Golf is a sport that should be played with a calm mind and self-discipline, the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudharshana Pathirana said in an interview with Daily News recently regarding the eighth edition of Commanders’ Cup Golf Tournament which will be worked off today at Eagles Links golf course in Trincomalee.
“I started playing golf after joining the Air Force and I am grateful to former Commanders of the Air Force and their senior officers at that time who helped me to become a good golfer”.
“We have organized the ‘Commanders Cup Golf Tournament’ for the 8th occasion at the picturesque China Bay Eagles Links golf course, close to the harbour city of Trincomalee, with the aim of giving young and old officers of all ranks in the Armed Forces an opportunity to showcase their talent. Our Eagles’ Golf Link is an international standard course and has hosted several international tournaments. There are four main golf playing clubs in Sri Lanka and golfers from these four clubs too get an opportunity to play on our course and to compete with foreign players”.
“We have taken various steps to promote golf in the country joining hands with the Sri Lanka Golf. We have been instrumental in introducing golf to Northern and Eastern provinces and will always willing to give priority to them in order to popularize the game in that part of the country.”
“We provide our course to local players and especially to school students who took up to golf recently. This golf course has become a training centre to North and East golfers and we also provide them with golf gear and even financial assistance to talented needy golfers”.
“I have planned to conduct more and more international competitions at this golf course in the future and steps will be taken to attract foreign players and foreign spectators to the country, helping boost sports tourism in the country”.
“We also intend to introduce Commander’s Cup Rugby Tournament in near future and it will add to our annual sports calendar. The tournament is planned to be held with the participation of eight rugby clubs of the first division.”
“Participating teams will have to undergo two-week quarantine period in accordance with Covid-19 rules and regulations. We have planned to hold the tournament in early March parallel to 70th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Air Force. As all the activities have been arranged, I am ready to submit the proposal to the Minister of Sports, Namal Rajapaksa in near future for approval.
The “Guvan Hamuda Papedi Savariya” - Air Force Cycle Race, which is known to be the top annual cycling event of the country will also be conducted this year.
“Guvan Hamuda Papedi Savariya” attracts almost all the top riders in the country and has a great legacy behind it”.
“We are making every effort to conduct the race in March to coincide with 70th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Air Force,” Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana further said.
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