National Association for Canoeing and Kayaking in Sri Lanka (NACKSL)
Change OF GUARD IN CANOEING SRI LANKA as Prithiviraj Perera hands over the baton of the National Association for Canoeing and Kayaking, (NACKSL) to Rear Admiral Chinthaka Kumarasinghe of the Sri Lanka Navy.
After 19 years since Canoeing was first introduced as a competitive sport in Sri Lanka, one of its prime initiators and a founding member, Rohan Prithiviraj Perera, a doyen of the sport for competitive Canoeing and Kayaking in Sri Lanka, relinquished his duties and handed over the reigns to Rear Admiral Chinthaka Kumarasinghe of the Sri Lanka Navy, at its AGM held on 30 May 2023 and predicting a bright future for this water sport which is also being practiced in over 171 countries of the world.
"This is a great sport for an island nation like Sri Lanka that has so many waterways, but, it has been a challenging task to promote the sport as volunteers, beginning at "ground zero" amidst competition from many other long established sports that have already been in existence for well over a century, says Perera. At the beginning stages, there is much work and there are not many takers, because the promoters are often out of pocket when working as volunteers. Also, one needs to build up the collections of boats, paddles, life jackets, equipment, coaches and attract interested participants, good sponsors and support from all stakeholders which are most needed, but, not easy to come by ".
Evolution of the Sport of Canoeing and Kayaking in Sri Lanka
The National Association for Canoeing and Kayaking, Sri Lanka (NACKSL) was first incorporated on 29 June 2004 under the Sports Law No 25 of 1973 and its main Founding Members were Mr. Anurudda Bandara, Managing Director, Sri Lanka Eco Tourism (Pvt) Ltd, Late Mr. Chandra De Silva, Managing Director, Ranweli Holiday Resorts (Pvt) Limited and Mr.Prithiviraj Perera (Former Secretary General of Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO).
In addition to the founding members, those who have played important roles include the present Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral UMVP Perera, who joined the Canoeing Association in 2012 and later became its Secretary General until 2019. The other active office bearers of the NACKSL who have rendered yeomen services to the sport include Mr. Sithira Wickremasekara,(Bolgoda Lake Rowing Club), Mr. Supem De Silva (Adventure Seals), Captain WC Wijesiri, (Sri Lanka Navy) and Rear Admiral (Retd) Ajith Samarasinghe.
New Office Bearers
The composition of the new office bearers just elected to office at the AGM held on 31 May 2023 comprise the following:
President:
Rear Admiral ChinthakaKumarasingha - Sri Lanka Navy
Secretary General:
Captain (SBS) Chaminda Wijesiri- Sri Lanka Navy
Treasurer:
Ms. Yu Mei Kumarasinghe- Adventure SEALS
Executive Committee:
Mr. Rohan Prithiviraj Perera -(BLRC)
Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera
Rear Admiral Retd, Ajith Samarasinghe (DWSC)
MR. Sithira Wickramasekara (BLRC)
Col Asanga Perera (SL Army)
Capt. J A K S Jayakody (SL Navy)
Air Vice Marshal Palinda Koswatte, SL Airforce
Mr. Danuna Thillakarathne (Lanka Adventure)
Ms. AroshaJ ayasundera (BLRC)
Air Commodore Asitha Hettiarachchi, (SL Airforce)
Mr. Supem De Silva
About the Sport
Capacity Building:
Sourcing of Boats and Equipment
Through interactions with the international partners, beginning with 6 Canoes and 6 Kayaks being donated by the Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association (IKCA) in 2005, the International Canoeing Federation (ICF) made donations of another 6 Canoes and 6 Kayaks through the Iranian Canoeing Federation in 2011. The Sri Lanka Navy and the Sri Lanka Airforce who joined the membership of NACKSL in 2012, purchased a few boats/paddles for their own use in 2013 and both clubs improved their racing skills immensely. The Adventure Seals also became a member in 2013.
The Sri Lanka Army and the Crown Canoe Club joined the NACKSL membership in 2014. Following the participation of the then Secretary General, Commodore UMVP Perera at the 35th ICF Congress held in Baku, Azerbaijan in November 2016, the Japan Canoe Federation (JCF) announced a generous donation of boats which were supported by the Asian Canoe Congress (ACC). It is to be noted that the President of the JCF who was also, the President of the ACC at the time, Mr.Shoken Narita San was instrumental in ensuring this donation which finally arrived in Sri Lanka in September 2017, comprising 2 K2s, 2 C2s, 2 K4s, 2 Para K1s, 2 Para C1s, all with paddles and 1 Dragon Boat.
