Rowing Nationals on March 12 and 13 at Diyawanna
CEO of Mobitel, Chandika Vitharana (2nd left) handing over the sponsorship cheque to Dimuth Gunawardena (President ARASL) and Sithira Wickramasekara (Vice President, ARASL), in the presence of Rohana Ellawala (Deputy CMO, Sri Lanka Telecom) and Pasan Ranaweera (Secretary, ARASL)
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the State Ministry of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and Covid Disease Control, affiliated to the Ministry of Health have granted permission to conduct the Rowing Nationals, according to Sri Lanka Amateur Rowing Association (SLARA).
The Senior and International Rowing Nationals 2021 will be held on March 12 and 13 at the Diyawanna Rowing Centre in Koswatte, Rajagiriya under strict health regulations and guidelines issued by the officials, with the participation of over 150 athletes representing eight institutions.
Already a large number of athletes have shown interest to take part at this rowing competition, which will be the first to be held since the COVID-19 pandemic stalled any possible sports events since March 2020. Oarsmen and oarswomen representing Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force, Kothalawala Defence University, University of Colombo, University of Moratuwa, Colombo Rowing Club and Bolgoda Lake Rowing Club are set to test their skills after a long lapse at the two-day event to be held next weekend.
During the time of the Rowing Nationals involving two weeks of intense activity culminating in the three-day championship races, the 2-kilometre long banks of the Diyawanna canal will be thronged with spectators, supporters and cheer squads with some of them racing on bicycles.
However, following health restrictions all such activities involving spectators and even group meetings will be disallowed at the 2021 Nationals, while the SLARA has made plans to separate the National Junior Championship from the main event. The national event is usually being held over three days, but this time the organisers have decided to hold the National and International Rowing Nationals 2021 initially over two days, and the Junior Nationals separately on a later date.
Sri Lanka Telecom-Mobitel has come forward to sponsor the 36th Rowing Nationals.