Youth Sports Festival from October 27 to 30

YASARATNE GAMAGE

The 23rd National Youth Sports Festival organized by the National Youth Services Council and Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry will be

held from October 27 to 30 at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Sports Complex in Diyagama, Homagama.

The opening ceremony will be held under the patronage of Prime Minister D M Jayaratne as the chief guest commencing at 3pm. Ministers Dullas

Alahapperuma and Bandula Gunawardena will be the guests of honour. The three days will be off field events while other games, have already being worked off.

W G L Fernando of Puttalam district won the men’s marathon ( 2.38 :42 ) and, W M P R N Nadeeshani who is also from Puttalam won the women’s title when she finished the run in 1.26:48 at Homagama recently.

Fernando’s team-mate C M S P Chandrasekara came second and G A R W Kumara of Galle district was in hot pursuit to finish third in the men’s event.

The second and third places in women’s marathon went to L H Shaymaliee Anusha of Badulla district and V Krishanthi of Nuwara Eliya respectively who finished the race in a minute’s time space.

There will be over 2,000 participants from every district in the island including those from North and East for those sport has been a dream a few years ago.

The opening ceremony will include a drill display from 1,900 youths and school music bands, Police and Army bands will also add colour to the event.

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage will be the chief guest at the closing ceremony on October 30 and Deputy Minister Duminda Dissanayaka and Hambantota District Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa have been invited as guests of honours.

Deshika and Kumari win cycle race

M.P. Deshika Rajapakse of Colombo district won the men’s cycle race by finishing the event in 2.59:40 hours while women cyclist from Ampara G.G. Kumari Bandara ( 1.16:55 hours ) sprinted first to grab the women’s title at Wilfred Senanayake Ground, Homagama on Saturday.

The men’s race a distance of Km 120 started at Wilfred Senanayake Ground and finished at the same place where K I Pradeep Wijewickrama and L Pradeep Priyankara of Gampaha district came second and third respectively. C.S.K. Wickramage from Hambantota won the second place in the women’s category while K.A.I. Nanayakkara of Kalutara District secured the third place.