SLTA to embark on all-weather court project
With the onset of the success of launching its digitalisation programme, the Sri Lanka Tennis Association ( SLTA) is hoping to embark on the all- weather court programme – the first of its kind in Sri Lanka, according to its Vice President Suresh Subramanium.
Last week, the SLTA introduced a tennis development initiative for 2018, which aims to completely automate the SLTA Administration through a cloud accessed digitised platform for its stake holders. The digitisation process was kick-started by SLTA President Iqbal Bin Issack who inaugurated the S LTA P l ay e r s Registration System at the SLTA Office at its headquarters.
According to Subramanium, the all- weather court programme is also equally innovative. He said, “If we are to develop our tennis, we must be engaged especially with the Asian Circuit. There you get players from different countries from different standards of techniques and for our players it is a learning curve and an opportunity. Sometimes some of the players are ITF ranked players and among the recognised lot.
“At the same time Colombo is a popular destination with this circuit especially with its location and it is convenient but, there is one drawback. These tournaments are played on a tight schedule. All such tournaments are already earmarked to be played up to June this year. So, when a tournament begins on Monday it has to end by Sunday – per say – because the players are with their plane tickets heading for the next destination the next day. So, when it rains there are inevitable delays as the games are conducted on clay courts. So, if there are regular delays the circuit may not like to make SLTA its destination”.
However, Subramanium also pointed out that the opportunity for this also arose because the SLTA authorities were able to seal the deal for another 30- year lease of the SLTA property with the Colombo Municipal Council. The existing 99- year lease has now lapsed.
According to Subramanium, the new facility will come up on the existing car park area. It would be a two story facility where the first floor will be occupied by a shopping complex and the top floor would be converted in to 5-6 six courts.
“Originally we had around 75,000 square feet in our plan but, we lost a good chunk of it due to the road widening project. Now we are left with around 40,000 sq. ft but that is sufficient.
“However the noteworthy factor is that the project is going to cost us around Rs 800 million and none of it would come either through the SLTA coffers or Sports Ministry grants. The entire project is self-generated.”
He added that the time-frame for the project is around eighteen months but, once the main structure is set in place they would be able to embark on the Tennis project because the covering would be canvass, but to ITF requirements. Besides the main building, they are hoping to construct also a ramp so that wheel chair players also would be able to make use of this facility.
Subramanium said, “time management is crucial. When we embark on this project, there may be some drawback posed to the day-to-day affairs. We must look to minimise the hazards at that end”.