Baseball gets its own ground
View(s):Sri Lanka’s inaugural Baseball Complex will be declared open at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Sports Complex in Ditagama, Homagama today. This international standard baseball facility according to insiders has been constructed in accordance to the specifications of the IBF (International Baseball Federation).
According to Dinesh Perera, the media coordinator for the Sri Lanka Amateur Baseball/Softball Association (SLABSA), told the Sunday Times that the complex meets international standards, with many events local and international lined up for the future.
“This was initially a project of the Government of Japan under its Grant Assistance Project. They allocated an amount for this purpose; that was before approaching the SLABSA for technical assistance. Then our national coach Mr. Yasuma Watanabe, who has wealth of experience on this subject came out with a comprehensive plan, with the approval of the IBF,” Perera said.
However the approved project, after it was initiated by the Japanese Embassy, ran far beyond the projected budget than it was estimated. Apart from the Japanese Grant Assistance which amounted US $ 111,607, the project needed a bigger grant. At this point JICA, the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, assisted with a donation of US $ 136,400 taking the total sum to an approximate figure of Sri Lankan rupees 2.5 million. In addition the SLABSA too had to appeal for support from its counterparts in Japan spearheaded by coach Watanabe and this resulted in raising an amount closer to rupees nine million.
“After the IBF approved project was given the green light by the local authorities, we faced trouble in raising funds. But our friends in Japan were generous to help us. Mr. Watanabe played a key role in this aspect,” Perera added.
The ground was completed within a year with the intention of further boosting Sri Lanka’s expectations of hosting the SAARC Baseball Tournament in 2013. In addition the ground will support local baseball players and the annual event calendar of SLABSA who holds its competitions at the University ground in Colombo.
The project was implemented by the Mahinda Rajapaksa Sports Development Foundation who will continue to maintain the facility. Japan has earlier supported the SLABSA with coaching experts and playing gears. -NA
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