ALL ISLAND 7 A SIDE NORTH –SOUTH PEACE SOCCER CARNIVAL

FOR THE SAM CHANDRASINGHE CHALLENGE TROPHY -2009

Sports provide a strong medium to foster goodwill, understanding, mutual respect among the
various communities and a desire to prevail in the midst of challenges It is for this reason the
Peace Secretariat embarked on the initiative of Peace through Sports, organizing sports events
where youths, both male and female, representing all parts of the country, can take part and
interact with each other.

This initiative has made a significant contribution to the peace building efforts of the
government by enabling youths from the north and the east, who endured brutal terrorism
over a period of thirty years, visit other parts of the country and meet their counterparts. It was
a boon to the war weary youngsters who yearned to see an end to terrorism and the dawn of
peace in their respective areas. During their visits, they were warmed received by Provincial
Chief Ministers, the students and others as well as ordinary people without any difference.

In this spirit, SCOPP coordinated the North South Peace Soccer Carnival
organized by Tharunyata Hetak headed by Mr.Namal Rajapakshe (son of
H.E. the President) along with Ananda College Soccer Wing headed by Rear
Admiral Sarath Weerasekera (Head of Civil Defense Force).

50 school teams representing all districts including Jaffna, Trinco, Batticaloa, Vavuniya and
Ampara participated in this All Island 7 a side soccer carnival held on 4th
& 5th
July 2009 at the
Race course grounds in Colombo.

Food and lodgings to the visitors were provided by the organizers. SCOPP made the
arrangements to bring the Jaffna teams by air with the help of the Defense Ministry while the
transportation of other North East teams by road was arranged by the respective Zonal
Directors of Education with the facilitation of SCOPP.

“The aim of this Peace Soccer carnival is to underpin the efforts of the government in
promoting mutual understanding among the various communities, particularly when the
scourge of terrorism has been eliminated from the length and breadth of the country”, said
Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera, the Chief organizer of the event and the Head of Civil
Defense Force when he provided a briefing on this event.

“This is a good opportunity to our boys; I have picked 02 teams who played well in the district
meet. Now they have got a chance to show their abilities in Colombo”, said Mr.Selvaratnam -
the Zonal Director of Education of Jaffna. Nelliady Central and Elalai Sri Murugan Vidyalaya
represented the Jaffna district. They were able to prove the comments of their Zonal Director by
entering the semi final of the tournament. They beat some leading Colombo school teams. Last
year’s champions Zahira beat them in the semis.
It should be noted that the 5th
of July was celebrated by LTTE as the Black tigers day before
eliminating terrorism. Black Tigers staged their first attack on the 5th
of July 1987 at Nelliadi
school premises and the Tigers forced the children to join them. But in 2009 the same day the
Nelliady Boys were able to visit Colombo and play the Soccer Matches enjoying the fruits of
freedom and deliverance from the shackles and torment of terrorism.

Hon. Hisbullah, the Eastern Provincial Minister helped in providing all facilities to the teams
representing the Eastern districts. The Batticaloa teams were accompanied by Mr.Sanjeew-MMC
and manager of the tournament committee in Batticaloa. Batticaloa Amirdakali Vinayagar
M.V.played a spirited game and won the plate cup by beating Colombo Mahanama and
St.Mary’s –Chilaw in the semi finals.

Vavuniya and Kinniya teams also played well, but unfortunately lost their matches in the final
round.
The northern players were taken on shopping spree immediately after the matches. . They were
in a hurry to go to Mannar to participate in the Provincial sports meet. SCOPP made
arrangements with the Navy and the Zonal Directors of North to enable the players to travel to
Mannar by ship

All the teams were provided with valuable gifts including sports goods. North & East teams
were provided additional gift parcels.

The North and East teams were accommodated at the Civil Defense Force camps, with high
security and play ground facilities.

Mr.Sedurajh –Principal of Jaffna Nelliadi said that this was the best tournament he had ever
seen.

Mr.Namal Rajapakse –President Tharunyata Hetak was the chief guest at the ceremony. The
overall sponsor Mr.Sam Chandrasingha along with Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara
distributed awards to the teams.
Lumbini College won the Challenge cup by beating Ananda College. The team includes 06
school team national players.

“It was a memorable moment for us when we played with Lumbini Team. Though we lost our
game we are proud to have played against such a team with national players” said the captain
of Kinniya Central AK Sanoos

The sponsor of the Tournament Mr.Sam Chandrasingha speaking about his future plans said
that he planned to stage provincial level matches next year and to select the best side from the
North and the East to play against a young England side. He noted that there are soccer clubs
willing top sponsor such events.
The interest shown by Mr.Sam Chandrasingha, who is a successful Sinhala businessman in
London, in developing the sporting skills of Tamil youths, could be a modal to the Tamil
Diaspora.

ALL ISLAND 7 A SIDE NORTH –SOUTH PEACE SOCCER CARNIVAL

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