Carrom: The game gets it due recognition

With the naming of carrom as a national sport by the Ministry of Sports and the Department of Sports Development, a workshop was held recently at the premises of Sports Ministry to make an awareness among players island wide regarding carrom and participation of carrom players for the national sports festival to be held in the future. 

A large number of sports officers representing all provinces in the island participated in this one day workshop organised by Nobert Perera-Sports Ministry Project Officer (Carrom) with the patronage of Carrom Federation of Sri Lanka and on the instructions of K.D. Ruwanchandra – Director General (Sports). 

Sports Ministry Assistant Directress (Administration) Mrs. Nadeeka Damayanthi and Project Officer (Carrom) Nobert Perera named the carom sport as a national sport, gave necessary instructions to sports officers as regards bringing carom players spread island wide for the ensuing national sports festival, making awareness, training and identification of novice players and also requested to take actions in order to make carrom sport popular island wide by formation of district level carom federations in collaboration with the Carrom Federation of Sri Lanka in the future. 

Resource persons of this workshop, Sri Lanka Carrom Federation President Prasad Samarasinghe, Vice President Susantha Fernand, Tournament Secretary Daya Vidanagama delivered several lectures on the history, present-day and game rules of carrom sport and General Secretary Thumula Naotunna conducted a practical training regarding carrom Rules and Regulations for the gathering in attendance. 

During the workshop, an exhibition carrom match was held between World Carrom Champion Nishantha Fernando and No. 3 ranked player of Sri Lanka Anaz Ahamed. 

Sri Lanka Carrom Federation Vice President Upali Perera, Mrs. Amitha Wickramasinghe, Assistant Treasurer and Media Coordinator Sunanda Kodagoda, veteran carrom coaches Sarath Wijesinghe, Karunaratne Jayasinghe, Jagath Suraweera also participated in this workshop chaired by Sports Ministry Assistant Directress (Administration) Mrs. Nadeeka Damayanthi.