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Sri Lanka Army

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16th November 2017 21:10:16 Hours

Stage Set for ‘Army Para Games 2017’

Some 450 differently able Army War Heroes of our times, rich with unswerving moral courage and insatiable aptitude for multiple athletic skills, are to showcase their talents in the ‘Sri Lanka Army Para Games - 2017’, final tournament, scheduled to be held during November 22-24 at Diyagama Stadium, Homagama.

A Press Conference at the Media Centre, Ministry of Defence on Thursday (16) was told that ‘Sri Lanka Army Para Games - 2017’ is to be attended by several foreign sportsmen.

Major General Dampath Fernando, Chairman, Sri Lanka Army Para Sports Committee announced that this year’s ‘Sri Lanka Army Para Games’, would make a difference with the participation of some foreign sportsmen and retired Army personnel, which he interpreted as a recognition of Army arrangements in this connection.

Selected athletes in the 2-month long tournament vied for supremacy, amid huge enthusiasm and excitement at the Diyagama Stadium and their respected Regimental Headquarters after the events formally commenced earlier in July 2017 with Wheelchair Basket Ball competitions. Later on, events in Badminton, Cycling, Wheelchair Marathon, Archery, Weight-Lifting, Volleyball, Volleyball (sitting), Beach Volleyball, Table Tennis, Cricket, Swimming, Wheelchair Tennis, Air Rifle Shooting and Athletics followed.

Mr Kapila Waidyarathne PC, Secretary Defence, will attend the closing ceremony on Friday (24). The opening ceremony is to be graced by Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Army, the gathering was told.

This mega event will undoubtedly instill a new glimmer of hope among more than 800 differently able War Heroes who have displayed their unbeatable sport skills in the past two months with the intention of receiving accolades in the final tournament, Major General Dampath Fernando added.

The tournament covers 21 track and field events and reaches to a climax with athletic and relay events, taking the centre-stage.

Dialog Axiata PLC has provided the sponsorship for the third consecutive year for the Army Para Games as an encouragement for Para sports.

Previously known as the ‘Army Disable Sports Meet’, saw its birth in the year 1991, but it was renamed in 2010, to be called the ‘Sri Lanka Army Para Games.’

Major General Roshan Senevirathne, Military Spokesman and Director General Media at the Army Headquarters, Brigadier Rajeev Wickramasinghe, Deputy Chairman, Army Para Committee, Colonel Raja Gunasekara, Secretary, Army Para Committee, a few more Officers and Sergeant Dinesh Priyantha, Para Athlete were also associated with the conference on Thursday (16).

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