By Dhammika Ratnaweera
The 44th National Sports Festival organised by the Sports Ministry and Sports Development Department will be underway from 11th October to 14 th October at the district grounds in Polonnaruwa. The organizers have made every arrangement possible to make the event success but are praying that the weather god will aid for a calm event after most parts of the North Central Province is already affected by heavy rain.
There are 1543 athletes representing all nine provinces and 443 officials will conduct this year’s sports festival, which is expected to be high competition with all leading athletes are scheduled to take part.
After the Asian Games held in Jakarta, all national athletes would be in action on the grass track in Polonnaruwa grounds. Already most of the team events have been concluded and team events like boxing will be held at Polonnaruwa with athletic events.
Sports Minister Faizer Mustafa will mark his first national sports festival as the President Maithreepala Sirisena will be the Chief Guestfor the opening ceremony which will be commenced from 2.30pm on 11th October at his own electorate Polonnaruwa.
Sports Minister Mustafa said that although Sri Lanka had an unsuccessful Asian Games, it is time that his ministry should assist to rebuild a strong national pool of athletes for future international events. “National Sports Festival will help as a turning point for the national athletes where we will be closely monitoring their performances,” said the minister.
Two Polonnaruwa former athletes Kasun Kalhara Seneviratna the 400×4 realy bronze medal winner of the 2013 Asian athletic championships and A.G.L.Priyangika the member of the 2001 Asian Champion Netball team will take part at the Olympic touch barriers on the opening ceremony.
The closing ceremony will be held from 2.30 pm onwards on the final day of 14th October and Prime Minister Ranil Wickramsinghe is expected to present as the Chief Guest.
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