Chess Federation celebrates Golden Jubilee
The Chess Federation of Sri Lanka ( CFSL) is celebrating it’s Golden Jubilee this year. The CFSL have planned a lot of activities to mark their Golden year said President of CFSL Luxman Wijesuriya.
Among this activities the Golden Jubilee International Youth Chess Championships 2022 – (12 categories), World Junior Online Chess Championships 2022, Asian Nations Cup Youth Chess Championships and Asian Schools Chess Championships 2022 are scheduled to focus more with international players which is a good exposure for the local players. In ddition CFSL also plan to conduct Training programmes for Technical officers, Golden Jubilee International Open Grand Master Chess Championships while they will conduct Religious Ceremony on September 2 nd and 3 rd with the gathering of all top Chess Players and Officials.
The Chess Federation has become the one of the most active Federations in Sri Lanka as well as one of the most active Chess Federations in Asia. Even with the pandemic situation the CFSL was having 100 odd Online events and possible over the board event. Golden Jubilee has come in the right time with the over the country.
Chess Federation of Sri Lanka was formed on 3rd September 1972 under the presidency of Mr. VP Vittachchi. After few years R. Bodinagoda who was the Chairman of the Lake House became President and some progressive activates happened at the time. The current era began in 1999 under the presidency of Derrick Perera where two huge events, the Asian Junior Chess Championships were held in 2000 and 2001 in a grand style. Derrick was appointed as the General Secretary of Asian Chess Federation in 2002. The 1st National Chess Champion is Christopher Parakrama of Royal College and Sri Lanka started to play the FIDE Chess Olympiad 1st time in 1978 at Buenos Aires, Argentina. A team led by Arjuna Parakrama with Harsha Aturupane, L.C. Goonatilleke and Sunil Weeramantry took part . the CFSL started their regular participation of Chess Olympiads from 2000, Turkey. After the year 2000 we were regular members in all Chess Olympiads happened in Slovenia 2002, Spain 2004, Italy 2006, Germany 2008, Russia 2010, Turkey 2012, Norway 2014, Azerbaijan 2016 and Georgia 2018. But, Suneetha Wijesuriya brought honour to the country at the FIDE Chess Olympiad 1992 in Manila by winning a Board prize Gold Medal. The current development of the Sri Lanka Chess came under the guidance of President Luxman Wijesuriya. rapidly and Sachini Ranasinghe became the winner of Asian Zonal Women’s Chess Championship 2011 and became the 1st Women International Master in the country. She got qualified for the FIDE Women Chess World Cup in 2012 and became the first player to play in the event.
Then Romesh Weerawardena performed well in the Asian Zone 2013 to win the 1st International Master title. Nelunika Methmani also got the Women International Master this year. Then Harshana Thilakaratne was the one who came to the highest level when he got the IM title in regular system with 3 IM norms and 2400 rating. Ranindu Dilshan Liyanage was fortunate to be the 1st player played in FIDE Chess World Cup 2021 .Meanwhile Oshini Gunawardena was able to win world youth title which was the highlight of the last year .