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Benedict nominated as SLRFU president Former Sri Lanka No.8 Anton Benedict is poised to take over as President of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) from Dr. Maiya Gunasekera at the annual general meeting scheduled to be held on February 27 at the Union headquarters in Longden Place. Benedict, a product of St. Joseph's and a stalwart of Havelocks, has been nominated by the Western Province Rugby Football Union (WPRFU). He is the incumbent Vice President of the SLRFU. Benedict earned the distinction of being one of the finest referees and coaches Sri Lanka has produced. He coached Police to consecutive league titles during the 80s and also served as National coach. He is also a former president of the Referees Society. Capt. Harsha Mayadune, a former Thurstan and Navy player, has been nominated as Vice President while former Royal and CH prop forward Iqbal Hassen, who is the President of the WPRFU, has been nominated as Secretary. Former Royal hooker Dilshan Hettiarachchi is the nominee for the Treasurer's post. The nomination of office-bearers is likely to be unopposed since WPRFU has the most number of votes in the Council. Former Sri Lanka captain Priyantha Ekanayake, who quit the game last season, is among the nine nominees for seven posts in the Council by the WPRFU. Former Havelocks captain Royce Samaratunga, former CR and Sri Lanka fly half Asanga Seneviratne and former Royal and CR flanker Vipula Dharmadasa, a past president of the Referees Society, are the new nominees to the Council The others nominated by the WPRFU are Mohan Balasuriya, Kumar Abeywardena, Cicero Fonseka, Dr. Maiya Gunasekera, Brig. H.M.N. Krishnaratne, Senerath Alwis, Tuan Doole and T.M.I. Hamid, a former Secretary of the SLRFU. The Council also comprises representatives of the Colombo and Up Country clubs, Schools, Defence Services and the Universities Sports Association. The Ministry of Sports has yet to ratify a SLRFU constitutional amendment to permit a nominee of the Referees Society to be in the Council. The Central Province Rugby Football Union have yet to file in their nominations which should be received by the SLRFU, 14 days before the AGM. Inter-Club Rugby Sevens on Feb.
27-28 Sri Lanka have been drawn in pool E with France, Argentina and Morocco at the 1999 Credit Suisse First Boston Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament to be held from March 26-28 at the Hong Kong Stadium. Croatia, a breakaway republic of the former Yugoslavia, will be making their debut in the competition. Fiji are the defending champions. The Inter-Club Rugby Sevens Tournament conducted by the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) and played for the Denzil Kobbekaduwa Trophy is to worked off on February 27 and 28 at CR and FC grounds Longden Place. Around 25 clubs teams from the 'A' and 'B' divisions are expected to vie for honours in the Plate, Bowl and Cup Finals respectively. Each club will be permitted to field a maximum of two teams. The draw will be held on February 24 at the SLRFU headquarters at 5 p.m. Following is the draw for the Hong Kong Sevens. - (J.K.) Kandy fans hail Lewke's appointment By Hafiz Marikar, our Kandy
Sports Corr. Kandy SC under Chandra Wijenayake is celebrating its 125th year and the club should allocate few lines of this brilliant coach Nimal Lewke in its history book. One of Kandy's outstanding captains Lasantha Wijesuriya had this to say about his former coach Nimal Lewke was a tower of strength to my team. All players with the foreigners had lot of respect to this gutty coach, and even the foreigners together with our players said he was a knowledgable, tactful and effective coach, we have come across. Lasantha said, that they always looked up to him for guidance on and off the field, it is a pity that he decided to stay out of Kandy rugby. Kandy really felt his absence in the last season. It is said that in a fitting tribute to Lewke, Kandy SC had written to him, to present the replicas of the trophies where Kandy SC won on three consecutive occasions under his guidance. Left arm leg-spinner Lassana Dias of D.S. Senanayake College claimed six wickets for 34 runs to dismiss Richmond College, College for 159 in a inter-school cricket match at Wijerama Mawatha Monday. In reply, D.S. Senanayake were in the driving seat at 98 for the loss of one wicket with opener Muditha Maduwantha being unbeaten on 49. Ratnapura's biggest cycling event on February 14 By Shirajiv Sirimane A press conference in this regard was held last week at SSC. Anthony Symons President Ratnapura DCA said that all top riders are billed to take part in this event. Symons who is also the national cycling coach said that this event commenced in 1985 but could not be held annually, due to lack of sponsors. 