Kegalle District Masters meet from December 4 to 6

B.W. Eheliyagoda Kegalle Special Correspondent

Kegalle District Masters' Sports Association is making elaborate arrangements from now itself to hold the Masters (veterans) Athletic meet at the Kegalle Public Esplanade on December 4, 5 and 6.

All newspaper correspondents in Kegalle District were also present at this conference.

The sports officials in the district requested all correspondents to give publicity to this Masters' (veterans) Sports Meet.

Sabaragamuwa's Chief Minister Maheepala Herath, the key officers of Kegalle Sports Association, physical training instructors of leading schools in Kegalle, officers from the Kegalle Sports Foundation and officers from Kegalle District Zonal Education offices participated at the press conference regarding the meet held at Shalika Hotel, Kegalle.

The Secretary of the Masters Sports Association brought to the notice of those present the Masters Sports Meet is being conducted in Kegalle for the fifth consecutive time and that over 400 entries have already been received expressing their desire to participate in various selected events by them for the meet.

Entries will be accepted until the end of November as informed by the organisers to our correspondent.

S.N.J. Dias, the President of the Kegalle District Masters Sports Association said that his aim was to organise this event in a grand manner and requested the cooperation of each and everyone interested in sports and athletics to extend their assistance to make this event a grand success.

President of the Masters' Sports Association Dias mentioned that he will be happy to conduct the forthcoming event in Kegalle as an event worthwhile emulating in comparison to such events conducted in Thailand, India, Malaysia etc. and that the forthcoming Kegalle Masters' Sports event shall not be second to those referred international events. The President of Sri Lanka Masters' Sports Association P.H.D. Waidyatilake assured to provide maximum support to the Kegalle District Masters' Sports and Athletic Association.

He mentioned that our masters athletics are going from strength to strength every year and that one of our athletes of the 55-60 age group Ranjith Weerasinghe from SriLankan Airlines won the silver medal in 400 metre hurdles in an international event for the first time bringing honour and fame to Sri Lanka.

Dickman Guruge (KDMAA) Vice President accompanied Sri Lanka Masters' team to an international competition sometime ago and succeeded in winning a silver medal.

The Secretary of the Masters' Sports and Athletic Association mentioned to our correspondent that applications to participate in competitions from various age groups, even upto the age group of 80 years (octagenarians) have been received.