by T. Prem Kumar
Ignatius T. Canagaretnam, retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Senior Vice President of the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation and presently employed as Controller - Administration and Security at Pramuka Bank, Colombo has been re-elected as a Member of the Asian Basketball Confederation Central Board for the third consecutive three year term which will begin in the year 2003.

Canagaretnam was elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) held at the Legend Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Saturday, May 4, 2002.

Brigadier Lawrence Fernando, President, Sri Lanka Basketball Federation (SLBF), Ajith Kuruppu Vice President, SLBF and ASP R.E.C. Ranjan, Treasurer SLBF represented Sri Lanka for this Annual General Meeting.

Canagaretnam was the President of the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation (SLBF) for four years (1994, 1995, 1997 and 1998), while he also severed five years as a Vice President of the SLBF.

Canagaretnam was the first Sri Lankan to be elected to the Central Board (in 1995) and was re-elected for a second term in 1998. He was also awarded the ‘Special Recognition Award’ at the 40th Anniversary celebrations of the Asian Basketball Confederation which was held in Kuala Lumpur in July 2000. This was in recognition of his contribution to basketball in Asia since 1995.

Canagaretnam,, speaking to ‘The Island’, said that he had served the game of basketball with dedication over the past decade, and that he will be looking forward to give his fullest support in the years to come.

He also played a key role in organising the Goodwill Program and the Senior National Basketball Championships for Men and Women which was conducted in Jaffna from April 4 to 11. He spent several days in Jaffna to ensure that the event was a success.