By Dhammika Ratnaweera
Lasith Malinga the special guest says Dedication is very important for athletes
The National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Sri Lanka has organized the special event to promote of Folk and Forgotten Games in connection with New Year Festival last Sunday (June 10) at the Ape Gama Battaramulla based near to the Sri Jayawardenapura Parliament permises. According to the Secretary of NOC Maxwell de Silva for the first time this type of event was conducted by the NOC with the blessings of International Olympic Commiittee(IOC)
The whole day programme from 9am to 7.30 pm was well organized from the NOC staff with the support of NOC officials headed by President Suresh Subramaniam and Secretary Maxwell de Silva. For this event NOC officials and their families , NOC staff and their families, Volunteers and Athletes from various sports like Athletics, Badminton, Table Tennis,Jodo, Karate, Cycling, Basball ,Basketball, Hockey ,Boxing , Weight lifting, Volleyball, Football and also newly introduced sports Skating were took part and all athletes with colourful T- shirts.
The whole event was mainly focus with Sri Lankan culture the traditional events like dancing, kottapora,Kanamuttiya bideema as well as most of the Sinhala Hindu new year festival events like Awurudu Kumara and Kumariya contest,Bans eating contest , Preform the Raban . The traditional dress was wearing Arachchila while news year songs and dancing done by beautiful girls and boys made more colourful to this events.
Meanwhile Tug –of – War (kamba adeema) event was very competitive with athletes, NOC members, their family members and NOC staff members were involved .The event was started with the lighting of traditional oil lamp by the NOC Assist Secretary Chandana Liyanange, Former Treasurer Gamini Jayasinghe , Tresurer Senaka Ranasinghe, Forer Assit Tresurer Chandana Perera and Media Cordinator of NOC Buddika Iddamalgoda and renowned National Badminton player Niluka Karunaratna. The main feature of the day for the first time Sri Lankan most successful paceman Lasith Malinga was accompanied for this unfamiliar event as the National cricketer . He was well come by the NOC officials and Malinga was very keen to share his views on this occation .
Malinga who was the lucky Captain to take the World t-20 cup in 2014 was very busy on this day and most of the athletes and family members got together to take pictures with Malinga. This was the historical moment for National cricketer as for the first time got chance to take part NOC event as the special guest. I still remember my cricket carrier which start from the school. I had very limited facilities but my dedication was very high to build up my carrier, Therefore I request all athletes to do their practices with more determination and build up talents . I already brought honour to Sri Lanka. I always like to give my fullest support to any athlete to build up the carrier. Every one has to one ambition to take glory for Sri Lanka. I knew very soon cricket will add for the Olympics.But we have to player good cricket from the heart said Malinga and his message was good for all athletes.
The special Anganpora the traditional Martial Art was displayed end of the events and they gave good knowledge to the spectators about Angampora.After the successful events there was a prize distribution for the winners who won their respective events NOC Tresurer Senaka Ranasinghe, Vice President, Sumith Edirisinghe, Assistant Secretary Chandana Liyanageand other Executive members were present at the prize giving . Meanwhile Sri Lankan Commonwealth Games six medal winners received special cask awards from the NOC officials during the prize distribution.
Caption
Lasith Malinga the Special Guest and Commonwealth Games weifght lifting bronze medal winner Hansali Gomez handing over the prize to the winner of the Folk and Forgotten at Ape Game Battaramulla.
Lasith Malinga giving his speech at the NOC organised Folk and Forgotten Games at Battaramulla
N0C officials in action at the event of the Folk and Forgotten Games
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