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Chris Dhambarage reporting from Matara

The cream of the Sri Lankan athletes who participated at the recent Asian Track and Field meet in Colombo will be seen in action when the 28th National Sports Festival organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports starts at the Uyanwatte Stadium in Matara today.

The other most significant feature in this year's festival is that cash awards will be presented to the winners and the runners-up in track and field and team events in addition to the medals. Over five thousand sportsmen and sportswomen will be vying for honours in fifteen disciplines which will be worked off at seven different venues. However the marathon, cycling, swimming, hockey and gymnastic events were worked off earlier.

The opening and closing ceremonies, soccer and the track and field events will be held at the Uyanwatte Stadium, basketball at the Uyanwatte gymnasium, badminton, judo and wrestling at Walpita College of Education playgrounds, carrom at S. Thomas' College, weightlifting at Matara Maha Vidyalaya, kabaddi and netball at the Sanath Jayasuriya playgrounds, cricket and table tennis at Sri Rahula MV and volleyball at the Deundara public playgrounds.

The track and field events which will be the main attraction at the festival will begin on the second day (Wednesday) with Sydney Olympic Games medallist Susanthika Jayasinghe expected to run in the women's 200 metres heats at 5.20 p.m. In addition some of the other top athletes who will be in action on this day are Damayanthi Darsha (women's 400 metres), Rohan Pradeep Kumara, Sugath Tillekeratne (men's 400 metres) and Sriyani Kulawansa (women's 100 metres hurdles).

The opening ceremony will start at 3.00 p.m with the Minister of Power and Energy Karu Jayasuriya as the chief guest. Two promising athletes from Matara Daminda Silva and Swarnamali Edirisinghe have been selected to light the Olympic Torch.

Accommodation for outstation sportsmen will be provided at Sri Rahula MV, S. Thomas' College and Sariputhra MV while accommodation for outstation sportswomen will be provided at Sujatha BMV, S. Thomas' College, St. Mary's College, Mahamaya BMV and St. Servatius College.

Meanwhile the atletes who brought honour and fame to the country at the recent Asian Track and Field meet will be felicitated on the final day of the sports festival. All medal winners at the meet will receive hansome cash awards from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The Minister of Defence Tilak Marapane will grace the occasion as chief guest on the final day.

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