To build a healthy Nation through sports is very vital said Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena who was the chief guest at the 47th National Sports Games opening ceremony held yesterday at the Sugathadasa Stadium.
We are very proud about these athletes who are going to take part in the National Sports Games as they have brought honour to the country by winning medals at National and International level.
Training for the sports through this type of meets always makes a healthy person with coaches and players doing a tremendous job to get up to this level said the Prime Minister.
Athletes and coaches should be lauded for their achievements which have brought honour to the country. Today at the International field these sportsmen and sportswomen are doing a fine job.
From the Divisional Secretary level to District level and Provincial level to National level players achievements are very high which has enabled them to gain success at International level. On behalf of the Government, I express my gratitude to all coaches and athletes for showing their talents said the Prime Minister who also praised Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe and State Minister Rohan Dissanayake for the support extended by them.
From North to South (From Point Pedro to Dondra) we saw athletes at this National Sports Games (from Provincial basis) and I hope they will set up records at this meet and wish them all success said the Prime Minister.
Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe said that the National Sports Games is being held after three years. The Sports Ministry and Sports Development Department made a fine effort to organise this Festival. We are able to give more than 150 trophies and medals at this Sports Festival.
We had achievements at Asian, South Asian and Commonwealth level and I have to give my gratitude to all players and coaches and Sport Body officials. Earlier, 320 million rupees was spent to conduct this National Sports Festival and from this year I have decided to change this to National Sports Games and not Festival. This time we managed to spend only 100 million rupees with good finance management with the support of my Sport Ministry officials and Sports Development Department officials headed by Sports Director General Dr. Shemal Fernando. This is 2022 National Sports Games while the 2023 National Sports Games will be held in December. President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena gave good support. I never take my Ministry salary and donated it to sports fund to uplift sports, he said.
Dhammika Ratnaweera