Fighting spirit of Lankan Cricketers and Netballers key to their success, says President
Sri Lanka Netball Vice Captain Dulangi Wannitilleka receiving a special replica from President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the felicitation ceremony held at the Cinnamon Lake Side Hotel last Friday. Also in the picture are Netball Federation President Victoria Lakshmi, SLC President Shammi Silva, Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe, and Dialog Axiata CEO Supun Weerasinghe. The two Asian champion teams (Netball and Cricket) and Commonwealth Games medalists were felicitated at this ceremony organised by Dialog Axiata.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe felicitated the two Asian champion teams Cricket, Netball, and Commonwealth Games medal winners at the Asian champions felicitation ceremony organised by Dialog Axiata and Cinnamon Lake Hotel on Friday night at the Cinnamon Lake Hotel premises.
The President said Skipper Dasun Shanaka lost their first game against Afghanistan but the team fought back to win all the matches to win the title. This is a good lesson.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe also commended the award-winning athletes and cricket and Netball teams for setting an example to the rest of the country that despite setbacks and shortcomings they had to endure over the years it was their determination and fighting spirit that helped them achieve victory against all odds.
The two champion teams together with their coaches and officials of the SLC and National Netball Federation were present on this occasion. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Cricket donated USD 500,000 to Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama. A cheque for USD 500,000 (Approx. Rs. 180 million) was handed over to President Ranil Wickremesinghe by Sri Lanka Cricket for the purchase of medicine for the Maharagama Apeksha Hospital at this felicitation ceremony which was organised by Dialog Axiata.
During the recent past, the media continuously reported that the cancer patients at the Maharagama Apeksha Hospital are facing great difficulties due to the shortage of medicines.
The Presidential Media Unit informed President Ranil Wickremesinghe and President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake about this issue, and they were instructed to look into the problem immediately and provide prompt solutions.
Accordingly, the Maharagama Hospital and the Ministry of Health, determined that the main problem for the shortage of medicines is the lack of funds. The issue was brought to the notice of Shammi Silva, President, Sri Lanka Cricket by the President’s Media Director Shanuka Karunaratne, who coordinated the donation. Sri Lanka Cricket, which promptly responded to the request made by the Presidential Media Unit, offered to support it through the President’s Office. As promised, they made the donation following the Asia Cup victory.
Meanwhile in accordance with a request made by the Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe, each member of the victorious netball team received a reward of Rs. 2 million each, which was gifted by the Sri Lanka Cricket as a goodwill gesture of sporting comradeship.
In addition, the Commonwealth Silver Medalist Palitha Bandara received Rs. 10 million, while Bronze Medalists Yupun Abeykoon, Nethmi Ahinsa Poluthotage and Dilanka Isuru Kumara received Rs. five million each. The coaches of the winning athletes were also felicitated during this event and they received 25% of the cash rewards presented to the athletes. These rewards were made available from the sports fund.
The Asian champion felicitation and awards ceremony was organized by the Ministry of Sports and Sports Associations, with the official sponsorship of Dialog Axiata and hosted by Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts.
The President of SLC Shammi Silva, Netball Federation President Victoria Lakshmi, National athletic coach Y.K Kularatne, Paralympic Committee President Lt Colonel Deepal Herath and Wrestling Federation President Sarath Hewawitharana were also felicitated and President Ranil Wickremesinghe handed over replicas to the heads of the three Associations.
Dialog CEO Supun Weerasinghe, Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe, and Sports Director General Amal Edirisooriya also graced this occasion while the two teams Netball and Cricket, and medal-winning athletes had an official dinner and music entertainment by the popular singers Sanka Dineth, Madhuvy Vaithialingam, and Channa Wijewardena Dancing group.