This was followed by the attendance of Mr R P Perera, President of the NACKSL for the 37th ICF Congress held in Budapest, Hungary in November 2018 where donations from the ICF were canvassed for 6 Brand New Canoes/Kayaks with Paddles and an agreement between NACKSL, ICF, NELO MAR LDA for the manufacture of 60 boats in Sri Lanka with the Molds and Raw Materials, together with training in the manufacture of the boats to be imparted by two visiting technicians from the world renowned boat manufacturer, NELO MAR LDA of Portugal.
Also pledged were 2 Ten Seater Dragon Boats to be donated by the Chinese Canoe Federation, whilst the SL Navy and the SL Army purchased 1 Ten Seater Dragon Boat each, which was added as one consignment from China. With the donations and acquisitions of Boats and Paddles over the years, stocks of over 50 boats have been built up for practices and competitions. A further stock of 60 boats will soon be available before the end of the year 2023 when the boat manufacturing project undertaken by the Sri Lankan Navy in collaboration with NACKSL in its Welisara Boatyard shall be completed, with the expertise being provided by NELO MAR LDA of Portugal.
This exercise including technology transfer from a world renowned racing canoe kayak manufacturer is expected to greatly enhance the quality of the canoes and kayaks available for competitions in Sri Lanka. These boats so manufactured are to be distributed free amongst the clubs in the various provinces in the country, thus taking the sport countrywide. These initiatives shall be spear headed by the SL Navy and the SL Army as appropriate and as possible, based on their outreaches.
Sponsorships
Training Programs
Many training programs for canoeing and kayaking have been conducted beginning in 2007 in Kitulgala and in Thulhiriya sponsored by Olympic Solidarity (OS) and in Kaduwela and Kinross, Dehiwela sponsored by the Asian Canoe Congress (ACC) in 2008, a 12 day program for a total of 40 trainees in April 2010 by an ICF certified international coach in three different locations, namely, Kitulgala, Bolgoda and Belihuloya, which was funded by Olympic Solidarity (OS), a month’s training program at the "Semmesweils University" in Budapest Hungary in May 2011, also funded by Olympic Solidarity (OS), enabling Sri Lanka to have its first ICF certified coach.
The same coach, Mr. Mihin Amarasinghe also obtained an "International Technical Officers " (ITO) qualification in a qualifying program held in Myanmar in December 2013. In August 2014, a month’s long training program by an International ICF Coach was held at the Bolgoda Lake Rowing Club (BLRC) for 80 participants including from the Defense Services, Six Schools and Clubs. Some participants qualified as Level 1 coaches during this program and 20 participants were trained to become National Technical Officers. (NTOs). On 25 April 2015, a day’s training program was conducted for participants from 5 schools, whilst another similar program was conducted in May 2015 at the Boardwalk in Diyawanna Oya complex involving four schools. In July 2017, Mr. Sampath from the SL Navy underwent a C1 training program in Japan and Mr. Visulmina Samanga attended an under 23 training camp in Plodiv, Bulgaria on canoe sprints from 16-25 July 2018.
International and National Technical Officers (ITOs and NTOs)
Mr. Danuna Thillekeratne from Lanka Adventure Club participated in an International Technical Officers Course held in Shanghai from 13-18 October 2017 and qualified as an International Technical Officer. (ITO). Commodore UMVP Perera (SL Navy) and Mr. Supem De Silva (Adventure Seals) also participated in a Dragon Boat ITO course in Dali, China from 4-8 July 2018 and are currently, the only Dragon Boat ITOs in Sri Lanka. As of date, Sri Lanka has four International Technical Officers (ITO) who could be inducted to act as ITOs at international competitions. On 3-4 March 2019, twenty five (25) participants attended a National Technical Offices (NTOS) course and were awarded certificates at the completion of the course. They comprised 12 from SL Army, 5 from the SL Navy, 6 from the SL Airforce and 2 from clubs. As of date, there are 45 qualified National Technical Officers (NTOs) for the sport of canoeing and kayaking in Sri Lanka.
Dragon Boating
A months training program for Dragon Boating was carried out from 18 April to 18 May 2019 at the Diyawannaoya by a Level 1 coach generously sponsored by the Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association (IKCA) and a total of 80 participants took part, comprising trainees from the SL Army, Navy, Air force and the Special Task Force (STF), as also, a team from the Esquel Sri Lanka Limited.
The foreign coach did not abandon the training program despite the security concerns prevailing at the time caused by the unfortunate Easter Sunday bombings that took place on 21 April 2019. During the first quarter of the year 2022, the present Admiral of the Fleet and Commander of the SL Navy who was its Northern Commander of the time, had carried out training programs for coaches, including for six schools in the Jaffna Peninsula and a competition was held amongst the 6 schools successfully along with a learn to swim and a life saving program, prelude to a Dragon Boat Training and capacity building held in Jaffna during the said period.
