SCHOOL students in the Northern Province after a lapse of fifteen years were blessed with an opportunity to show their sports skills in the Inter School Sports Meet in the Northern Province organized recently under the “Uthuru Wasanthaya” programme.
This was the first sports event that gathered hundreds of school boys and girls of all five districts in the Northern Province into one playground after the Security Forces liberated Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Mullaittivu and Vavuniya districts entirely from the LTTE that terrorized the civilian life nearly for three decades.
Over five hundred students from different schools in those districts and sixty children continuing their studies at schools in welfare centres for IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) participated in a number of track and field events for three days commencing from 18th September at the Durai Appa ground in Jaffna.
The opening ceremony was attended by Minister Douglas Devananda as Chief Guest, Governor of the Northern Province Major General (Retd) G.A. Chandrasiri, Jaffna District Secretary Mr. K. Ganesh, Senior officials of the Education Ministry and other government institutions in the north as invited guests and a large number of teachers and parents.
The sports meet included track and field events such as 100 m. 200 m, 400 m, 1500 m, 5000 m, 10000 m, marathon, high jump, long jump, put shot, discuss and javelin throw. In addition, team games such as volleyball, basketball, football, cricket, badminton and Kabadi were also included in the schedule.
The award ceremony was held on 20th instant with participation of the same distinguished guests. Band displays, cultural displays, gymnastic displays and drill displays added colour to the award ceremony.
The Jaffna district won the Championship with 151 points. Vavuniya district with 113 points and Mannar district with 93 points secured the second and the third places respectively.
S. Soban and M. Moshanthi from Jaffna were selected the best male and female athletes in running events. K. Rajim Raj from Vavuniya and T. Anushika from Jaffna were awarded as the best male and female athletes in field events.
Awards and certificates were given away by the Chief Guest Minister Douglas Devenanda, Northern Governor, Jaffna District Secretary and other invited guests.
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