Nearly 2,000 athletes for Kandy District meet

S.M. Jiffrey ABDEEN -Kandy Sports Correspondent

Nearly 2,000 junior athletes from 100 schools in the Kandy District will participate at the 5th Kandy District Junior Athletic meet 2011 organized by the Kandy District Athletic Association and sponsored by Ceylon Biscuits Limited, the makers of Munchee Biscuits which will be worked off the Bogambara Stadium, Kandy on November 4 and 5.

This was disclosed by the President of the Kandy District Athletic Association G.G. Tennakoon at a media briefing held at the Shalika Inn, Kandy. Also associated at this press briefing were Nalin Jayasuriya (Group Activation CBL), V.P. Govinnage (Junior Marketing Executive), A.G. Suderis Tharanga (Assistant Propagandist CBL), Lakshan Hapuarachchi (Secretary Kandy District Athletic Association) and P.N. Jayantha Karunatillake (Treasurer Kandy DAA).

Tennakoon said that cost of conducting an athletic meet of this magnitude is rising and they are grateful to Ceylon Biscuits for having come forward to sponsor this meet which is aimed at unearthing hidden talent especially from the rural areas.

This is the second year that Munchee will be sponsoring this event.

V.P. Govinnage Marketing Executive CBL said that the product Munchee is a favourite of the small children and we thought by sponsoring this event for the small, we can help them in a big way.

This meet will identify young talent and will serve as a nursery for the national squad.

Nalin Jayasuriya - Group Activation Manager CBL said that the Ceylon Biscuits Group have helped in the promotion of cricket and volleyball and also has performed social services and also helped in the promotion of arts and culture, thus going into diverse fields.

Our aim is to help the public in sports and recreation and without sponsorships, these fields will suffer.

Thus we are happy to sponsor this junior athletic championship.

Tennakoon speaking again said that the opening ceremony will be graced by Nandana Wickremage of the Ceylon Biscuits Limited.

The Chief Guest at the closing and awards ceremony will be the Chief Minister of the Central Province Sarath Ekanayake.

He said that this will be mainly a Kiddies and Junior meet for children between the ages of 10 to 15. There will be 154 realy teams participating.

In addition there will be events like javelin throw, discus throw, shot, put long jump, high jump, and track and field events for the age groups under 10, under 11, under 12, under 13, 14 and under 15.

He said best performers in each age group boys and girls will be selected.

The defending girls champions are Mahamaya Girls College and in the segment for boys Trinity College won the championship last year. In all there will be 218 events.