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| Thursday, 18 September 2003 |
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Sports | |
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Ana's demise a great loss It is with great regret and sadness, the Football Federation of Sri Lanka and the FIFA Goal Development Office in Colombo wishes to announce the death of its Senior Vice President, J. S. N. Anandarajah, better known as "Ana" among all in Football in Sri Lanka. J. S. N. Anandarajah born on the 19th of January 1944, served for the cause of "Football" in Sri Lanka for 35 long years since 1978, starting his career as an Administrator in the Nationalized Services Soccer Association, at the time when he was employed with the Steel Corporation of Sri Lanka. His life in football started in Negombo, when he became a Founder Member of the Negombo Youth Football Club and thereafter played football for the Steel Corporation in the Nationalized Services Soccer Tournaments. He served in various capacities in the Football Federation of Sri Lanka since 1976, starting as a Committee Member, and then in 1995 he was appointed President of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka and thereafter as Senior Vice President which position he held up to the time of his death. Ana's distinguished football career continued when he became a Member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and served in the Media Committee for 4 years and thereafter as a Member of the Disciplinary Committee for another 4 years. Since 1998, Ana was Deputy Chairman of the AFC, Disciplinary Committee until his demise. His career did not end there as FIFA honoured J. S. N. Anandarajah by appointing him to the FIFA National Associations Committee in 1998 where he served in that capacity for 4 years with the FIFA. On many occasions he acted as Match Commissioner and Tournament Coordinator on behalf of the AFC and FIFA. Recognizing his expertise, depth of knowledge and ability in this sphere, the FIFA nominated him as Deputy Coordinator for FIFA World Cups in France in 1998 and in Korea-Japan in 2002. In addition, he acted as Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee in the Asian Cup in Lebanon 2000. His passion was to promote Youth Football in the country. Together with DIG Bodhi Liyanage, who was at that time, the President of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka, he was instrumental in promoting the Youth Football Development Programme in Sri Lanka in 2000. In the later years, especially after the cease-fire between the Government and the LTTE, he was appointed Senior Coordinator for the promotion of football under the Youth Development Programme in the North and East. Under his able guidance an accelerated football programme started in the North & East in 2000. The active Leagues and Schools in the North & East, which are now actively taking part in tournaments bear ample testimony to justify the cause, which he devotedly worked for in promoting the game. The FIFA, having acknowledged his skills nominated him as General Manager of the FIFA Goal Development Office in Colombo, in which capacity he was serving at the time of his death. We must also mention that J. S. N. Anandarajah was a Vice President of the National Olympic Committee at the time of his demise.He was a forthright man, who called a "spade a spade", which earned him a few enemies, as well, but no one can deny that, 35 years of his life was dedicated in the cause of serving football in Sri Lanka and in Asia. Ana in his heart, cared about the common man and his generosity in helping many a club, school and individual are too many to mention. He had a heart of gold and basically he was a good human being and a true and loyal friend. He leaves behind his wife and two sons all of whom are now resident in Canada. The Football Federation of Sri Lanka and myself wish to convey to his family our heartfelt sympathies in their hour of grief. Ana will be dearly missed by his family and friends who knew him, and especially by those, who shared his passion in football. May the Lord Almighty grant him eternal rest! |
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