SHOWERED WITH PROMOTIONS, CASH GIFTS AND OTHER INCENTIVES
Army Para Athletic Medallists...
The Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake felicitated all five Army personnel who did the organisation proud at the recent 13th Asian Para Games in South Korea by showering them with promotions, cash gifts and many other incentives during a special ceremony, held at the Army Headquarters this morning on Monday.
Corporal Anil Prasanna Jayalath of the Commando Regiment won a Gold in 200 m (T42) event, two Silver Medals in the Men’s 100 m (T42) and the Men’s Long Jump (T42/44), Staff Sergeant Pradeep Sanjaya of Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (SLSR) won a Silver and a Bronze in the Men’s 800 m (T46) and in the Men’s 400 m (T47) respectively. Four more Bronze Medals were won by Lance Corporal A.G.U.I Chuladasa of SLSR (two medals) in Men’s 100 m (T42) and 200 m (T42), Lance Corporal P.H.L Dharmasiri of SLSR (one medal) in Men’s 400 m (T44) and Corporal S.S Kumara of Sri Lanka Light Infantry (one medal)in Men’s Discus Throw (F44). Lieutenant General Ratnayake hailing the achievements of Army para athletes during Monday’s special ceremony announced that those achievers would be promoted to their next rank immediately.
At the same time, these winners received cash prizes separately. The Gold Medallist was gifted with Rs 3 lakhs, Silver Medallist with Rs 2 lakhs and all other Bronze medallists with Rs 1.5 lakh each, in addition to cash prizes, awarded to their coaches during the same ceremony. The Commander instructed relevant authorities to increase the quantum of cash prizes for a Gold medallist to Rs. 1 million, Rs. 7 lakhs for a Silver medallist and Rs. 5 lakhs for a Bronze medal after appointing a board to that effect, covering these medallists, too in retrospect.
In his speech at the occasion, the Commander, expressed his fullest backing the for promotion of para athletics and related a story which he experienced when he was serving the battlefield many years ago, in which an amputated War Hero was heard saying that his only worry was not the loss of one leg but his inability to do running in future meets.
“That saying inspired me very much although at that point of time, those types of skills through disability could not be brought to the fore since we did not have a proper mechanism to tap those resources.” The 13th Asian Para Games, held at Asiad Main Stadium in South Korea, saw Sri Lanka finishing the events with 14 Medals in the 19th position in the Medals tally - the highest number of Medals ever won by Sri Lanka in para events.
Their talented coaches, Messrs. Jansz Dissanayake, M.J.P Rohitha Fernando, S.P.S.P Vithana and Warrant Officer-II, W.S Jayakody too were gifted with cash prizes during the same ceremony.
Gold Medallist, Corporal Anil Prasanna Jayalath, the War Hero of the Commando Regiment, sustained serious injuries in an LTTE mortar attack in February 2009 as the fight against LTTE terrorism was reaching its final stages in Puthukkudiyirippu area, making him disable below the right knee. Staff Sergeant Pradeep Sanjaya in the last year also secured a Silver medal in the Para Olympics in the 400 m event.
Major General Prasad Samarasinghe, Chief of Staff, Major General S.W.L Dawulagala, Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, Major General L.W.C.B.B Rajaguru, Director General Infantry, Major General Sumeda Perera, Director General General Staff, Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, Adjutant General, Major General Jagath Dias, Chairman, Sri Lanka Army Para Sports Committee, Principal Staff Officers, All Directors, Director of Sports, Ranaviru Sevana inmates and a large gathering graced the event at the Army Headquarters.
–(SP)