BENGALURU, August 21: The Sri Lankan government has re-constituted its National Sports Council appointing 14 new members with the former cricket captain Mahela Jayawardana as its chairman.
The re-constitution of the NSC was announced in Colombo on Friday by the newly-appointed Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Namal Rajapaksa, the son of the Sri Lankan prime minister Mahindra Rajapaksa, who was inducted in the cabinet for the first time though he remained a Member of the Sri Lankan Parliament since 2010.
According to a government spokesman, the reconstituted NSC represented a mixed bag of experience from various walks of life and its tenure will be for three years. The team will counsel the sports minister on sports-related policy matters. The main task will be to advise the sports minister on topics, related to developing sports in the island nation. The spokesman said the “most fascinating development” was the appointment as the NSC chairman of Jayawardana, who was the captain of the Sri Lankan cricket team which lost the World Cup final in 2007 edition.
The other committee members are:
Julian Bolling – He has represented the country as an ace swimmer and has participated in 3, Olympic Games. He also has bagged 15 Gold Medals in South Asian Games. Earlier, he had represented the NSC once in the year 2010.
Kumara Sangakkara – Another cricketing legend who played for the country from 2000 to 2015. He was honoured, with the ICC cricketer of the year in 2012.
Dilantha Malagamuwa – A renowned racing driver having represented Sri Lanka in many global events.
Kasturi Chelaraja Wilson – First female group CEO of Hema’s group, a public listed pharmaceutical company. In the past, she has captained the National Basketball team. Also recognized as one of the twelve top women change-makers in the country
Maj. Gen. Rajitha Ampemohotti – Chairman of the Para Olympic Committee. A veteran, setting aside his deformity (wounded fighting a war in 1990) has gone on to represent both his country and the Army by participating in many para games.
Rohan Fernando – Chairman of Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) and current President of the Amateur Rowing Association and council member of Tea Exporters Association.
Rowena Samarasinghe – A prominent sports lawyer having bagged several accolades in her profession.
Ruwan Keragala – An International Boxing Association (AIBA) certified coach and Director of a manufacturing company MAS inmates, a design-to-delivery solution provider in apparel and textile manufacturing company.
Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva – Acting Chief of Defense Staff and Commander of Sri Lankan Army. He has served as Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Headquarters. He was the past Chairman of National Sports Selection Committee, Defense and Army Hockey committee.
Supun Weerasinghe – The Chief Executive Officer & Director at Dialog Axiata PLC the largest telecommunication service provider of Sri Lanka.
Yaswanth Muttettuwegama – He was the youngest Asian to be appointed as a technical delegate in the Federation of the International Basketball Associations.
Amal Edirisooriya – A Sri Lanka Administrative officer currently holding the position of Director General of Sports of Department General of Sports Development
Sanjeewa Wickramanayake – Chairman – EWIS group of companies and Toppan Forms Colombo Ltd. He was the first to commence a computer manufacturing unit in the country.
Thiyumi Abeyasinghe – will continue as Appointed Secretary in the outgoing NSC. She is the youngest women’s national tennis championship in both singles and doubles titles representing the nation in many international events.
Manwhile, Mahela told the media that he was pleased to be chosen as the Council chairman and would try his best in achieving the vision of the minister to raise the standard of the sports in this country from the grass route to the National level.
(Venkatesh Iyer)