JAT Sri Lanka Open 2016 may be televised: Organisers

by Madushka Balasuriya

Organisers of the 2016 Sri Lanka Open are in discussions with the Rupavahini Corporation over the broadcasting of the business-end of the tournament, it has been revealed.

The JAT Sri Lanka Open 2016 will take place next month at the Royal Colombo Golf Club from 18 - 22 July with at least Rs. 2.5 million worth of prize money up for grabs. 

JAT Holdings has been announced as title sponsors for the 2016 edition of the tournament, with a sponsor cheque for Rs. 2 million handed over to the SLGU at a sponsorship agreement signing ceremony yesterday. UTE - CAT, meanwhile, was once again confirmed as co-sponsors for the tournament, with them pledging Rs. 500,000.

Tournament organisers are however hoping that more sponsors will come on board, and thereby help the sport reach a wider audience.

“We are now in the midst of discussing with Rupavahini’s Channel Eye over the prospect of having live coverage on the last day. And if we get more sponsors supporting us, maybe we can have live coverage on the last two days,” revealed Tournament Director Dian Abeywardene.

“This will mean people around the country who have never seen golf will have the opportunity to see what this game is about and see our Sri Lankan golfers, such as Mithun Perera, shine.”

Mithun, the son of Asian Games Silver medallist and seven-time Sri Lanka Open Champion Nandasena Perera, is currently competing at the Chinese Taipei Open Championship and will be among the favourites for the tournament alongside fellow local professionals such as defending Champion N. Thangarajah and two time SL Open-winner (2013 and 2014) K. Prabagaran. Other local pros such as B. G. Lalith Kumara, Vijitha Bandara and Jehan De Saram will be looking for their first Sri Lanka Open wins.

Mithun missed the 2015 Sri Lanka Open held earlier this year as he was competing in the Asian Tour in Myanmar, but he will be taking a break from the tour this time around along with several of his competitors to compete in the 2016 edition.

With six Indian professionals who competed at the last two Sri Lanka opens also expected to compete, the Sri Lanka Golf Union has called this one of the most ‘open’ championships in recent memory.

Meanwhile in the Amateur and Youngster categories Amrith de Soysa, Kushal Johnpillai, Husni Uwise, Alain Gyi, Prashan Peiris, Sachin De Silva, Avinesh Nareshkumar and Rusi Captain are in line to take part.