Sri Lanka Navy leads Championships Tally

5th Defence Services Games:

The Sri Lanka Navy continues to remain at the top of the table at the 5th Defence Services Games being conducted in Colombo, having secured 10 out of 26 Championships completed so far. Sri Lanka Air Force is closely behind with 9 championships and Sri Lanka Army have managed 6 Championships.

The remaining sports cricket and athletics will determine the winners of the coveted “The Commander-in-Chief Challenge Trophy” presented by His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka which is awarded for the first time to the champions of the Defence Services Games. The Defence Service Sports Board functions under the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe who holds the office of the President of the DSSB. He is well supported by the two Vice Presidents, the Acting Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetilake and the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasooriya.

This extravaganza of sports that includes 22 disciplines has produced significant results and achievements as Sri Lanka’s cream of National Level Sportsmen and Sportswomen are enthusiastically vying for individual honours and laurels and to bring glory to their respective Services.

Sri Lanka Navy’s N. C. D. Priyadarshani created history by establishing a new Sri Lanka record in Triple Jump Women with a leap of 13.39 to erase a 9 year old record of set by Anusha Ekneligoda. She has joined the Sri Lanka Navy in 1999 and has been a regular member of the National Team excelling in 100m, Long Jump and Triple Jump throughout. She is expected to be a strong contender for the most outstanding sportsman/ sportswoman of the 5th Defence Services Games.

Commodore Shemal Fernando, the Secretary of the Defence Services Sports Board is the Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 5th Defence Services Games. He is ably supported by 22 Chairmen of Games Committees as well as 19 Chairmen of Working Committees drawn from the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force in conducting the first ever games since liberation of the country from the clutches of terrorism.

The Closing Ceremony of the games is scheduled to be held on 23rd November at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium with Mr. Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka as the Chief Guest.

Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order will also grace the occasion.

The 29 championships are as follows:

Men (21 Championships): Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Cricket, Cycling, Hockey, Judo, Kabbadi, Karate, Rugby Football, Shooting, Soccer, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, Water Polo, Weight Lifting and Wrestling.

Women (8 Championships): Athletics, Badminton, Kabbadi, Karate, Netball, Swimming, Volleyball and Water Polo.