

Doubles

Men’s open Singles

Men’s open Doubles

Women’s open Singles

Women’s Doubles

Mixed Doubles and the veteran’s over 45.

The tournament is being Co-ordinated by Director Development SLTA tennis centre Negombo and Resident Manager Jetwing ‘Beach’ Hotel, Imran Naufel with Nuwan Siyambalapitiya as the tournament referee.