26th Mahaweli Games begin today

Mahaweli Systems Corr

The 26th Mahaweli Games will begin in Embilipitiya of the Walava Mahaweli Zone, in the Ratnapura District at 8.40 am today with a charming ceremony presided over by Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva. Over 400 sportsmen and sportswomen from the 'Mahaweli' Development Zones of the Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Matale, Ratnapura, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Badulla, Ampara and Trincomalee districts are awaiting the occasion. And a warm welcome awaits them and others participating in this festival. The grand finale of this year's version of the 'Mahaweli' games- which is a spectacular event on the sports calendar of the country will be at dusk on 16 September, 2012. The ceremony organized to mark the end of the 'Mahaweli' games 2012 will begin at 2.40 pm tomorrow with the participation of speaker Chamal Rajapaksa as the chief guest.

Irrigation and Water Resources Management Deputy Minister W B Ekanayaka will be with Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva at the opening ceremony. Meanwhile, parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa too will be among the guests at the ceremony on the following day.

The first Mahaweli games were organized in 1986 the venue for which being Galneva of the Mahaweli Zone H (the area around Galneva, Bulneva, Meegaleva, Thambuththegama and Nochchiyagama, off Kurunegala and Anuradhapura). Late Gamini Dissanayaka who was the then minister for the 'Mahaweli' Development programme was instrumental in introducing the 'Mahaweli' games to the national calendar of sporting.

At dusk on each day there will be a variety entertainments presented by the cultural troupe of the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka.