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Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

08th August 2022 16:00:32 Hours

Curtains Come Down on Tripartite Combined SLAVF, Army Para Athletics & Novices' Sports Meets

Finals and colourful awarding ceremony of the tripartite joint Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force (SLAVF) Athletics Championship - 2022, 23rd Inter Regiment Army Para Athletic Championship and the Inter Regiment Novices’ Sports Meet got underway this afternoon (4) at Diyagama Mahinda Rajapaksa stadium where Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, Commander of the Army graced as the Chief Guest.

The year’s combined mega event, competed by hundreds of Army sportsmen/women, disabled War Heroes, novices and athletes representing more than 20 Regiments in the Army continued for more than a week at respective Regimental levels before today’s finals, organized under the close supervision of Major General Sujeewa Senerath Yapa, Commandant Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, Chairman, Army Athletic Committee, Army Para Athletic Committee and Chairman, Sky Diving Committee after absence of few years due to COVID-19 epidemic and other practical reasons.

A total of 775 athletes took part in the SLAVF Athletics Championship - 2022 reflecting true spirits of volunteering and showcased their sporting skills throughout the tournament that kicked off a few weeks ago. All those SLAVF athletes competed as Inter Regiment (men) and Inter Battalion (women) participants in 50 track and field disciplines. Likewise, 230 heroic soldiers with varied disabilities, including almost all of them who sustained disability in the war before May 2009, vied in the 23rd Inter Regiment Army Para Athletic Championship. A total of 597 athletes who are regarded as refreshers tested their athletic skills in the Inter Regiment Novices’ Sports Meet beginning in the final week of July and entered the finals.

Major General Sujeewa Senerath Yapa, together with a representative group of participants from all three championships welcomed the day’s Chief Guest, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, Commander of the Army on arrival and accompanied him to the main pavilion to witness the finals.

The day’s sequence of proceedings got to a start with screening of video clips that related to sports and athletic skills of all respective participants, belonging to all three wings and past achievements before a large group of drummers and dancers representing Udarata, Pahatha Rata and Sabaragamuwa traditions showcased their artistic talents to entertain the gathering.

Next began the conduct of finals in athletic events of all three wings and the subsequent award of medals, certificates and trophies to achievers in the final championship of the tournament.

Major General Channa Weerasuriya, Deputy Chief of Staff gave away medals, certificates and trophies to all runners-up in the Inter Regiment Novices’ Sports Meet (male and female), 23rd Inter Regiment Army Para Athletic Championship and the SLAVF Athletics Championship – 2022.

Major General Jagath Kodithuwakku, Chief of Staff and Chairman, Army Sports Committee was meanwhile invited to present medals, certificates and trophies to the best athlete (men and women) Inter Regiment Novices’ Sports Meet, along with the first runner-up trophies of all three events under the second phase of the awarding ceremony.

The occasion assumed greater significance afterwards as Major General Sujeewa Senarath Yapa, Brigadier Vipula Ihalage, General Officer Commanding, 58 Division and Vice Chairman, Army Para Athletic Committee, Brigadier Raja Gunasekara, Chairman, Army Handball Committee and Brigadier Thusitha Silva, SLAVF Training Inspector accompanied the Army Chief, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage for award of medals, certificates and trophies to the Best Achievers as the final segment. Accordingly, championship trophies in Inter Regiment Novices’ Sports Meet, 23rd Inter Regiment Army Para Athletic Championship and the SLAVF Athletics Championship - 2022 were awarded by the day’s Chief Guest amid roars of applause and cheers.

With the vote of thanks and closing remarks proposed by Brigadier Thusitha Silva, SLAVF Inspector Training, the successful completion of the tripartite championship tournament was proclaimed closed. A brief summary of best achievers in the finals is as follows;

Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force (SLAVF) Athletics Championship - 2022

Championship Trophy:

Men's Category - Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (SLEME)

Women's Category - Sri Lanka Signal Corps (SLSC)

Runner-up:

Men's Category - Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI)

Women's Category - Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps (SLAGSC)

23rd Inter Regiment Army Para Athletic Championship

Championship Trophy:

Men's Category - Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI)

Runner-up:

Men's Category - Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment (VIR)

Inter Regiment Novices’ Sports Meet

Championship Trophy:

Men's Category - Gemunu Watch (GW)

Women's Category - 5 Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps (SLAWC)

Runner-up:

Men's Category - Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment (VIR)

Women's Category - Sri Lanka Signal Corps (SLSC)