Sri Lanka’s first-ever Para Rowing Double Scull to be launched this week
View(s):
The new boat being assembled
The Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka (ARASL) has brought down a ‘Para Rowing Double Scull’ boat, for the first time in Sri Lanka, in a bid to promote the water-sport among the disabled persons.
The initiative was made by ARASL President Rohan Fernando and Vice President Sithira Wickramasekara, — a duo who had contributed to the development and promotion of rowing in Sri Lanka immensely. Currently the ‘Para Rowing Double Scull’ boat is stationed and being assembled at the National Rowing Centre in Diyawanna and the boat will be officially unveiled next week, for the usage of disabled oarsmen and oarswomen.
“At present we have identified over five athletes, who are potentially good to continue with this fascinating sport and represent the country at international events. The boat we have brought down is virtually a special wheelchair boat, in which athletes with disability in their lower body, could use. If you take Para Rowing, there are different categories and this is one of them,” Wickramasekara stated.
By launching the ‘Para Rowing Double Scull’ boat in Sri Lanka next week, the ARASL expects to promote rowing among the wounded war veterans, located at housing facilities run by the Sri Lanka military institutions.
“It will be a very good initiative to for the war heroes, who are housed at various facilities, to come out and engage in a sport activity, and prove that they still can contribute to the country. The ARASL takes real pride in being part of such an initiative, which is a first-ever, in Sri Lanka,” he added.
Incidentally, Wickramasekara has been involved in a few initiatives in rowing earlier in history. He was instrumental in bringing down the first two ‘Eights Scull’ boat to Sri Lanka four years ago. Few years later, he was involved in bringing down Sri Lanka’s first ‘Dragon Boat’, which is today a sport that is bringing international glory to the country.