10th July 2021 04:44:06 Hours
Sportsmen and Women who are tipped to participate and win in the forthcoming 32nd Olympic Games – 2020 in Tokyo during 23 July - 8 August together with the 1st Army Officer participating as a judge this afternoon (9) called on General Shavendra Silva, Chairman of the National Sports Selection Committee (NSSC), Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army at the Army Headquarters and received guidelines, encouragement and blessings.
The team, comprised of Chairman, Olympic Committee, Mr Suresh Subramaniam, Chairman, Firing Team, Mr Pradeep Edirisinghe, Ms Tehani Egodawela (Shooting) and Mr Niluka Karunaratne, Badminton (single) shared a few thoughts with General Shavendra Silva about the prospects of winning a medal for the country.
Lieutenant Colonel D.M.T.C Dassanayake of Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps, the first Sri Lanka Army Officer to serve as a Judge in the firing events in forthcoming 32nd Olympic Games 2020 is among one of the best shooters in the Sri Lanka Army. His enormous dedication, commitment and contribution to make history as the first-ever judge selected for firing events is indeed a recognized honour to the Army and the country. During his career, he has closely contributed to many local and foreign firing meets as a judge. He who has followed many related training courses has also held various appointments in the National Shooting Sport Federation since the year 2003.
To inspire and encourage the Sri Lankan team, General Shavendra Silva on the same occasion awarded a few mementos and cash gifts to the group while extending best wishes. He also wished sportsmen and women attending the Olympics good luck.
Likewise, the Army’s renowned runner Lance Corporal Yupun Abeykoon who is currently in Italy attending events and receiving training would join the Sri Lankan team in Japan.
General Shavendra Silva who is also the Chairman of the National Sports Selection Committee (NSSC), appointed by Ministry of Sports recalling the brief history, related to Sri Lanka’s participation in Olympics and how a few medals were won in the past, expressed his happiness over the selection of those athletes to represent Sri Lanka.
In return those visitors commended General Shavendra Silva for his dedicated commitment for promotion of sports in the country with enormous enthusiasm.
9 sportsmen and women representing Sri Lanka will compete in Horse Riding (Matilda Carlson), Gymnastics (Milka Gihani de Silva), Shooting (Women’s) Tehani Egodawela, Swimming (Mathew Abeysinghe), Badminton, (Niluka Karunarathna), Judo (Chamara Dhramawardena), 800m (women’s) - Nimali Liyanarachchi and 100m (Yupun Abeykoon of the Army).
