Kandy SC create new land mark - Samarawickrema
S M Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports corr.
"During the last season we faced many challenges both on and off the
field but we overcame them courageously to emerge champions both in the
Caltex League Championship and also in the Caltex Clifford Cup knock out
championships creating new land marks," said the Trustee of the Kandy
Sports Club and former SLRFU President Malik Samarawickrema.
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Singer Sri Lanka and Etisalat will jointly sponsor the
champion Kandy Sports Club rugby this season. The
sponsorship cheque were handed over at Nittawela. Singer Sri
Lanka Ltd Promotions Manager K O S Kanishka handing over the
cheque to Kandy SC President Dr Sarath Kapuwatte. |
He said this when he addressed the membership of Kandy Sports Club at
the 137th Annual General Meeting of the Club held at the Club's
auditorium in Nittawela on Sunday.
Samarawickrema said that Kandy Sports Club won the League
Championship for the 14th time since 1994 and the last 10 times in a
row. They won the Clifford Club knock out tournament for the 17th time
since 1992 and they failed to win only once when they participated. Can
any club match these records. Naturally there will be attempts to pull
you down.
"Our unparalled success is due to the dedication of the players who
gave out their best and other problems were overcome due to the
dedication of the Committee who faced all problems in their stride and
lastly not least our huge spectator base stood by us and came in their
numbers and supporters not only in matches played at Nittawela but also
at other venues.
"During the season some of the players crossed over to other clubs
grossly violating the player contracts. Legal action were instituted
against them. We also understand that a few players having bound by
player contracts are attending practices on the sly with other teams
this year and we will take legal action against them when we have the
necessary proof.
He also paid a glowing tribute to sports promoter E W Balasuriya who
passed away recently. He said late Balasuriya was a tower of strength to
Kandy Sports Club along with late Dr C D L Fernando and Chandra
Wijenaike who helped the club not only financially but also in many
other ways during its difficult days. The Club survived in the field of
rugby due their efforts. Two minutes silence was also observed as a mark
of respect to late E W Balasuriya.
Following the demise of E W Balasuriya who was a Trustee of the Club,
former Trinity and Sri Lanka ruggerite Dharmasiri Madugalle was
appointed to the Board of Trustees.
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Etisalat Senior Marketing Manager hands over cheque to Dr
Sarath Kapuwatte.
S M Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy Sports Corr |
He thanked Dr Sarath Kapuwatte for accepting the post of President of
the Club for the 17th time, and has created a record by holding this
prestigious post for a record number of times. He was President from
1990 to 1994 (5 years), 1997 to 1998 (two years), 2000 to 2004 (5
years), 2006 to 2008 (3 years) and 2010 to 2011 (2 years). Every time he
had been appointed unanimously.
He thanked both Dr Sarath Kapuwatte and Secretary Leslie de Zoysa for
displaying excellent team work.
Leslie de Zoysa is one of the most active members of the club having
served as Committee member for a number of years and his membership runs
for over 40 years.
He also thanked Singer Sri Lanka Limited and Etisalat for sponsoring
the club last year and they are sponsoring the club this season too.
Without sponsorship a club will find it very difficult to go through a
season. He hoped that they will be with the club for many more years.
He also thanked the Chairman Rugby Lasantha Wijesuriya for an
excellent job despite many difficulties faced both on and off the field.
his approach was cool, composed and tactful and the players benefitted
much from it.
Dr Sarath Kapuwatte thanked the membership for electing him as the
President of the Club and the confidence reposed on him for the 17th
time.
He paid a tribute to the players and the club officials for the
co-operation extended to him which has made his task easier. Due to
their efforts, we have got over many problems and the club is on a
better footing now and is geared to face all problems.
The Secretary of the Club Leslie de Zoysa read the Annual Report of
the Club listing the many activities during the year under review. The
following were elected office bearers for the year 2011.
Kandy Sports Club - office bearers - 2011 Patron: Dharmasiri
Madugalle; Trustees: Chandra Wijenayake, Malik Samarawickrema, Dr
Sarath Kapuwatte; President: Dr Sarath Kapuwatte; Snr. Vice
President: Emilvander Poorten; Vice Presidents: Hafiz Marikar
JP MMC, Nihal Ratwatte; Secretary: Leslie de Zoysa; Treasurer:
Chamly Rajakaruna; Pavilion Secretary: Nimal Gunasekera; Bar
and Ground Secretary: Rajitha Ratwatte.
Captains:
Rugby: K G Saliya Kumara; Physical Training: Sean Wijesinghe;
Snooker and Billiards: Tuan Z Dole.
Committee: Lasantha Wijesuriya, Roshan Daulugala, Sanjeewa
Tennekoon, Anuruddha Ranasinghe, Sujeewa Liyanage, Chamly Rajakaruna
(Treasurer), Ranjit Gooneratne, Gamini Udugama, Udaya Balasuriya and
Hemantha Yatawara. CPRFU Representative: Hemantha Yatawara; SLRFU
Representative: Shyam Sideek.
Rugby Committee:
1. Chairman: Lasantha Wijesuriya; 2. Coach: Johan Taylor; 3. Manager:
Kapila Silva; 4. Captain: Saliya Kumara.
Social Activities: 1. Chairman: Mahesh Weerasinghe; 2. Member:
Anuruddha Ranasinghe; 3. Member: Chamly Rajakaruna. Gymnasium: 1.
Chairman: Rohan Daulugala; 2. Member: Sean Wijesinghe; 3. Member:
Hemantha Yatawara.
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