Competitors from North-East for National School Games

Bernard Perera

The final stage of the National School Games 2009 gets underway at the Sugathadasa Stadium from September 23 and will conclude on September 27. The final stage of the athletic meet is due to commence at 8 a.m. with a colourful pageant and a drill display by the students.

The chief guest on this day will be Education Minister Susil Premajayantha.

This year's meet will be one of the best as many as 2,640 boys and 2,443 girls are expected to compete from 1,084 schools from all parts of the country including North and East, said Director of Education Sports, L. K. Jayaweera addressing a press briefing at Old Bens Sports Club Pavilion on Friday.

The highlight this year is that the participation of 105 schools from Northern Province and 120 schools from Eastern Province. These two provinces will be represented by 548 boys and girls from North and 554 boys and girls from these provinces. This participation increase is mainly due to the peace achieved by the Security Forces, said Jayaweera.

He further added that their participation will provide an opportunity for students of these areas to visit the South to show their talents in various sports. This also could improve the standard of sports and also encourage the younger generation of these areas to take to sports in a competitive manner.

He also said that after a lapse of 12 years the Education Department has taken steps to provide meals for all participants on the instructions of Minister of Education. This will cost around 1.2 million.

The Sports Festival concludes on September 27 with another colourful pageant participated by around 1,600 schoolchildren.

This is due to commence at 2 p.m. and the chief guest on the occasion will be Sports and Public Recreation Minister Gamini Lokuge who will give away the main awards.