The final round of the Kegalle District Inter-Divisional Secretariat Athletics Championship, the second stage of a series of competitions organized in conjunction with the 50th National Sports Festival, was held yesterday (30) at the Kegalle Public Grounds.

The event was jointly organized by the Kegalle District Secretariat, the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Ministry of Sports and the Provincial Department of Sports Development, with the objective of selecting talented athletes for the 50th National Sports Festival.

The opening ceremony of the sports festival was held under the guidance of the Governor of Sabaragamuwa Province, Mrs. Champa Janaki Rajarathne, the Chief Secretary of the Sabaragamuwa Province, the Secretary to the Provincial Ministry of Sports and the Department of Sports Development. Representing the political authority, the event was conducted under the leadership and patronage of the Mayor of Kegalle, Mr. Nimal Karunarathne, and the Kegalle District Secretary, Mr. K. G. S. Nishantha.

The competition is conducted in four stages: Divisional Secretariat Division level, District level, Provincial level and National level. The event held yesterday represented the second stage of the competition at the District level.

Over a period of three months, talented boys and girls who had demonstrated their abilities at the Divisional level in 16 sporting events participated in this athletics meet. The competition provides an opportunity to identify and promote sporting talents from villages, guiding young athletes through Grama Niladhari Division, Divisional, District, Provincial and National levels, while also creating pathways for outstanding athletes to progress towards the international arena. The competition was conducted in accordance with all relevant rules and regulations governing the sports sector.

The first, second and third stages of the competition are coordinated and supervised by the relevant Provincial Council authorities, Provincial Ministry Secretaries and coaches. The fourth stage will subsequently be organized jointly by the Department of Sports Development and all Provincial Councils as the National Sports Festival.

During yesterday's competition, preliminary and final events for both male and female athletes were conducted in the 5,000 metres, 400 metres, 100 metres, 200 metres and 800 metres, as well as long jump, shot put and high jump. All athletes who emerged victorious in these events will qualify to participate in the Provincial Sports Festival.

The event was attended by Additional District Secretary (Administration), Mrs. Kusum Bandara; Additional District Secretary (Lands), Mr. Dilip Nishantha; Secretary to the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Ministry of Sports, Mrs. G. D. Lakmali U. Kumari; the Divisional Secretaries of Kegalle and Rambukkana; District Sports Officer, Mr. G. Chandana Kusumsiri; Development Officer Mr. Lalith Jayawardena; Development Officer Mr. E. M. R. S. Edirisuriya; and officials and coaches representing the Ministry of Education, the Department of Sports Development and the District Sports Division.