National Sports Festival to mark 50 years

By Susil Premalal

A budget of Rs. 300 million will be allocated by the Ministry of Sports to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Sri Lanka’s premier national-level sporting event, the National Sports Festival (NSF), which will take place from June 6 to December 6 across every province in Sri Lanka.

The National Sports Festival, which initially commenced in 1972 under the guidance of former Sports Minister KB Ratnayake, will mark its 50th anniversary with this year’s festival featuring a total of 32 national sports registered with the Ministry of Sports.

The festival will get underway on June 6 in Nuwara Eliya with a cross-country event while the athletics championship is scheduled to be held on December 4, 5 and 6 at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Sports Complex in Diyagama marking the end of the festival.

The Ministry of Sports has also decided to double the prize money awarded to winners this year, with winners of individual events receiving Rs. 30,000 for first place, Rs. 20,000 for second place and Rs. 12,000 for third place.

Similarly, team event winners will receive Rs. 20,000 for first place, Rs. 15,000 for second place and Rs. 10,000 for third place. 

The best male athlete and best female athlete in each sport will also be awarded a cash prize of Rs. 50,000 each.