Best sportsman to receive luxury car

36th National Sports Festival at Bogambara Stadium:

Chris DHAMBARAGE

All arrangements have been finalized to conduct the 36th National Sports Festival under international standards from October 30 to November 1 at the Bogambara Stadium in Kandy.

The event is organized by the Ministry of Sports and the Sports Development Authority at a cost of Rs 50 million.

Secretary to the Ministry of Sports S Liyanagama stated that this year’s event will have a great amount of significance with attractive cash awards presented to the winners and the runners up in addition to several other gift packs and souvenirs.

In fact for the first time in the history a luxury car will be presented to the Most Outstanding sportsman at this year’s National Sports Festival while brand new motorbikes and laptop computers will also be presented to different award winners.

In the individual event the winners will receive a cash award of Rs 5,000/-, runner up Rs 3,000/- and the third place Rs 2,000/-. In the team events the winners will receive a cash award of Rs 15,000/-, runners-up Rs 10,000/- and the third place Rs 5,000/-.

Liyanagama noted that the Bogambara Stadium has been renovated and refurbished to international standards with a new pavilion, warm up areas, VIP and VVIP locations established to meet the required demand. He further noted that the entire drainage system has been redone so that the track and field events could be worked off smoothly even under extremely difficult weather conditions.

He believed that the organizers have picked up their setbacks and mistakes following last year’s event held in Polonnaruwa and are determined to put up a better show for the satisfaction of both competitors and the officials.

The renovation work has not been restricted only to the Bogambara Stadium as the organizers have also looked after the other sporting venues in Kandy and have also improved the facilities in 16 schools in the area which will provide accommodation to the participants.

Prime Minister D M Jayaratne will be the chief guest on the opening day and will declare open the 36th National Sports Festival which will be followed by a cultural pageant. The awards ceremony will take place on November 1 under the patronage of Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa.