Grand Welcome for FIDE President by Anatoly Karpov Chess Club

Anatoly Karpov Chess Club of the Russian Centre organized a Grand ceremony to welcome Mr. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, President of Fide (World Chess Federation) and his delegation at the Russian Centre Auditorium. By welcoming all Mrs. Suneetha Wijesuriya mentioned that the members of the Anatoly Karpov Chess Club got the opportunity to meet Mr. Kirsan since Venerable Daranagama Kusaladhamma Thera, Chief Incumbent of Sambodhi Viharaya and the President of Buddhist Media Net Work, and the committee including Mr. Prasanna Kulatunge, Consultant of Buddhist Media Net Work and Mr. Mahesha Yahampath, Managing Director of Buddhist Media Net Work and Mr.S. Senaratne, Chairman of Yathra Travels invited to visit Sri Lanka. She thanked all the organizers for giving them the opportunity to welcome Mr. Kirsan, Fide President in a Grand level.

Mr. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, well impressed the video presentation made by Mr. Bandula Withanage, Web Master of www.lankachess.com about the island wide activities organized and conducted by the Anatoly Karpov Chess Club for the last 13 years. Although Anatoly Karpov hasn’t managed to visit this club, at the presidential speech, Mr.Kirsan Ilyuzhinov called him and the famous champion could talk over the speaker phone with the members of the chess club named in his honour.

Mrs. Suneetha Wijesuriya, President of the Anatoly Karpov Chess Club presented a special souvenir to FIDE President at the ceremony. Also Anatoly Karpov Chess Club arranged to give away 15 Achievement Trophies to the members who received the ELO Ratings and the Titles.

Appreciation Tokens also distributed to all the Special Guests who graced the ceremony including Mr. Ayrat Akhmetov, 1st Secretary to the Russian Embassy & the Director of the Russian Centre, Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister of Water Supply Board and the Former Patron of Chess Federation of Sri Lanka, Mr. Prasanna Kulatunge, Consultant, Buddhist Channel Net Work, Mr. Buddhapriya Ramanayake, Chief Executive Officer of the Russian Centre in Colombo, Madam Kshanika Hirimburegama, Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo, Mr. Upali Gunasekara, Preident of CFSL, Mr. Ramal Jasinghe, President of Mercantile Chess Association and Chief Executive Officer of Asian Alliance Insurance and Mr. Sumith Pinnawala, Director of Lanka Chess Foundation and the Chairman of Climax Marketing Services, Mr. Erosh Jayasinghe, International Arbiter, Mr. Shelton Wijesuriya, President of Kolonnawa Chess Academy.