10 Questions – Sri Lanka

  1. When was your Federation founded?

1972

 

  1. How many chess players are there in your country?

50,000

 

  1. Do you have FIDE titled and rated players?

Yes, 1 IM, 2 WIMs and several

 

  1. Who are your top players?

Mr. Isuru Alahakoon (National Chess Champion) and Miss Dinushki Premanath (National Chess Champion)

 

  1. Tell us about the leader(s) in your National Chess Federation and their vision for chess in your country.

Mr. Luxman Wijesuriya, the one who is driving Sri Lanka Chess.

 

  1. Are there major or proud accomplishments in recent years that we should know about?

We are the current under 16 Asian Youth Chess Champion 2018, Master Sasith Nipun Piyumantha. Current under 15 World School Silver Medalist 2018, Master GMH Thilakarathne, We won the West Asian Youth Chess Championship 2018 with 4 golds in 2016 and with 5 Golds in 2017.

 

  1. What are your major competitions?

Sri Lankan National Championships, there are 10 International Rating Open events per year.

 

  1. Is there chess in schools and how does it work?

Yes. About 2000 schools play Chess in Sri Lanka.

  1. Do you get support from your government and if so, how do they help?

Nothing for the moment.

 

  1. Finally, please tell us about your developmental programs and activities
  2. a) increased number of tournaments per year. there are more than 50 official events including 500 selection events.
  3. b) Increasing the participation in official Asian/ World events
  4. c) Holding Asian/ World events within the country
  5. d) improving trainer (More than 150 trainers were licensed during last 5 years)
  6. e) Creating quality Arbiters
  7. f) A foreign coach is establish as National Coach