Seated (L to R) – Natalie Goonewardena (assistant secretary), Nilruk Soysa (treasurer), Air Commodore Ajith Abeysekera (president), Eranga Alwis (secretary), Kushani Daluwatta (vice president). Standing (L to R) Wing Commander Eranda Geeganage (Ex-Co member), Dhammika Wijesundera (Ex-Co member), Kapila Gunasekera (vice president), Basheer Carder (vice president), Suren Kohombange (vice president), Rohantha Peiris (vice president), Brig. Pradeep Gunewardena. Absent: Ex-Co Member -Jehan Goonaratne and Lahiru Hettiarachchi. Sri Lanka Squash held its 38th Annual General Meeting on September 26 at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) with the participation of member clubs
Eranga Alwis, a CFA qualified banker and a former Sri Lankan player, was elected uncontested as the secretary of Sri Lanka Squash (SLS). He will now spearhead the activities of the revamped executive committee under the stewardship of the president, retired Air Force Commodore Ajith Abeysekara.
Alwis was among a large number of new appointees to the Committee, effectively bringing in a new generation of younger office bearers. The newly appointed treasurer, Nilruk Soysa, is a qualified professional in Economics and a former national player, bringing in changes to the important posts of the Committee.
The Committee sees former women’s top seed Kushani Daluwatta coming in as a vice president, and former player Natalie Goonewardena joining as assistant secretary.
The Executive Committee is further strengthened with the inclusion of Army’s squash chairman Brigadier Pradeep Gunawardena as vice president and former rugby selector, national rugby cap and squash player Rohantha Peiris also rejoining as a vice president after a long lapse, providing guidance to the young members of the Committee who are to be groomed to take over the leadership in years to come.
The Committee also sees the current Tournament Committee Chairman Wing Commander Eranda Geeganage spearheading the tournament activities in the executive committee along with veteran player and Investor Basheer Cader as a vice president, along with Masters squash player Captain Kapila Gunasekara of Sri Lankan Airlines joining the executive committee.
The Committee also sees technology entrepreneur Suren Kohombage, who has been working with SLS in organizing activities, joining as a vice president. Player and entrepreneur Dhammika Wijesundra who spearheaded organizing activities in the Committee for the past year putting together coaching assignments for players, International certifications, referee courses with regional support, continues his stint in the Committee.
Commenting on the new appointments, Commodore Ajith Abeysekara said: “With the new Executive Committee, Sri Lanka Squash will continue its efforts in enhancing the squash fraternity in the country by providing a new impetus to the game and making the sport popular and a top competitive sport among the younger generation of Sri Lanka.
“The new diverse and dynamic executive committee hopes to raise the bar of SLS and SLS is drawing a five-year plan for squash with the implementation categorized as short term, medium and long term working along with sponsors for financial backing.”