Another sporty weekend at Tissa-Kataragama

The men’s and women’s marathon race, race walking and cycling events of the XXXIX National Sports Festival 2013 will be worked off on June 29 and 30 in Tissamaharama and Kataragama with the participation of sports personnel from the nine provinces.

Sports Development Department Director General Ranjani Jayakody (third from left) and Deputy Director of Sports Sajith Jayalal (right) receiving the sponsorship from Nestle Lanka Plc Activation and Sponsorship Manager Sajeewa Wickramasinghe. Sports Ministry media Secretary Harsha Abeykoon looks on (left). Picture by palitha Gunasena

The race walking event for men and women will be held on June 29 commencing at 6.15am starting at the 16th mile post on Raja Mawatha. There will be 10 rounds, each with a distance of 1km to the turn around point to cover a road course of Km 20.

The men’s cycling race will be held on June 29 at 9am starting opposite the Kataragama main bus stand, commencing at 9am. The cyclists will then proceed to Tissamaharama, Debarawewa, Weerawila, Hambanthota, Ambalantota, Nonagama, Barawakumbuka, Sooriyawewa, Mattala, Lunugamwehera, Debrawewa, Tissamahara and finish where they started near the bus stand covering 160.9 kilometres. The women’s cycling event will start on the same day at 3pm at Kataragama bus station. The competitors will proceed along Tissamaharama, Debarawewa, Weerawila junction and turn around at, Pannagamuwa junction and proceed through Tissa finish line at the bus station. The total distance is 55 Km..

On the following day, on June 30, men’s and women’s marathon events will start near the Kataragama bus station at 5.30am The competitors will proceed along Gam Udawa, Tissamaharama, Debarawewa, turn around at the Yakada Palama and return on the same route covering a distance of 42.195 kilometres.The first, second and third placers in all events in both men and women’s categories will receive valuable cash awards.

In addition to that, cash awards will be presented to those who finish from the fourth to tenth positions. Chief Minister of Uva Province Shasheendra Rajapaksa will grace the occasion as the chief guests for the opening ceremony on the 29 and closing ceremony on June 30 at 10am near the Kataragama bus station.