Shanika - an athletic star in the making

H L Sunil Shantha, - Kalutara Daily News Corr

A D Shanika of Grade Eleven of Eladuwa K V Kalutara emerged champion in the 800 metres Girls event of the National Youth Sports Festival recently.

She has also won certificates Awards and Trophies as the best Athlete Under 17 in the Dodangoda Divisional Athletics Competition held recently.

This outstanding village-born girl has won second place at the Colombo International Marathon held last year.

Shanika has won many first and second places at various sports events in the Western Province Inter-school Track and Field events recently.

She won the 1500m under 17 (girls) event at the Zonal Level Track and Field sport Events held by the Western Province Sports Committee recently. The 800 metres was also won by Shanika.

Shanika of Eladuwa K V emerged runner up in the 1500m girls event in the age group of 13-20 years.

She also got the third place in the Western Province Marathon Race held at Matugama recently.

Shanika, has won many trophies, Shields, Cups, Awards and certificates for various events in athletics.

She was born into a very poor family with a very low income earned by her mother who is the sole bread-winner in the family.

Shanika's father died a few years back and her mother makes a lot of sacrifice to educate and facilitate her sport-loving daughter due to financial problems.

Shanika's house has no electricity and she does her studies with the help of a bottle-lamp.

Shanika's mother, is an estate labourer, working at the Eladuwa Estate and finds it extremely difficult to send Shanika to school and educate her due to financial problems. She most often worries about buying a pair of shoes and giving nutritious food for her daughter to keep fit for sports, which is really very necessary.

Shanika's mother said that "It's with much difficulty that I send my daughter to school for studies, as she mainly likes to continue her sports and studies. Her school principal and all the teachers very kindly help her in her studies and sports. Our shanty-house has no electricity. The sheets in our roof have already been totally broken and damaged. I have been much inconvenienced getting the roof repaired, because I have no money, we are totally helpless and unfortunate though my daughter is a talented girl in sports and studies".

The Principal of Eladuwa K V Mrs M D Renuka Priyadarshani says that Shanika is really a very clever and talented girl excelling in sports. Her sport-talents are marvellous. She is good in her studies too.

She can go a long way in sports but the lack of facilities at her humble home has been a big obstacle to pursue her sports and studies. I personally know that Shanika needs nutritious food and vitamins to continue in sports. I therefore, very kindly and earnestly make an appeal to Daily News readers and philanthropists to give a helping hand to poor Shanika.

I'm quite certain, if she is sponsored and helped by somebody in her academic and sports career, Sri Lanka will surely be fortunate to producce another 'sports star' in the future who will bring honour and fame to her motherland.