The donation being handed over by Japanese ambassador Akira Sugiyama to Sri Lanka Gymnastics Federation Secretary Kapila Jeewantha in the presence of Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa   

By Susil Premalal

Japanese ambassador to Sri Lanka Akira Sugiyama donated gymnastics equipment to Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa on behalf of the Japanese Gymnastics Federation to develop the sport of gymnastics in the country.   
The equipment comprised a vaulting table, a runway for vaulting table, vaulting board, landing mat, a safety collar for vaulting board and a mat for handstand.   

Since Japan is one of the leading gymnastics nations in the world, the Japanese Gymnastics Federation had made this donation on a request made by the Sports Minister to help develop the sport.   

The Japanese gymnastics federation has provided gymnastic coaches to Sri Lanka since 2006 while Tokyo-bound Olympian artistic gymnast Milka Gehani de Silva is following an Olympic Solidarity funded course in Japan.   
This is the first time a Sri Lankan gymnast has qualified to participate in the Olympics.