Over than 1,500 competitors for marathon

M A Phakurdheen Addalaichenai group corr.

More than 1,500 competitors representing all three communities from all parts of the Divisional Secretariats of Ampara District will participate in the first ever Nestle Marathon scheduled to be held at Akkaraipattu on September 25 at 7.00 am.

Nestle Lanka Ltd who successfully conducted the Marathon Race in Jaffna after 30 years old war with the mass participation of 7500 competitors has now made all arrangements with the support of the Police, Department of Education and Akkaraipattu Pradeshiya Sabha under the supervision of the Sri Lanka Athletic Association to conduct this competition in a grander manner.

All leading schools in the District have so far expressed their willingness to send their talented students for the competition while a large number of competitors from various parts of the District too entered in the frame up to now according to the Manager - Activations and Sponsorship - Nestle Lanka Sajeewa Wickramasinghe.

The race will commence from Akkaraipattu Clock Tower Square and go through Addalaichenai, Palamunai and turn around Oluvil Junction and wind up at the starting point.

A team of Local Medical personnel will examine the participants to ensure their participation.

At a Press briefing at Ampara Monty Rest on Monday presided over by Sajeewa Wickramasighe, Senior Superintendent of Police Premalal Ranagala Nestle Lanka's Sales Manager Janaka Weerasinghe, S M Jesmin from the Department of Education were present to brief media personnel about the program.

Answering various questions raised by the local journalists Sajeewa Wickramaisnghe said a sum of Rs 15,000,000 along with the gold medals will be awarded to winners from the public while Rs 10,000 will be awarded to the winner from the School competitors.

He also said the competitors who obtain the second and third place from the public would be awarded Rs 10,000 and Rs 7,500.