Many teams vie for honours at Rowing Nationals

Richard Dwight

The Sri Lanka Rowing Nationals assumes a measure of importance this year, in that it celebrates its silver jubilee. A twenty-five year sustained existence is indeed a fine achievement and, the Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka (ARASL), the governing body has done well to mark the occasion by having the nationals at the expansive Moratuwa Bolgoda Lake and not on the hitherto Beira Lake.

Addressing the media on Monday at the Colombo Rowing Club, the President of the ARASL, Rohan Fernando, said the event is being held from Wednesday September 09 and concludes on Saturday September 12.

It has, he went onto to say as in past since the year 2004 being actively sponsored by Mobitel. Rohan explained that the shift to the Bolgoda Lake from the Beira Lake, whilst being historic is a step in the right direction and augurs well for the future - in that it falls in line with the international requirements for regattas of this nature, where races should be held on a 2000 meter water stretch with more than 2 lanes for races.

The vast Bolgoda Lake provides all this and more, added Rohan.

The CEO of Mobitel, Suren Amarasekera said that Rowing has much to do with the rhythmic coordination of the muscles of hands and feet, which was very much similar to the work-a-day life that prevails at Mobitel where they work together as a team. Amarasekera felt that this partnership between Mobitel and Rowing which began in 2004, pleasant as it was, will continue to grow in the years to come.