Sri Lanka’s celebrated rhythmic gymnast Anna-Marie Q Ondaatje received the blessings of many underprivileged families going through untold hardships when she lifted them through her charity foundation before marking her return to international competition after a lapse of two years.
The Canadian-born athlete with Sri Lankan roots who won the hearts of the islanders after switching her nationality more than four years ago, is determined to bring glory to the country shrugging off the disappointment of missing out on the Tokyo Olympics.
The first ever gymnast to represent Sri Lanka at the 2017 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships, Anna-Marie also competed at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and Jakarta Asian Games in 2018. As a prelude to the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, Anna-Marie will be competing at the 13th Senior Asian Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in Pattaya, Thailand.
Donation of stationery and dry rations to 60 students and families of Sri Sangaraja Daham School, a communication device to the Abeysingaharama Temple in Maradana, and nutrition funding of two-time Paralympian Amara Indumathi Karunatilaka at a ceremony held yesterday were part of the service.
Jeffrey Bahar Associate Director of A Quint Ondaatje (AQO) Group and Pradeep Fernando of A Quint Ondaatje Holdings made the donations.
Amal Edirisooriya, Director General (DG) of the Department of Sports Development of the Sports Ministry, was the chief guest on the occasion.
“The purpose for me conducting this charity event today is to highlight a milestone. After two years of lockdown from Covid-19, I am leaving my second home Toronto, Canada today to compete at the 13th Senior Asian Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships that will be held on June 23,” she said in a statement thanking Edirisooriya, and National Gymnastic Association officials Kokila Kaluarachi (president) and Kapila Jeewantha (secretary) for their support in making arrangements for her to compete in international competitions.
The headmaster of the Daham School Rev Dhemadusse Medhankara Thera hailed the humanitarian gesture of Anna-Marie as invaluable during difficult times and held her up as an inspiration for children to do sports as well.
Edirisooriya lauded Anna-Marie for putting Sri Lanka on the map in rhythmic gymnastics and for choosing to engage in charity at a location which is in dire need of assistance in tough times. “We assure Anna-Marie of our fullest support in her career especially since she has chosen to represent Sri Lanka despite coming from a country like Canada,” said Edirisooriya.
Apart from the championship in Thailand and Commonwealth Games, Anna-Marie is also targeting the World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria in September in a bid to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. “This will allow me to fulfill my dream of giving back to my mother country, by inspiring the youth, and expanding the sport in Sri Lanka,” stated Anna-Marie who is planning to open a Rhythmic Gymnastics school in Sri Lanka.