Sports
Dhammika Ratnaweera
The newly elected Netball officials: From left: Padmini Horanage (Treasurer), Nitharshana Kulenthiran (Assistant Secretary), Victoria Lakshmi (President) and Vindana Dayaratne (Secretary). (Picture courtesy Sports Ministry media)
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My immediate plan is to focus on winning the Asian Netball Championship and urge all officials from both sides to get together for the development of the sport said newly elected National Netball Federation President Victoria Lakshmi, a former National Netball poolist and senior Netball Administrator She was elected as new President by a majority of 10 votes (21-11) over former National player Caryll Tozer She said Netball Administration is nothing new to me but this time I came to power with a young team who are new to Netball Administration and I am confident of getting their support to uplift the sport.
I have already invited my opponent Caryll Tozer, former Presidents Trixie Nanayakkara and Ranjani Jayakody, former senior officials Yasmin Dharmarathne, Olivia Gamage, Yasa Ramachandra to get their support to develop netball.
As the former Vice President, and former President of the Netball Federation I have done lot of work I think that was the reason I was elected by a comfortable majority and this time I came with young officials like my new Secretary Vindana Dayaratne and Assistant Secretary Nitharshana Kulenthiran.
Vindana from Kegalle was a former National junior player as well as present Banking officer while Nitharshana the school’s sport coach from Vavuniya are two new officials to Netball but their support is much needed at this time to promote the game.
Victoria Lakshmi who is also the Present Vice President of the Asian Netball Federation said I can give my support to both Sri Lanka and Asian region in my capacity. We are the defending Asian champions and want to retain the title.
My first task is to find a much needed sponsor. I met present Sport Minister Roshan Ranasinghe yesterday and want to discuss with the Minister regarding plans to uplift this sport as soon as possible.
The newly elected President Victoria Lakshmi further said” I am not going to change plans made by former Administration headed by Ranjani Jayakody the former Sports Director General.
This is not the time for any changes before the Asian championship which is scheduled to be held in September.It is a very short period to prepare for the players who are already training under Head coach Hyacinth Wijesinghe. The National pool training is more important and I will not influence selections and appointments.
Especially I have to focus on Junior National players and will appoint National junior coach and other officials to form Junior National pool and we have key junior international tournaments and my ambition is to get Netball beyond the Asian level and want support from all said Victoria who was a former Army Captain by her rank.
We are all administrators and our vision is to protect players and go forward and not for individual benefits from our top posts.
I was able to find sponsors for the last Asian Championships like Dialog. How ever today the country’s situation is totally different and we all realize this and wanted to go on our journey despite difficulties said Victoria.
Meanwhile the newly elected Secretary Vindana Dayaratne said she is new to Netball Administration but as a former Junior National player and senior Banker I am very keen to support our ladies sport. Our team always is committed and my father is a former National Volleyball player in the 1970 s and he always loves the sport and very happy to join me as a Netball Administrator especially during this hard period.
The Assistant Secretary Nitharshana Kulenthiran who is the coach of Saivapragasa Ladies School in Vavuniya said” I am very happy to join Netball Federation administration and the Northern Province already have talented players and looking to get support from the National Federation.I think my opponent Champa Gunawardena at the last minute withdrew to give me a chance and really appreciate that and now we are very keen to work with Victoria Lakshmi the experienced administrator and her team to promote the game. As a Tamil lady we are really happy to work with Sinhala people and through netball we can show our unity to develop the game.
The newly elected Treasurer Padmini Horanage said her service is very vital at this stage and we all have to work together to promote the game.
The newly elected officials of the Sri Lanka Netball Federation
President – Victoria Lakshmi
Secretary- Vindana Dayaratne
Assistant Secretary- Nitharshana Kulenthiran
Treasurer – Padmini Horanage
Assistant Treasurer – Layani Renuka Kuruppu
Vice President – Nirodha Abeywickrama (Schools Netball Association President)
