President lifts ban on Kandy SC, CH & FC players

Ranjeeva SENEVIRATNE

President Mahinda Rajapaksa who was the chief guest at the Caltex-Observer Rugby Touchdown 2009 Awards Ceremony at the Galle Face Hotel yesterday said that he had decided to lift the ban imposed on Kandy SC and CH and FC players from representing the country.

The banned players are now free to play for the country in international tournaments. Eighteen players from Kandy SC and CH and FC were banned for two years by Minister of Sports and Public Recreation Gamini Lokuge in April last year when they withdrew from the team for the Asian Division One tournament held in Dubai in protest over the appointment of CR and FC’s Pavithra Fernando as the Captain of the Sri Lanka team.

One of them Radhika Hettiarachchi of Kandy SC tendered a letter of apology in November last year and the ban on him was lifted by the Sports Minister and he represented the country at the Carlton International Rugby Sevens held in Sri Lanka from November 27 to 29, 2009.

Navy Skipper Yoshitha Rajapaksa had the rare honour of receiving the Most Popular Ruggerite Award 2009 from his father President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the colourful Awards Ceremony. Yoshitha Rajapaksa who also propelled Sri Lanka Navy into third position in the ‘A’ Division League with his inspiring leadership also received the award on behalf of his team Navy which was voted in as the Most Popular Rugby Team by rugby fans.

President Rajapaksa a keen rugby fan was the chief guest at yesterday’s ceremony - the first time a Head of State graced the awards ceremony during its 10-year history.

Most Promising Young Ruggerite Ishan Noor (CR and FC), Best Captain Pradeep Liyanage (Kandy SC), Best Forward Sean Wijesinghe (Kandy SC), Best Three Quarter and Most Outstanding Ruggerite Fazil Marija (Kandy SC) and Best Team Kandy Sports Club also received awards at the ceremony in which Chairman of The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited, Bandula Padmakumara and Managing Director of Chevron Lubricants Kishu Gomes were the Guests of Honour.