Veteran sportsman Anandarajah dies

[TamilNet, Friday, 19 September 2003, 00:35 GMT]
Mr.J.S.N.Anandarajah, senior co-ordinator for the promotion of football under the Youth Development Programme in the North East province, passed away Monday night at a private nursing home in Colombo after a brief illness. His funeral was held Thursday at Kanatte cemetery in Colombo, attended by a large crowd, sources said.

"The death of Mr.Anandarajah is an irreparable loss to the development of football in the Tamil homeland of Northeast province," said the Thamileelam Sports Development Board (TSDB) in a condolence message.

The TSDB further said Mr.Anandarajah worked for the development of football in the Tamil homeland with dedication at a time when transport of materials needed for the development of the sports were banned.

Mr.Anandarajah held the posts of General Manager of the FIFA Goal development Office in Colombo, Vice Chairman of the National Olympic Committee and Senior Vice President of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka at the time of his death.

After the ceasefire agreement came into operation, FFSL appointed Mr.Anandarajah as the senior co-ordinator for the promotion of football in the northeast province.

Mr.Anandarajah, born on 19th January 1944, served the cause of football for 35 long years since 1968.