171 athletes set for 46th National Sports Festival marathon

By Susil Premalal

A total of 171 men’s and women’s athletes will take part in the 46th National Sports Festival marathon race which commences tomorrow at 5.00 a.m. in Kataragama, Amal Edirisuriya, Director General of the Department of Sports Development, told the ‘Daily Mirror’.

Organised by the Sports Ministry and sponsored by Nestle Lanka Limited, the Nestomalt national marathon will begin near the main bus stand at Kataragama and proceed to Debarawewa before finishing at the starting point.

Since no national marathon or international races such as LSR marathon could be held because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a high turnout for the National Sports Festival marathon.

There will be 133 runners in the men’s marathon and 38 in the women’s race. This is the highest number of entries ever received for the marathon event in the National Sports Festival.
On the directive of Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa, the Department of Sports Development has decided to increase the prize money for the marathon race. 

The winners of both men and women races will get Rs 50,000/-, runners-up Rs 40,000/- and Rs 30,000/- for third place finishers. In addition, the fourth to 10th placed finishers will get cash awards ranging from Rs 20,000/- to Rs 8,000/-.

This prize money will be awarded for cycling and race walking events as well.

Sri Lanka Athletics and the Sports Ministry hope to form a national pool after the 46th National Sports Festival in preparation for the 2022 Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
The 2019 National Sports Festival marathon held in Anuradhapura was won by D.G.D. Sandaruwan (men) and Sujani Perera (women) both representing Western Province.