Dilhan Jayawardena at the helm of National Motor Sports (SLAS)

Executive Committee of SLAS 2017/2018 (front row from left): Upulwan Serasinghe, Kalinga Samaraweera, Rizmin Razik, Dilhan Jayawardena, Rizvi Farook, Suranjith Premadasa, Namaz  Fowzie and T.M.P. Kumarihamy. Middle row from left: T.G.N. Gamini, Andrew Silva, Shehan de Tissera, Jayantha Fernando, Dilshan Dodanwela, Ryan Gray, Ryan Todd, Jaliya Jayasekera, David Todd, Ashshar Hameem, Gamini Kavikara and Ajith Hemachandra. Back row from left: Pubudu Wickrema, Malaka Herath and Anil Jayakody

Text and picture by P.D De Silva

Dilhan Jayawardena was elected President of the Sri Lanka Automobile Sports (SLAS), the national controlling body for automobile sports in Sri Lanka, uncontested for the 2017/18 period at the body’s Annual General Meeting held recently.

Jayawardena, who is presently the General Manager/Chief Operating Officer of Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company, formerly served as an officer of the Sri Lanka Army. He has made a significant contribution to motor sports, being in the organising committee which made the Foxhill Supercross a reality in 1993 and was also instrumental in making the Gajaba Supercross, Gunners Supercross, Sigiriya Rally Cross and Cavelary Supercross realities as well. He has served as a committee member, Secretary and President of SLARDAR and is an inaugural member of the Sri Lanka Auto Sports Drivers Association.

In his address as the new SLAS President Jayawardena said: “As the governing body, it is our responsibility to develop the sport by having simple and achievable short- and long-term plans. It is important that we provide opportunity and attract more youngsters to enter the sport as well as provide the opportunity for the present drivers and riders to develop, train and up-skill themselves. It’s also important that we help provide our drivers with international exposure. We should attract foreign competitors to take part at local events which would help our own competitors to develop.”

The new office bearers of Sri Lanka Automobile Sports are President Dilhan Jayawardena, Secretary Rizvi Farouk, Treasurer Rizmin Razik, Vice Presidents Suranjith Premadasa and Kalinga Samaraweera, Assistant Secretary Namaz Fowzy, Asstistant Treasurer Upulwan Serasinghe, Council Members Pubudu Wickrama and Gamini Kavikara (SLARDAR), Mahesh Gammampila and Jayantha Fernando (SLADA), Dilshan Dodanwela and David Todd (MRA), Mahen Hurulle and Ryan Todd (CMSC), Ashhar Hameem and Andrew Silva (SMSC), Anil Jayakoddy and Ajith Hemachandra (SLMCC), T.G.N. Gamini and Malaka Herath (NMSC), Ryan Gray (Colombo MSC), Jaliya Jayasekara and Shehan de Tissera (AMRC).