The Sport Shooting in Sri Lanka lays claims to an illustrious history. Hailing from humble origins driven by a fanatic few, it has grown to the monumental heights of producing prodigies of the trigger such as present Olympic committee chairman Hemasiri Fernando (1982 Asian games) and Sri Lanka Army s Mangala Samarakoon (Southasian games, Asian games, Commonwealth games) .
However the stars that shine from the direction of marksmanship are few compared to that of the major sports in the country such as Cricket, Rugby, etc. It is likely to be repercussion of the faint light shed on the Shooting arena by national media incorporated with the misconceptions surrounding the sport.
It is believed that the dark times of Sri Lanka’s civil conflict proved to be a noose around the neck of sport Shooting as people often developed backward mindsets towards the concept of the sport thus stunting its potential growth and inflicting misconceptions (possession and use of fire arms) that submerged the sport denying it its fair share of the lime-light. As in all sports in Sport shooting too passion is paramount therefore the sport and craft has managed to brace the storm and has not only managed to stay float but also to attract the attention of many promising youths who show much potential with the trigger.
Sport shooting consists of a spectrum of events ranging from Air rifles, Air pistols to live fire arms and live ammunition. All of which are conducted under controlled enclosures supervised by professionals. IMSSU (international metallic silhouette shooting union) events orchestrated through the national rifle association alongside clubs such as Magnum shooting club and the Negombo Shooting club have managed to take the sport in to the midst of the younger generations conducting frequent meets at venues such as the S. Thomas’ college small club grounds to ranges of professional caliber such as the Panagoda indoor shooting range, whilst stirring the potentials of youngster and uncovering prodigies in the process.
Practical shooting is a more physical variant of sport shooting that tends to appeal to the more physically inclined. Practical Shooting was introduced to Sri Lanka in 1979 by Mr. Ravi Jayawardena, who was at that time a leading member of the Western Practical Pistol Team. Since then, under his guidance, the Sri Lanka Police have conducted 11 successive annual Championships up to 1989 for the Armed Forces and Police Personnel.
In 1989, Practical Shooting was brought under the National Rifle Association in order to gain International recognition and also to encourage civilian participation, in keeping with the first principle of IPSC. In the same year Sri Lanka was granted provisional membership of the World Body.
In April 1990, the Sri Lanka National Practical Pistol Team captained by Major Srinath Rajapakse and Coached by Capt. Sarath De Zoysa participated in the Australian National Championships held in Victoria. Major Rajapakse won the Gold Medal, as the best International Shooter, whist Sgt. Sandya Weerakkody and Capt. Janaka Ritigahapola were awarded Silver Medals.
Sport shooting having taken an uphill climb over the years, has managed to grab the attention of a significant body of younger enthusiasts who are ardent in pursuing the sport in to great heights. However the most engaging developments surrounding the sport is the story of 26 year old Thavendran, 34 year old Rajeevan and 24-year-old Suresh. Having been recruited as LLTE carders at tender ages these three soulful individuals who have been deemed exceptionally gifted with the trigger have left behind the chaos of war for clearer skies.
Under the Sri Lanka Shooting Association the trio trained in the game of Shooting, aiming to be national champions. “At the very initial stage when we tested them for their level of talent the three showed skills above the average, for beginners. With a systematic training they have no barriers to excel in sport,” said Lt. Col. Dushan Wijewickrama (Rtd.), Secretary of the National Shooting Sports Federation of Sri Lanka and the national trainer. “These young men came to our training through a special initiative in the rehabilitation program as a result of a special discussion held between the Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Rehabilitation Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera, said Lt. Col. Wijewickrama.
They need to go through a systematic training and we hope to train them in different categories of the sport selected according to their performances”, said Lt. Col. Wijewickrama. According to the trainers, Rajeevan, Thavendran and Suresh have promising shooting skillsm the same skill that was once given to them by a ruthless terrorist organisation to kill another human being; is opening a door for them today to give them a chance to bring glory to Sri Lanka, the island home that they once sought to divide. (an extract from thuppahi.wordpress.com)
Sport shooting has evolved for the years and continues to adapt according to the norms and stereotypes that surround fire arms all together. However it is more than evident that sport shooting has been snow-balling in to the lime-light slowly but steadily, nurtured by young blood and the dedication of the time tested veterans who sailed the sport through storms. Sport shooting continues to grow with the prospect of becoming the next great project to put Sri Lanka on the radar of the international sports arena.
