Rowing to make waves islandwide
For over a decade Sithira Wickramasekera has been a keen Rowing enthusiast on the banks of waterways, giving his fullest support to uplift the sport. Wickramasekera, a former licensed lifeguard turned businessman, had no interest in Rowing, even when he facilitated a 2000-metre regatta organised by the University of Moratuwa in 2003, on a property he owned near the Bolgoda Lake.
Eights gradually is becoming the new way of rowing in Sri Lanka - Pix by Amila Gamage
Later in 2007, his elder daughter took to Rowing at Musaeus College and Wickramasekera nearly stalled her from attending training, until he met an ardent Rowing enthusiast, who took the trouble to give him an in-depth analysis on the sport. Since then, Wickramasekera has not only remained loyal and committed to Rowing, but has done a yeomen service behind the scenes, until he was elected Vice President of the Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka (ARASL) a month ago.
With this appointment, Wickramasekera gets the opportunity to fulfill his plans for the betterment of Rowing in Sri Lanka, which he has been doing for over a decade without much fanfare. As one of two elected Vice Presidents of ARASL, Wickramasekera has already sketched out a comprehensive plan for the furure, and is more than willing to support ARASL President Rohan Fernando who was re-elected.
Among known faces who held positions at ARASL, Wickramasekera comes in as a fresher but, has the management skills to justify his election. He is the godfather of the Bolgoda Lake Rowing Club (BLRC), which was formed in 2008, and took the initiative to take Rowing beyond the waters of Colombo’s Beira Lake. As a result, he managed to persuade Rohan Fernando to have the National Rowing Championship in Bolgoda from 2009 to 2012, before it was shifted to the present ARASL headquarters at the Diyawanna Rowing Centre (DRC) in Rajagiriya.
Sithira Wickramasekera, a silent server in rowing for over a decade, now has the authority to unleash his plans officially
“My elder daughter was an innocent, backward and homely character. At 13 she wanted to join the Rowing team of her school but I objected sternly. After discussing with my wife, I let my daughter do Rowing, thinking she might give it up any time. But her interest grew by the day and she eventually, became Captain of her school’s senior team. In the meantime, I met a good friend of mine at the Colombo Rowing Club, a former national oarsman, who objected to my way of thinking. He was coaching my daughter’s team. For years I watched her become a strong girl, both mentally and physically, and I thought to myself what a wonderful sport Rowing is. And that’s where it all began,” Wickramasekara recalled of his first dip into Rowing.
In 2008 he formed the BLRC, to which Wickramasekera greatly acknowledges the support given by Royal College and S. Thomas’ College, who donated two used boats each to start the club. Wickramasekera promotes Rowing in outstation schools, by encouraging newcomers with boats and training facilities at Bolgoda.
He then gradually earned the trust of ARASL officials and Rowing enthusiasts as a ‘man doing a great job behind the scenes’. In 2015, Wickramasekera becomes the first individual to bring down two ’8′ boats, never seen earlier in local waters.
“That was one of my dreams, to see ’8′s boats racing alongside each another. All I wanted was to create a culture that would last forever and see Rowing expand in Sri Lanka, where youngsters have the talent for water-sports. All these I did with good intentions. A sport, be it any, should not be limited to a certain group or level. When there is potential among others, we should try to take it to the masses,” he added.
Wickramasekera, along with Fernando, was one of the live wires in putting up the DRC, which also includes an academy for newcomers.
Among the proposed projects, Wickramasekera is eagerly focusing on taking Rowing to the outstations, which he has managed to do slowly but steadily in recent times.
“If you talk about short term goals, we need to have events at least once a month or whenever it’s possible. Talking about long term plans, the ARASL is keen to take rowing to outstations, why should we confine such a great sport only to Colombo and the suburbs?” he asked.
With plans already afoot Rowing is set to reach the southern and eastern parts of country, while the ARASL is mainly focusing on schools. Wickramasekera stated that the ARASL is committed to support schools keen to take up rowing.
“We only need a 2000-metre stretch of water and a pier to start off. The ARASL will certainly support these schools by providing boats for training and competitions, and the know-how, until they are able to take care of themselves,” said Wickramasekera, who is eager to bring down his third ’8′s boat.
After Wickramasekera brought down the two ’8′s in 2015, the Kothelawala Defence University (KDU) brought down the third boat.
“I have the intention of starting up ’8′s racing for schools and Universities, who already have annual regattas. In addition, the ARASL is keen on promoting 2000-metre racing, which is the standard length internationally. And with a list of events planned for 2019, the formation of the Preliminary Development Pool and other activities planned to promote Rowing in the outstations, the ARASL has a busy schedule ahead,” Wickramasekera stated.