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Vavuniya hosts all island netball tournament

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 October 2004, 13:13 GMT]
Inauguration of the all ceylon women's netball championship in Vavuniya was delayed by more than an hour Saturday morning after some local groups objected to hoisting Sri Lanka's national flag and singing its national anthem at the two day sports event, Police said. Ms. Shiranthi Rajapaksha, wife of Sri Lanka's Prime Minister, was the chief guest at the inauguration of the tournament. The function, scheduled to start at 9.30 a.m. began late sans the Sri Lankan national flag and anthem.

Tamils say that Sri Lanka's lion flag is a symbol of Sinhala supremacy. Sinhalese consider the lion as their eponymous ancestor.

The tournament was organised by the Sri Lanka Inter Netball Association. Thirty two teams from all the districts are taking part in the tournament.



Heavy rain greeted the special guests when they were garlanded and were being brought into the sports ground. Events started after the Chief guest lit the ceremonial flame.

Vanni Region Sri Lanka Military Commander, Major General B Kulatunge, Senior Police Commissioner Mahinda Baddewela, Liberation Tigers Vanni District Head of Sports Thamilmaran, Government officials, students and Vavuniya residents attended the event.

Cultural events performed by the Rambaikulam Girls High School and Vavuniya district Government Agent, Ganesh, gave the keynote address.



Although it was announced that 32 teams from 25 districts were to participate in the tournament, only 18 teams turned up for the event. Teams from Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts did not attend.

Notable absentees to the event were Vanni district Parliamentarians.

The tournament was delayed for more than an hour at the start due to a controversy related to the raising of flags and singing of the Sri Lanka national anthem. Visitors to the tournament said that the events started without any flags being raised and without recitation of any national anthems.