NSA Cships start today

Chinthana Wasala

ATHLETICS: The most popular athletics event in Sri Lankan schools sports calendar, the National Schools Athletics Championships will start today at the Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo.

The festival is organised by the Ministry of Education for the 12th time and is held once in two years.

There will be 3,793 athletes (1,955 boys and 1,838 girls) taking part in this athletics extravaganza representing all the provinces including the North East.

W. D. J. Senevirathne, Minister of Power and Energy will be the chief guest at the opening ceremony today and Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayake will grace the closing ceremony. Both Deputy Ministers will be present on both occasions.

The 1st round team events of the championship were held on September 9, 10 and 11 while the second round took place on 16, 17 and 18. The winners will receive certificates and medals prior to the main festival on September 29 and 30 at the Sugathadasa Stadium.

The coaches of the winning teams and the Principals of the schools will be given special certificates at the same time. The mini marathon at the athletic festival starts from Sugathadasa Stadium and will continue to Welisara and head back to the stadium on October 1 at 7.00 a.m. 262 boys and 139 girls are taking part in this 21.098 km marathon.