Sports for life program launched in Kandy

S M Jiffrey Abdeen Kandy Sports Correspondent

This is an unique program and no other Provincial Council in the country had ever conducted a physical fitness program for its people and make them aware of their own fitness and get over any hidden illness they may be afflicted, said the Governor of the Central Province Tikiri Kobbekaduwa. He made these observations when he spoke as the Chief Guest at the Awards Ceremony of the Kandurata Shakthi Sports for life organized by the Ministry of Sports of the Central Province held at the Dharmaraja College Auditorium in Kandy on Tuesday.

The physical fitness program was held over a period of time in conjunction with the Sports Medicine Unit of the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital and the Physical Education Department of the University of Peradeniya.

A rigorous test

All participants were put through a rigorous test and blood and urine tests were carried out and those having any illness which may not withstand these tests were eliminated from the contests. The competition were for those under the age groups between 18 to 75 classified under six categories. Separate competitions were held for men and women. Some of the participants over the age of 60 years displayed exceptional fitness. The objective behind this program was to produce healthy citizens and to create an awareness among them how to stay disease free.

Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa speaking further said this is an historic occasion where a provincial government had conducted a physical fitness competition for its people. The other provinces should take this as an example and we have shown the way and he thanked all the officials involved in conducting this program in a very highly successful manner.

He said that what is happening at present is aping of the West we watch the television and eat genetically modified foods or pastries or sausages. Something to eat these types of foods is the fashion or trendy. A child may prefer a pastry to 'mung ata' (green gram) and they consider the latter as 'godey' or village type Nutrition-wise green gram is far ahead.

He said what happens at present is that our children lack in physical exercise and the result is they often fall sick. Their body cannot combat a minor illness and they are rushed to the specialists. Their daily life is like this. They get up in the morning and with a cup of tea and with a little brushing of the teeth and washing the face they rush to the school van around 6.30 a.m. which takes them to the town.

Rush to tuition class

They sit in a classroom with around 50 children. The teacher hardly knows even the names of the children in the class. The school closes around 1.45 p.m. Next day they rush to the tuition class which is also cramped and some of the teachers here use loud speakers for their lectures and the situation could be imagined. They return home around 6 p.m. and watch the television eating pastries or sausages with carbonated drinks to gulp wash them down. So where is the physical exercises and fresh air for these children and naturally they breakdown in health.

He said that history reveals it is after eating indigenous food that our forefathers built tanks, dagobas, and even carved a palace on the Sigiriya rock which is a marvel and known as the "Fortress in the sky:. King Dutugemunu united this country with the help of ten giants were extremely strong. They all ate locally grown food. This should be an example.

He said President Mahinda Rajapaksa has realized this and is endeavouring his best to change these life styles through the relevant ministries by encouraging rice based produce to wheat. This will promote national feeling among the people. The - drive should come from the parents who should encouraged their children to consume nutritious food and not follow the West, and allow them to become diabetics at a young age. It will be an agony for both the child and parent. Why pay money and ask for trouble.

An on-going thing

Minister of Sports of the Central Province Ms Anusha Sivaraja said that this physical fitness competition for the people of the Central Province has no parallels and will be an on-going thing. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has approved of this unique program and he has expressed his appreciation of it as it is envisaged in the "Mahinda Chintanaya" of the importance of having disease free citizens. This will be an ongoing program introduced by the Chief Minister of the Central Province, Sarath Ekanayake who is away from the island on an official visit. She invited people from all three districts of the Central Province to participate in this fitness program and obtain the optimum benefit from it.

Secretary to the Ministry of Sports Ms Shirani Weerakoon, Dr Asela Ratnayake of the Sports Medicine Unit of Peradeniya Teaching Hospital, Anuja Mallawarachchi of Physical Education Department of University of Peradeniya, Jagath Keerthi of Ministry of Sports also spoke. Also present on the occasion were Minister of Health of Central Province Sunil Amaratunga Attorney-at-Law and Director of Sports of the Central Province B C Ariyaratne.

Forty best performers in the Physical Fitness contests were awarded with silver, bronze and gold trophies from the different age groups. There were two Super Golf Awards for K M S Priyadharshana and S H U Amaradasa.