Brilliant and excellent progress:

Evaluation Committee highly impressed

Bernard PERERA

Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Evaluation Committee Ms Louise Martin addressing a media briefing before their departure said that she was highly impressed with the ongoing plans for the Hambantota 2018 Commonwealth Games.

She said that during their four-day visit had a thorough inspection of the venues and the environment of the proposed Games village. The plans showed a highly purposeful arrangement for the mega event what the country is expecting. It gives a pleasure to visit an area that is developing rapidly with the Games expectations. She also said that bid is forwarded in an excellent and brilliant manner to please each and everyone.

In the same way the Organizing Committee has taken great pains in forwarding a beautiful model to give a clear direction of the Games Village and other areas which come under their purview. All this leads to highly successful preparation for the hosting of the Games. We are also highly impressed with the amount of work that has taken place up to now.

It is our duty only to submit the evaluation report to the Commonwealth Games General Assembly for its consideration. Answering a question she further said that the bid has submitted some time ago and as there is a another contender it has become competition and the final decision will be decided on a vote.

She said internal politics is not considered when analyzing the bid for the Commonwealth Games bid. It is a matter completely out of the question as this is a sporting event. It is not a matter that does not come under our purview, said Ms Martin.

She thanked the Organizing Committee for the excellent support extended during their evaluation tour which lasted four days stay in Sri Lanka.

Commonwealth Games Federation Chief Executive Officer Mike Hooper speaking, said that he was here a few months back and visited the Hambantota and was surprised to see the rapid progress made during these few months. Adding further said the construction work of the Mattala Air Port and the completed Hambantota Harbour gives lot of encouragement for visitors.

These matters a lot for the benefit of the people of the area. As this is a project that is meant to develop the area with many other projects such as tourism and sports. This development work which has already commenced proves the fact Sri Lanka is well ahead of their target to host the Games in 2018. He too paid a glowing tribute to the organizing committee for a job well done up to this stage.

Minister of Sports addressing said that Sri Lanka submitted its Games Bid few months back and they are confident of winning the Bid ahead of Gold Coast, Australia. We are sure to win this Bid as we have already kept to the right timetable and as planned and hope to complete all projects before schedule. He added that under the blessings and guidance from the President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa the country is to benefit immensely in many ways. The development work commenced along with the Games Village has already helped the masses of the area. Their day-to-day life too has seen a rapid growth with the finalizing of the Games Bid for Hambantota.

Governor of the Central Bank and Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Bid Organizing Committee Ajith Nivard Cabraal speaking, said that the Hambantota Games will benefit the country in many aspects. It has the potential to attract tourists while promoting sports in the country.

This Games Bid which was a brainchild of the President Mahinda Rajapaksa and undertaken by the Organizing Committee has already reaped heavy dividends. The enthusiasm shown by the masses of this country for this mega project too is a great achievement for us, said the Governor.

He thanked the Delegation of the Evaluation Committee headed by its Chairperson Ms. Louise Martin for the encouraging words expressed by her during the speech. Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa who was present at the media briefing said that Hambantota was selected for the Games Village as the District caters to many parts in the country as it also had required amount of land space. It is the duty of the government to develop under privileged areas. With this sort of mega events planned properly could be of vital importance for the betterment of the area. With many other development projects in progress in the area the organizers thought it fitting to have Hambantota as the venue for the Commonwealth Games.

This Games arrival to Hambantota will also give the masses an opportunity to give off their best for the area as well as for the country at large.