More than 1500 TT tables for schools

Anuradha ABEYSEKERA

Newly elected President of the Sri Lanka Table Tennis Association (TTASL), Construction, Engineering Services, Housing Construction and Common Amenities Deputy Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna disclosed that he will make arrangements with the Education Ministry to distribute 1500 new Table Tennis tables to schools. He was inducted to the office for a second term during the recently conducted TTASL Annual General Meeting at the Otters Aquatic Club Colombo.

According to Alagiyawanna, funds for 1000 TT tables, which is worth approximately 25 million rupees, have been already approved by the Education Ministry and the remaining 500 tables will be funded by the Ministers / Members of the Parliament and Provincial Council members through their decentralized budget.

With the aim to popularize the sport through out the country, the tables will be distributed to the schools far and near. The selected schools will be announced in due course.

He further said that his intention is to engage all school children in Table Tennis in every region including North and East. Newly elected Chairman of the Coaching and Development Committee Manzil Muthalib who represents Kandy TTA, together with all leading coaches in Sri Lanka have planned to train PTIs as teachers with the assistance of the Sports and Education Ministries. Newly elected General Secretary of the TTASL, Dhananjaya Dharmaratne commended this development activities initiated by the TTASL President and said all newly elected officials must work hard to fulfill the TTASL's aspiration of making Table Tennis the most popular indoor game in Sri Lanka.

Chandana Perera, the Chief Coordinating Officer of the TTASL has requested all Associations, Organizations, Schools and Clubs to send their senior players, former players, PTIs and Sports Instructors to the Trainers' Training Programmes conducted by the TTASL. Those who are interested can send their Bio - data to reach Chandana Perera at 51/35, Rukmale, Pannipitiya.