The Army Colours Night - 2010 that recognizes excellent sports talents of Army personnel at both national and international levels after an interval of thirteen years, resumed at Sugathadasa Stadium Thursday (27) evening. The colourful ceremony kicked off after lighting of the traditional oil lamp and recital of the Army song.
Laurels to the recipients in the Defence Services for 21 sports events were also simultaneously awarded during the same Army Colours Night, graced by Secretary Defence Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa as Chief Guest. Chief of Defence Staff and Air Force Commander Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetileke, Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral D. W. A. S. Dissanayake, Muttaiah Muralidaran, Susanthika Jayasinghe and Julian Bolin participated in the colourful event as distinguished invitees.
A total of 1449 Army sportsmen/women were entitled to receive those colours from renowned and special invitees. Of 1449 sports men and women supposed to receive colours, 340 recipients were eligible for Defence Services Colours.
Service commitments and other inevitable circumstances, associated with the country’s fight against terrorism before the defeat of the LTTE in May 2009, stalled the conduct of the Army Colours Night after the year 1997 and the Defence Services Colours Night after 2003.
All those laureates have shown extraordinary performances in Athletics, Volleyball, Archery, Badminton, Netball, Boxing, Cricket, Elle, Hockey, Judo, Kabbadi, Karate, Motor Sports, Basketball, Body-building, Weight-lifting, Swimming, Rugby, Shooting, Squash, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Handball and Wrestling during the years 1997-2010. In the year 2010, one hundred Army personnel were eligible to receive those colours.
In the Defence Services category, 22 Army personnel received their laurels for the year 2010.
Thursday’s Colours Night also saw 153 disable Army personnel carry away Colours for their talents in swimming, wheelchair tennis, athletics, badminton, table tennis, cycling, volley ball, shooting, wheelchair marathon, wheelchair badminton, wheelchair basketball, weight lifting and body building. However, due to the large number of laureates, only a representative 100 Army recipients received their symbols of recognition on the occasion from those distinguished guests.
A large number of senior officers, spouses and invitees attended the ceremony. President Army Sports Committees welcomed the invitees after observation of one minute silence in honour of fallen War Heroes. Eye-catching entertainment features added colour to the occasion from time to time.
Here follow extracts of the Commander’s speech to the occasion;
“First of all, let me, on behalf of all ranks of the Sri Lanka Army, pay my gratitude to the Secretary of Defence for his welcome presence here today after accepting our invitation.
The Army can speak high of its history of sports throughout the years since its inception. That is because of the high priority Sri Lanka Army has to-date given to the field of sports since the founding of the Army. You who are a part of that contribution and those who have done their part in the past, are remembered with much respect at this moment.
It is the youth who safeguard the country as they are energetic. Not only should they be fit enough, but also should have enough power of tolerance. Sports help develop all these qualities in a man.
We can achieve our targets easier through sports since it develops one’s mental stability. A sportsman will never retreat. Even during a defeat, he will shake hands with his rival and take it as a symbol of strength for his next battle. The spirit of sportsmanship is therefore never let down by a true sportsman.
Tokyo Olympics in 1964 is very important to our country and its 10,000 meter event was a historical event. That is not because of our winning of gold medals, but because of the quality of sportsmanship that was preserved there. It was done by one of our own men. That is R. J. K. M. Karunananda. In that event, the one who finished first took the gold medal after five laps. All athletes gave up after gold, silver and bronze medals. Karunanada did not pause because he had sportsmanship all over him. He finished the event. The whole stadium gave him a standing ovation, which even the gold medalist, did not receive. That was in recognition of his courage and sportsmanship.
This example he set that day was included even in the text books of Japanese schools. I believe that determination and unshaken courage serves a jewel to a soldier as well.
It is these qualities that we have developed so far made us to be a world-renowned Army. Our Army never evaded challenges, never ignored responsibility. Instead, it always displayed the qualities of team work, planning and expertise.
A sportsman can never run away from team work. He maybe participating in an individual event, but the sportsmanship within him develops with the team spirit. No sportsman can be complacent about his victory alone. No good sportsman will individually enjoy a victory of a team work. The victory will never be used for any personal gains or prerequisites. That is a disgrace to the team effort. Division of interests is a betrayal to the team.
We should remember that this is not only applicable to sports. We should also understand the truth behind the great sacrifices, made by the Army for the sake of the country.
As a team which has won so many challenges, the pride we achieved could not be second to none at any place. We are now in the process of proving that while being on the road to make the country the Miracle of Asia. Public attention is always drawn towards the Army whenever the country meets with challenges. That is an honour to us. It is because of this dependability that we hold a great responsibility in the event of floods, landslides, droughts, national disasters, etc. I believe we should accept this truth with delight and courage.
You are going to get another golden opportunity soon. That is the common wealth Games in the year 2018. You should get ready to glitter the Army with Golds and Silvers. All the support needed for that achievement will be given to you by the Army. You will be able to show your talents at the Regimental level in the future. Award of colours will continue annually and your achievements will continue to be recognized. That is because of the confidence I have in you for the task of bringing credit to the country through sports. The medal you wear around your neck is not only made of gold, silver or bronze but also with tenets of your patriotism, respect to the country and the Army in general. These medals will highlight the victories we achieve for our country. Not only that, your sacrifices, efforts and perseverance are the energies that work behind these medals. As the Commander of the Army, I’m ready to improve and take you forward to national and international levels.
Today, Army Colours are awarded after thirteen years. I know you all must be very happy about this. This encouragement is given to you to uphold the greatness we achieved. I request you to come forward in sports and bring credit to the Army and to the whole nation. I wish you all get the courage and the strength needed for that.”
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