The 18th ‘Sri Lanka Army Para Games - 2015’ that assemble more than 450 differently able Army War Heroes to one pitch once a year, together with invited foreign participants was ceremonially opened this morning (16) by the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva as the Chief Guest.
Reflecting the unfailing moral courage and insatiable aptitude for multifarious athletic skills, these differently able Army War Heroes of our times beginning from today would display the cream of their athletic talents until September 18 to claim for supremacy in respective events at Diyagama Mahinda Rajapakse Stadium.
The Chief Guest was warmly welcomed and ushered to the special dais by Major General Jagath Dias, Chairman, Sri Lanka Army Para Sports Committee before the Chief Guest joins opening events. Hoisting of the National Flag, Army Flag and the Para Games Flag and exchange of greetings with competing para athletes signaled the onset of the day’s proceedings followed by a two-minute silence observed in the memory of Fallen War Heroes.
The lighting of the Olympic Torch symbolized traditions and reading of the oath of the players and the oath of judges respectively, set the stage ready for commencement of athletic events.
The Commander also took time off to congratulate the representatives who had come from India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Nepal to show their fellowship with Sri Lankan counterparts and exchanged a couple of thoughts with them.
Lieutenant General Chrishanthe De Silva in his brief address to the inaugural occasion highly appreciated the great efforts of the Army Para Games Committee for organizing this year’s Para Games in an impressive manner. He also congratulated Army Para athletes for making their organization proud and recognized both at local and international levels.
Before today’s finals, those differently able athletes in the two-month long tournament vied for supremacy in their respective Regimental Headquarters premises amid huge enthusiasm and excitement.
In the final segment, these athletes will take part in badminton, cycling, wheelchair marathon, archery, weight-lifting, volleyball, volleyball (sitting), table tennis, cricket, swimming, wheelchair tennis, air rifle shooting and several other athletic games.
An array of senior officers including Deputy Chief of Staff, Major General Mahinda Ambanpola, Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, Major General Channa Goonetilleke, Commander, Army Training Command (ARTRAC), Major General Mano Perera, Director General General Staff, Major General B.A Perera, Brigadier J.R Ampemohotti, Vice President, Army Para Games Committee, Brigadier Rajeev Wickremasinghe, Chairman, Army Para Athletic Committee, Lieutenant Colonel Deepal Herath, Secretary, Army Para Games Committee, several officers and other ranks were present to witness the inaugural day events.
The tournament covers fourteen track and field events and reaches to a climax with athletic and relay events, taking the centre-stage.
In 2012 Sri Lanka Army para athletes brought fame and honour to the country by the Warrant Officer II, U.P.P Pradeep Sanjaya of Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment who recorded an Asian achievement by finishing 400m in 49.28 seconds to carry away the first Paralympic Medal and similarly, in the year 2013 Sri Lanka won a Bronze Medal in Leon, France. In addition, Sergeant Y.P.A.P Jayalath of Commando Regiment secured a Gold and a Silver in the 2014 Paralympics.
Previously known as the ‘Army Disable Sports Meet’, it saw its birth in the year 1991, but was renamed and re-designed in 2010, to be called the ‘Sri Lanka Army Para Games’ particularly with the increased numbers of affected soldiers during fierce battles.
Similarly, several Army Para athletes participating in Asian tournaments succeeded in securing many medals to the Army. In addition, Sri Lanka Army sportsmen are expected to participate in Para Olympics Games in South Korea.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
