Roshan Gunawardana to head newly established SPBA
The Senior Vice President of Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB), Roshan Gunawardana, was elected as the President of Sabaragamuwa Province Badminton Association (SPBA) at the inauguration of the newest membership of the regional governing body. In over the seven decades of history of badminton in Sri Lanka, this was the first occasion that a provincial association to the Sabaragamuwa Province was inaugurated which took place at the Government Services Sports Club in Ratnapura.
The SPBA will be the ninth provincial association to join the eight existing and active regional governing bodies, and its absence had been a hampering factor for the players of the Sabaragamuwa region who lacked a ranking tournament as other provinces. As a result the region received less or considerably low facilities and grants, as well as the facility through SLB’s regional development programmes. With the inauguration of SPBA, shuttlers of the Sabaragamuwa region can now enjoy the perks and facilities through SLB programmes as the other eight provincial associations provide to its players and join the national programmes as well as see new talents being unearthed from development projects.
The elected office bearers of Sabaragamuwa Province Badminton Association
Soon after the election of the new office bearers to the inaugural SPBA, the Executive Committee unanimously took the initiative to conduct a ranking tournament in Ratnapura during the month of June, following its other development programmes that will be launched soon. Among the programmes planned are programmes targeting 100 less privileged schools and 200 teachers or masters in-charge following a well-planned training programme in the Ratnapura and Kegalle districts, conducting two training camps for coaches of Ratnapura and Kegalle districts as well as training programmes for umpires and line judges of the two regions.
While Roshan Gunawardana was elected the founder President of SPBA, Chandani Senevirathna was elected the Secretary with Nayanagith Dangalla being appointed as the Treasurer. The seven Vice Presidents elected were Maj. A.D. Dilshan Kuruwita (Tournament Committee), Attorney at-Law W.M.P.Y. Wasala (Disciplinary Committee), Tharanga Dilshan (Fundraising Committee), C. Jayamal Perera (Training and Development), K.A. Nawarathna (District Monitoring Committee 1), Isurika Tennakoon (District Monitoring Committee 2) and Koushini Silva (Coaches’ Training and Development). Two Assistant Secretaries were elected with Thilina Danthasinghe being in-charge of documentation and Dilen Vihanga as the second appointee.
Jagath Rupasinghe was elected the Deputy Treasurer with Kalpani Herath, J. Dangalla, J.R.D. Samarathunga and Samadhi Anuththara being elected as Committee Members. Dinuka Withanage will function as the Tournament Secretary covering the Ratnapura district while Chathumal Senevirathna will be in-charge as the Tournament Secretary of the Kegalle district.
Officials representing SLB who were present at the inauguration of the SPBA are Roshan Gunawardana (Senior Vice President), Palitha Hettiarachchi (SLB Regional Development Committee), Thilina Danthasinghe (Coordinator, SLB Regional Development Committee) and Vice Presidents Chamara Aluthge and Buddhika de Silva as observers.