Galle CC President Deleepa Charles Silva at the Galle CC Gym.
The new look Galle CC always trying to give maximum benefit for cricketers as well as club members said Galle CC newly appointed President Deleepa Charles Silva in an exclusive interview with the Daily News during the Sri Lanka and Pakistan first Test match.
“We wanted to promote cricket at Galle and our target is to give maximum support to the cricketers in Galle both schools and club level”.
“After we were appointed as new administrators we were able to make our own club Gymnasium, new VIP Lobby and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) gave 7.8 million rupees to build up full completed Gymnasium with instructor Nandimal Ubeysiriwardena who was a former St Aloysius athlete and National rugby player .
“There were no place for Southern Province cricketers to use Gymnasium earlier and we were able to fulfill that requirement. Today Galle CC players, Club members have Gym facilities, added Deleepa Silva who is a former St Aloysius Galle and Galle CC cricketer.
“Today both season and off season periods Galle CC cricketers can use this Gymnasium while we are going to give this chance to Galle cricket playing schools (free of charge ) and our vision is clear to promote cricket in Galle. In addition over 60 club members can use this Gym free of charge while others with out membership have to pay 5000 rupeee for a month”.
Galle CC President further said; we have given a new look to Galle CC new Gymnasium. More than 1500 club members are with us and with this new developments more members will join us. We always negotiate with our main body SLC and we coordinate very well with them and without their support we couldn’t come this journey,” added Galle CC President.
“I have good youth administrative committee and our patron Dilith Jayaweera the head of Derana Group and Triads gives his fullest support to develop Galle CC”.
“We wanted to give much needed support for Southern Province cricketers. Earlier more Colombo cricketers were in Galle CC team but today 9 members from Galle and we wanted to make Galle CC as Southern cricket hub. Today more members are joining our club and they are happy to see our administrative work to develop cricket”.
“Today we competed with Colombo leading clubs and last time we finished 7th place and presently we are going up gradually and our club skipper Omega Chathuranga leads the side while National player Oshada Fernando joined with us to play Major clubs tournament and inclusion of Oshada give good message to other leading Galle cricketers to join the Galle CC”.
“We pay good salary for cricketers and their benefits compare to those days. As administrators our duty is to protect cricketers. Today this picturesque Galle Cricket Stadium gets more Test matches and foreigners come to see matches and Galle CC with bar and restaurant facilities cater their needs. We maintain good discipline here at Galle CC the cricketers like Athula Samarasekara, Jayananda Warnaweera, Champaka Ramanayaka, Chamila Gamage, Lasith Malinga all started cricket from Galle CC and we hope more National cricketers to come out from Galle CC in future,” said Galle CC President.
“We already discussed to get our own ground in a separate place and SLC promised to give that facility and new swimming pool will also be built soon”.
“The new cricket side wicket behind the club has already started construction and within next three months that will be completed. We are going to get our own club bus with the support from SLC. In addition Lion Breweries, DSI have pledged their support as sponsors. We have negotiations with Telekom Mobitel to get more support as without sponsors it is very difficult to uplift the club, said President Deleepa Charles. Our Patron Dilith Jayaweera, Secretary Ruwan Galappatthi and my team give good support to develop Galle CC, concluded Deleepa.