'But with Ceylon Tobacco company coming forward to sponsor this event we hope to make this an annual event' he said. The race will commence from Ratnapura and go up to Embilipitiya and turn back to finish at Avissawella. The total distance will be 140 miles. 'This route is well laid and is a popular route for cyclists.' N. Karunaratne President of the CFSL said that since taking over the CFSL last march they had conducted 6 races so far. He added that they went through tremendous obstacles up to now. 'Our main problem was that our opponents were headed by a Cabinet Minister (Fowzie) and even the Sports Minister was reluctant to take action.' he said. Karunaratne who is Sri Lanka's only qualified Cycling Commissioner said that they would probe to find out what happened to the CFSL development, Fund which was started over a decade ago (1984) with a deposit of Rs. one million by former Finance Minister Ronnie de Mel. 'We have also made to understand that Asian Cycling Federation had issued equipment worth $5000 which too has gone underground he said. 'Since the court has directed the former CFSL officials to hand over all properties to us, we can now do an even better job for the sport', he assured. 'We also promise to hold the CFSL elections next March,' he said. Janaka Kiridena Brand Manager Ceylon Tobacco Company Ltd. said that they would be awarding prizes to the value of over Rs. one hundred thousand. The winner will receive Rs. 20,000 while the first, second and third runners up will be awarded Rs. 15,000, 10,000 and 8,500 respectively. We have lined up cash prizes for all top 20 riders,' he said. Answering a question about the proposed Tobacco advertising ban he said that there had not been any official government circular in this regard. Entries for the event close on February 12 with Secretary, Ratnapura DCA, 26 1/1 Church Road, Ratnapura. SLTA women's teams reach knockout stage in division I The SLTA Women's team led by former National Champion Vajira Premaratne secured the top spot in the points table in the Division I Inter Club Tournament, when they beat Otters Aquatic Club 2-1. Vajira partnered by Anuska Rajiah beat Chaya Beling and Samanthi Wijesekera 6/4, 6/0. Shalini Perera and Keishini Subramaniam of SLTA overpowered Sriyani Gooneratne and Ishara Seneviratne 6/1, 6/1. In the 3rd Doubles Nashika Salgado and Dhanya Gunawardena of Otters AC combined well to beat their younger opponents Umadanthi Dias and Dushinka Subramaniam 4/6, 6/2, 6/2. SLTA 'H' beat Dehiwela Cosmos 'C' 3-0 to reach the knockout stage of the Division 7. Rasitha Perera and Nishan Rajakaruna beat S. Nagarajah and L. C. Wijeratne 6/1, 6/1 while Arosha Jayasundera and Revantha Subramaniam were stretched by R. Nagarajah and K. Kulawardene 6/4, 7/5. SLTA received a walk over in the 3rd doubles. In the over 35 doubles event SLTA easily overcame SSC 3-0. Anthony writes to IOC President By Shirajiv Sirimane The Sports Director of 10C, Gilbert Felli in a letter dated 22 December 1998 to Anthony has stated that they would contact the World Taekwondo Federation and obtain more details in this regard. Anthony has raised the point that according to his knowledge the Sports Law forbids foreigners from holding office in the Teakwondo Interim Board appointed by the Sports Ministry last year. He had made the following remarks on the latest Teakwondo Gradings which many observers too has called it foul. Taekwondo Gradings are done according to the Constitution of Taekwondo under section 18 A and as per the aims and future of Teakwondo as published in 1984 by the Federation. If the gradings are not done according to the above aims and constitution, they (Gradings) would not be accepted. The relevant part of the constitution says the following of the gradings. The General Committee shall satisfy itself and appoint the most qualified international instructor, who shall be Sri Lankan, to function as the Chief Instructor to determine gradings in Sri Lanka. No foreigner shall be appointed to the post of Chief Instructor. The aims and future of Taekwondo in Sri Lanka. 