Dragon Boating is a sport that originated in China over 2,000 years ago as a part of celebrations in paddy harvesting festivals and has today spread to over 90 countries for leisure and competitions and is one of the fastest growing water sports in the world. It is popular from Canada and America to countries all over Europe, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Oceania.
Ocean or Sea Kayaking
Originally, Surf ski races only took place as an event at lifesaving competitions. It has now become popular all over the world and sea touring kayaking for recreation is being practiced by nearly 2.6 million enthusiasts across the world according to the Outdoor Industry Association.
From 2017 to 2019, a Sri Lankan, Mr. Chathura Wishwanath based in Singapore has attained the following achievements, viz; Ist place in the Singapore 18 KM Canoe Marathon, Ist place in the Singapore Ocean Racing Sereis, 2nd place in Singapore 6.5 km Ocean Cup and the 5th fastest Asian timing at the 2019 Canoe Racing World Cup championships held in France.
The present Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Admiral of the Fleet, Commander UMVP Perera has the distinction of being the first Sri Lankan to have circumnavigated the island nation on a Kayak boat.
Participation at International Competitions
The first ever international participation was by Mr. Levante Gannoruwa, a Sri Lankan/Hungarian dual citizen who took part in the Canoe World Championship held in Duisburg, Germany from 03-13 August 2007 with the ICF funding his participation. In 2013, a National Kayak team participated in the 15th Asian Canoe Sprint Championships in Samarqand, Uzbekistan in September 2013.
The Lankan Paddlers qualified up to the semifinals stage in the 200 M, 1,000 M and 5,000 M K1 competitions. The year 2018 was a very active year for the canoeing sport. Ms. Kavindi Ranatunge from St Bridgets received a scholarship from the Olympic Solidarity (OS) program of the IOC to participate in the "Youth Olympic Games Qualifier" for canoe sports from 12-15 April 2018 as also, a short training program in Barcelona Spain, following an years training program in Sri Lanka. Although Kavindi was not able to qualify, she was a lot younger and relatively inexperienced compared to the top level athletes present at the global event.
Mr. SV Sumanga and Mr. MKS Deshapriya of the SL Army took part in the Under 23 Asian Championships in Samarqand, Uzbekistan, but, did not perform well, being eliminated at the heats stage. More committed training and participation in competitions are needed to bring up the levels of participation at the international levels.
Memberships
The present membership comprises the Defense Services, namely, the Sri Lanka Army, Navy and the Air Force, the STF, clubs including Adventure Seals, Bolgoda Lake Rowing Club, Lanka Adventure, Diyawanna Water Sports, schools involving Royal, Wesley, St Bridgets, St Josephs, British School, Gateway College, Prince of Wales, St Sebastians and Ananda College. More schools need to be encouraged to join, particularly from the out stations and this can now become a reality with more boats being distributed free of charge to the provinces.
Need for a suitable Training Centre for the National Canoeing and Kayaking Association, the apex body for canoeing in Sri Lanka This is a pressing need for the sport of canoeing and Kayaking in Sri Lanka. A suitable plot was identified at the Diyawannaoya Complex which was originally proposed by the Ministry of Sports under an agreement with the Urban Development Authority (UDA). However, the UDA is now quoting exorbitant prices for plots of land in low lying areas which cannot carry permanent structures and is only suitable for temporary buildings such as boat houses to service water sports activities.
It is hoped that saner counsel shall prevail with the UDA to enable contribution to water sports development in the country, which are being promoted by non-remunerated volunteers involved in "not for profit" ventures. Asking for commercial prices for areas deemed environmentally sensitive and expected to be used only for eco friendly nonpolluting, noise free activities, is not in keeping with logic.
"It has been a challenging journey in bringing up a relatively new Olympic Sport from ground zero as volunteers. What has been achieved to date is due to the team work, dedication and commitment of the individuals mentioned in the foregoing, as also, the Sri Lanka Navy, who have contributed a great deal to bringing the Sport of Canoeing and Kayaking to where it is today.
There is still a lot more to be done, especially by way of attracting benevolent sponsors, enhanced and committed coaching, training programs and competitions involving the larger cross sections of the population, especially the youngsters in schools who have to be caught and taught at a young age, in order to shine at competitions at the international levels. But, i am confident that the new team together with the support of all stakeholders and partners, particularly the Sri Lanka Navy, will be able to take the sport to the next levels," concludes Perera, as he hands over the reigns to a new team after nearly over 19 years at the helm !