Junior National Championship next weekend at Diyawanna
ARASL will name a boat in honour of boatboy Thissa Jayalath (L), who is with its Vice President Sithira Wickramasekara
The Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka (ARASL) has made all arrangements to conduct the Sri Lanka Junior Rowing National Championship 2021 on December 17 and 18 at the Diyawanna Rowing Centre in Koswatte.
Events will be held for both boys and girls of three age categories — Under-14, Under-16 and Under-18 with 20 races slotted to take place in total. The Under-14 will have only two events — Singles and Doubles Sculls for both boys and girls. They will compete in a 500m course at all events. The Under-16 age group will have the Singles, Doubles and Fours on a 1000m course. The Under-18s will go through all sculls including Singles, Doubles Sculls, Doubles Pairs, Coxed Sculls and Coxed Quadruple Sculls for both girls and boys and all events will be held in accordance to international standards, on a 2000m course.
This will be one of the major competitions ARASL that conducts during this year, after the COVID-19 pandemic brought restrictions to sporting events across the country.
“The event will hopefully boost up the potential of our athletes for the future. We are keen to improve our standards in rowing and this will be the first time when our new coach, Pedro Lopez will get to see the talents of our youngsters,” Sithira Wickramasekara, the Administrator of Diyawanna Rowing Centre and Vice President of ARASL, stated.
Events are set to take place on a four-lane course, which meets the basic international requirement for length and breadth in rowing. The efforts of ARASL goes in line with its intention of introducing rowing to the outstations and growing in numbers by the coming years.
Already the ARASL has tasted success through its initiative of ‘Dakunata Rowing’ programme, where over 10 schools got together to form the Southern Schools Rowing Association. The upcoming competition would see the newly joined schools from the southern region and outstations joining up with the existing school rowers. Wickramasekara, who is an ardent promoter of rowing among youngsters, especially at schools, is confident that in the near future more schools will engage in this watersport.
The start line of the 2000m course will be the Boardwalk End near Rajagiriya while the finish line will be at the Asoka Grounds End. Apart from the four lanes, where the Lane 1 will run along the Waters’ Edge Bank and the Lane 4 will be alongside the Buthgamuwa Bank, a warm-up and service lane will be available outside Lane 4.
In addition ARASL and DRC have initiated a simple ceremony to honour Thissa Jayalath, who is in-charge of the boats at DRC in Koswatte. Wickramasekara revealed that Jayalath will be honoured with a new boat after him.
“We have named a singles boat after him, in honour and appreciation of his contribution to the sport of rowing. This is the first time in history in rowing that a boat will be named after a boat boy. He deserves it as he looks after our boats at DRC. He has been a boat boy for over 30 years and everyone in the rowing fraternity knows him quite well, and he has contributed immensely for the development of the sport,” Wickramasekara added.