Invitation from President

Wellasse BANDARA

Members of the Rakwana Kendapola Vidyalaya under 14 and under 12 volleyball teams which won the girls championships in the respective categories at the All-Island Inter-schools Volleyball Tournament held last weekend, were invited to visit Temple Trees by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The invitation was conveyed to them by Sabaragamuwa Chief Minister Maheepala Herath who visited the school on Tuesday morning to personally felicitate the members of the two teams and appreciate their effort.

The two winning teams were trained by Ven. Pusselle Pragnatillake Thera, a member of the school staff who had been their coach.

The chief minister also handed over a stock of sports gear and school equipment to the school for the benefit of its students.

Ven. Pragnatilleke Thera, a graduate of the Kelaniya University and Viharadhipati Vibhaya Thilakaramaya, Rakwana joined the tutorial staff of the school after W. P. Imbulegama assumed duties as principal in 2007.

Ven. Pragnatilleke told the chief minister that certain people cast doubts as to whether it was proper for a Bhikkhu to be a sports coach at the beginning. The Chief Minister told the thera not to worry and added that the thera was contributing towards the role of a Bhikkhu from a different angle to inculcate discipline in the students to make them useful citizens.