'President gave Selectors a free hand'

Chaminda PERERA

An allround sportsman and one-time staunch supporter of UNP M G M S Zurfick yesterday slammed certain elements in the Opposition who were in the habit of pointing fingers at the Head of State for Sri Lanka's failure in the Cricket World Cup finals in Mumbai last week.

He said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had given a free hand to the selectors to carry out their duties without malice or bias. Zurfick said that Chief Selector Aravinda De Silva's statement clearly demonstrated that the President had not involved himself in any affairs in matters of selecting the team.

Zurfick as the founder president of the Power Lifting Association and one time President of the Wrestling Association of Sri Lanka, said that all sportsmen regardless of political affiliations should be happy as the country had a President who was very much interested in sports.

He said the President was the only leader of the country who succeeded in bringing sports to the villages. The youth in villages did not get an opportunity to watch or participate in motor racing nor cycle racing. It was President Mahinda Rajapaksa who gave them an opportunity to take part in such sport activities.

Zurfick as the most popular sportsman of the country in the late 1960s, obtained highest awards in sports, having been light weight champion of then Ceylon and India for many years.

He said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had launched a number of programmes for the development of sports sector in the country.

Zurfick who represented Sri Lanka at the 11th All-India Motor Racing championships in 1967 in Madras emerging an easy winner, said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa pioneered motor racing in Hambantota.

He said that champions in the world were not born as champions nor did they become champions overnight.

He said that sportsmen and women had a long way to go for the championship. Hardwork and dedication would help them achieve the dream of championship, he added.