‘Commander Parakrama Samaraweera Memorial Indoor Sports Complex’ opened in Welisara
Having named after the newly constructed Navy sporting facility as ‘Commander Parakrama Samaraweera Memorial Indoor Sports Complex’, it was declared open under the patronage of Commander of the Navy and President Navy Sports Board, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne and with the attendance of beloved wife of late Commander Parakrama Samaraweera, Mrs. Sudarshani Samaraweera at Welisara Naval Complex today (23rd June 2021).
Construction of the Indoor Sports Complex commenced on 18 March 2020, when the incumbent Commander of the Navy was then Chief of Staff who played a prominent role, aiming to promote sports in the Navy and improve sports-related infrastructure to hone the sporting skills of the Navy athletes. Accordingly, the construction of this indoor sports facility was carried out expeditiously with a view to bestow it for the benefit of Navy sportsmen and women. The sports complex is equipped with all the facilities mandatory for Volleyball, Basketball, Badminton, Netball as well as Karate, Judo, Taekwondo, Wrestling, Wushu and Kabaddi. It also encompasses necessary amenities and has the seating capacity for a large number of spectators at a time.
Late Commander Parakrama Samaraweera made the supreme sacrifice for the motherland on 19th July 1996 in a decisive sea battle against the LTTE off Mullaitivu, as he was commanding the Fast Gun Boat, Sri Lanka Naval Ship “Ranaviru” which was tasked to protect a sea convoy. For his individual act of gallantry and conspicuous bravery in the face of the enemy, the officer was awarded the Weera Wickrama Vibushanaya (WWV). Known to be an ace sportsman in the Navy, in 1989/1990 he captained the Sri Lanka Navy rugby team and made way to bring many victories in rugby. The officer has also won Sri Lanka Navy Colours for rugby, in recognition of incomparable talents he manifested in the rugby field. To memorialize the supreme sacrifice made by late Commander Parakrama Samaraweera for the nation and in recognition of his significant contribution to the progression of Navy sports, this Indoor Sports Complex was named after him as ‘Commander Parakrama Samaraweera Memorial Indoor Sports Complex’and was declared open under the patronage of Commander of the Navy today.
Meanwhile, Commander of the Navy also took time off to heap praise on the naval personnel who laboured their manpower to bring the construction work to an end expeditiously.
The proceedings of the opening ceremony had been arranged adhering to COVID-19 protocols in force due to the pandemic concerns. Chief of Staff of the Navy, Rear Admiral Ruwan Perera, Director General Engineering, Rear Admiral Ravi Ranasinghe, Commandant Volunteer Naval Force and Commander Western Naval Area, Rear Admiral Upul De Silva, Director General Services, Rear Admiral Senaka Senavirathna, Acting Director Sports, Captain RSCR Fonseka, two sons of late Commander Parakrama Samaraweera, Surgeon Lieutenant Commander Samitha Samaraweera and Lieutenant Commander (S) Bathiya Samaraweera and a limited group of naval personnel from the Navy Headquarters and Western Naval Command were present on this significant occasion.
