National Sports Festival in Beliatta

by Leslie Fernando

SPORTS FESTIVAL: The 33rd National Sports Festival conducted by the Ministry of Sports will be held at the Hambantota District-Beliatta Rajapakse grounds from September 27 to 30. This was decided by Sports Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga.

The National Sports Festival has been also held in the Southern Province-Matara and Galle Districts on earlier occasions.

Deputy Director of Sports Development Derwin Perera said that as the festival is now fixed to be held at Beliatta Rajapakse grounds, the development work of the grounds there will be expedited.

In the Hambantota District a national level ground or stadium is not available but with the re-development work to begin, the Beliatta, Rajapakse ground will be a national level stadium in the future.

The Sports Ministry has decided that swimming, gymnastics, table tennis and boxing disciplines of the National Sports Festival will worked off in Colombo due to non-availability of venues for these events at Beliatta, Rajapakse grounds.