Central Province Age Group swimming meet on December 27

S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy Sports correspondent

The Central Province Aquatic Sports Association (CEPASA), the only accredited swimming association in the outstation and affiliated to the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU) will conduct its fourth Annual Central Province Age Group and Novices Swimming Championship 2008 on December 27 at the University Swimming pool complex in Peradeniya.

The CEPASA was formed four years ago to promote and uplift the standard of swimming in the Central Province. They conducted their inaugural championship in 2005 which was sponsored by the parents of swimmers, well wishers with Janashakthi Insurance to coming with a sponsorship package.

The second championship was held in 2006 and was sponsored by Nestle Lanka Limited for the Milo Championship trophy. This meet saw a large number of swimmers participating with the competition itself going late into the evening.

The third Central Province Swimming meet was held in 2007 with Ferrero Lanka (Pvt) Limited throwing in a lavish sponsorship for the Nutella Championship trophy. This meet also saw a very large number of swimmers participating.

This swimming meet will see over 700 competitors from the Central Province including the districts of Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya and from schools like Trinity College, Kingswood, Dharmaraja College, St. Sylvesters College, Mahamaya Girls College, Hillwood Girls College, Girls High School, Jinaraja College, Zahira College (both from Gampola), Vijaya College, Science College, St. Thomas College (all from Matale-Kandy) Gateway International School, Colombo International School (Kandy Branch), Ecole International School, Vision International, St. Joseph’s College, Gampola and the University of Peradeniya participated in these meets in the past and displayed their skills and talents in a tremendous way. This year too they are expected to take the plunge.

In realising its objectives the CEPASA has produced 12 swimmers who have reached international level and have represented the country at various meets and the most prominent among them are Minuruwani Samarakoon and

Heshan Uanmboowe who just missed the boat to the Beijing Olympics this year.

Organiser, said that valuable Trophies, Shields, Cups and Medals which were specially manufactured in China and quality certificates will be awarded to the respective age group winners.

This swimming meet will be conducted in the age groups of under 10, under 12, under 14, under 16 and over 16 years of age and the events which will be worked off are Breast Stroke, Butterfly Stroke, Free Style, Dolphin and Individual Medley. Entries are pouring in and entry forms could be collected from and received by the Vice President of CEPASA Janaka de Silva at the CEPASA Headquarters, 18 1/1, Hill Street, Kandy.

Some of the top swimmers in the Central Province who will vie for honours are and Malaka Perera (Captain), Heshan Unamboowe, Dilina Dissanayake, Chanuka Wickremasinghe, Prageeth Wanigasekera, Kanishka Hulangamuwa, Lashan Senaratne, Damsith Karunaratne, Shehan de Silva, Migara Hulangamuwa, Thaveesh Edussuriya, Imuditha Athurupana, Sineru Auwardt and Sapumal Senanayake from Trinity College. From Gateway International College, it will be Minuwruwani Samarakoon, Nelum Uduwawala and Sewwandi Uduwawala, Mahamaya Girls College will include Hansani Weeratunga, Madhavee Weeratunga, Heshani Unamboowe, Sunethra Wijeratne, Imani Abeykoon, Ayeshika Jayawardena, Dewmini Kularatne, Kavisha de Silva, Hillwood have swimmers like Chamari Kudabalage, Sachinthani Dissanayake, Shalani Rajakaruna, Hiruni de Soysa.