National Youth Sports Festival, a success

National Youth Services Council, Sri Lanka Federation of Youth Clubs, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development organized the National Youth Sports Festival which was held at Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Homagama recently.

The sports festival was inaugurated by Prime Minister D M Jayarathna with the participation of Dullas Alahapperuma, minister of Youth Affairs and Skills Development, Bandula Gunawardena, Minister of Education and Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs and Skills Development, Duminda Dissanayake.

More than 2,000 competitors took part representing youth clubs from all the four corners of the island. Five school bands in the area added grace while a beautiful drill display with dance performances consisting of 1,200 youths adding much pomp and pageantry to the ceremony.

This beautiful moment was telecast live over Channel Eye of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and broadcast live over Lakhanda Radio Channel. Team events and Athletic events were held under two groups namely under 20 and over 20 age levels, while men and women tug-of-war was the most recent team event added.

National Youth Sports Festival is improving year by year.

Chairman of the National Youth Services Council Lalith Piyum Perera (Attorney-at-Law), expressed his views of the present and the future development of the National Youth Services Council.

The Council established to cater to the needs of the youth, is open for the young generations of the nation and launches programmes that empower the youth and the development process.

'As the chairman / director general of the National Youth Services Council, the responsibilities are quite immense.

'I am very much aware of the strength of the youth, creativity, new attitudes, trends etc. I was able to make the necessary attitudinal changes in order to make a difference.

'The head office of the National Youth Services Council is located in Maharagama, the environment is transformed in such a way that attracts the youth and makes it a pleasing environment both in interior as well as exterior.

'I am quite happy as I am being constantly guided by ministers Alahapperuma, Bandula Gunawardena and deputy minister Duminda Dissanayake.'