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by Dinesh Weerawansa

A high-level Sports Ministry delegation will leave for Jaffna today to make initial arrangements to host this year's National Sports Festival in the Northern peninsula capital in September.

On an initiative made by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Johnston Fernando, the Sports Ministry has decided to host the National Sports Festival in Jaffna for the first time in its 29-year-old history. Secretary to the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, N.G.Punchihewa will lead the three-member team which would make a two-day study tour of Jaffna District to identify the suitable venues for the country's biggest national sports event.

Director General of Sports, Milton Amarasinghe and Deputy Director of Sports & National athletic coach Dervin Perera are among the other members of the Sports Ministry team, which would make an overnight stay in Jaffana, before returning to Colombo tomorrow night after their feasibility study tour.

With the help of sports officials in Jaffna and the local officials in the District, the Sports Ministry team would finalise venues for the mega event.

The North-East war put a complete halt to the sports activities as well in the conflict-rigged province.

The only occasion which the North East Province hosted the National Sports Festival was in Trincomalee more than two decades ago.

Duraiappa Stadium, Jaffna has been ear-marked as the main venue for the National Sports Festival. The main stadium in Jaffna will host the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the main track and field meet. A total of 3,000 athletes and 1,000 officials from all over the island will travel to Jaffna for the National Sports Festival. The Sports Ministry will make arrangements to host them in Jaffna schools, university and suitable hostels and also their food arrangements for five days.

The 4,000 officials and athletes will be provided transport to and from Jaffna. Of the 20 disciplines included for the XX1Xth National Sports Festival, final rounds of more than 15 sports will be worked off in Jaffna and its urban areas.

Only swimming, gymnastics and hockey would be worked off in Colombo as the officials find it difficult to have immediate infrastructure facilities to conduct the three sports in Jaffna.

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