Awarding of certificates to students of Central Province Hockey Academy next week

The presentation of certificates of excellence to a batch of 50 students, who have successfully completed the three year training course at the Central Province Hockey Academy in Matale, will take place on August 29 at 9.30am at the Hotel School Auditorium in Matale under the patronage of Sarath Ekanayake, Chief Minister, Central Province – He will also be the Chief Guest.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, the manager of the academy Chandrika De Silva said that the Central Province Hockey Academy, which comes under the purview of central province ministry of sports, caters to the needs of the game of hockey at the grassroots level. This is the fourth batch of students that has been trained by the academy since its inception in 2009.

A new batch of 50 students between the ages 12 - 14 are selected annually from schools and they will be given training for three years in the latest techniques in every department of the game of hockey and leadership. They will also get the opportunity to be trained both in theory and practicals under the guidance and supervision of well experienced coaches attached to the academy where they were taught the finer points of the game based on scientific lines in order to play to their potential. Every student is entitled to receive a monthly allowance of Rs. 300 and a uniform during their training period.

This year’s outgoing batch comprises students from Tenna MV Matale, Sidhartha MV Nagolla Ukuwela and Nugawela Central Kandy.

Thilina Bandara Tennakoon, the Central Provincial Minister of Sports will grace the occasion as the Guest of Honour.