1. Through Taekwondo Trainings, it is envisaged to create an ideal Sri Lankan Society with disciplined mind, good sportsmanship, healthy mind and good ideals. 2. In General to make Sri Lankans to be proud of their heritage and make them to be independent in thinking. 3. Unlike other sports which are under the foreign influence, Taekwondo prevents foreign invasion in Sri Lankan sports and it is to be conducted as a Sri Lankan oriented sport. 4. Introducing Teakwondo in schools to develop independent thinking among students with the motive of creating an ideal Sri Lankan society. 5. It is above religious, racial and political bias. It inculcates confidence among learners to protect the individual and personal rights and also give them rights to learn martial arts. 6. Proper understanding of Taekwondo is given through Films, Seminars and Training classes. I wish to remind the Sri Lankan society that grading were done by Koreans in Sri Lanka. I am against such gradings which are against the constitution and aims of Taekwondo. Therefore, we will not accept any gradings which are ultra virus to the constitution. Following is the letter he has written to the IOC president It is a well known fact that Sri Lanka Taekwondo Federation is the lawful National Body for Taekwondo in Sri Lanka. In 1996, the Ministry of Sports had suspended our Federation and appointed an Interim Board. Our Federation was a Member of the World Taekwondo Federation. Though we have been requesting the Ministry of Sports to lift the suspension of our Federation, our letters are not acknowledged by the Ministry leave alone the lifting of the suspension. It is a matter for regret that the Ministry has had not taken any meaningful steps to establish a National Body for this sport but it allows the Interim Board to function with its substantial grants. According to Sports Laws in Sri Lanka and Constitution of Taekwondo Federation, no foreigner could hold any office in any sports bodies. But, the Ministry of Sports had appointed a Korean and a Britisher to the Interim Body. By these appointments, Ministry of Sports had violated the Sports Laws as well as the individual rights of the Sri Lankan Citizens. Sri Lanka National Olympic Committee and World Taekwondo Federation recognise the Interim Board. The Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee Commander H. U. Silva is the Secretary to the Interim Board. According to my knowledge and understanding, Interim Bodies are not accepted by the International Sports Bodies but whereas in Sri Lanka the Secretary of the National Olympic Committee is the Secretary to the Interim Board which never tried to establish a National Body for Taekwondo for the past two years. Therefore it is evident that the Ministry of Sports is acting hand in gloves with the National Olympic Committee to prevent lawfully established Sri Lanka Taekwondo Federation to function and violates the sports rules of this country. The Interim Board with the blessings of National Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Sports proposes to send two competitors and three officials to the forthcoming Bangkok Asian Games. These selections were not done according to the Constitution. Therefore (it is unlawful. The Interim Board and the National Olympic Committee are working under political pressure. Therefore, it is unlawful. The Interim Board and the National Olympic Committee are working under political pressure. Therefore, the present trend is a gross threat to the independent sports bodies like Taekwondo Federation. According to the Olympic Movement, National Olympic Committees should be free from any political interference. In Sri Lanka, Olympic Officials are under obligations to the Ministry of Sports by virtue of the fact that they are holding political appointments. As a result, they are instrumental in fulfilling the wishes of politicians in power. As a result, the rights of our Federation are encroached and violated by the National Olympic Committee and Interim Board, which is an imposter body. Therefore, under these reasons, it is emphasised that the selected participants do not represent the lawful body and political motives were behind in their selection rather than the skills in Taekwondo and it is requested that steps should be taken to prevent the selectees from participating at forthcoming Bangkok Asian Games to be held in December. Our Federation was not given membership by Sri Lanka Olympic Committee from 1982 but it recognised the Interim Board. |
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