The training program for selecting prospective sportsmen and women for Ethnosports along with coaches and referees with a view of popularizing the physical sport in the country was successfully completed during the last weekend in Panadura according to the organisers.
International Ethnogames consist of traditional martial arts, wrestling and folk games including Sri Lankan Kotta Pora.
The basic techniques and the rules on such sports were introduced to the participants during the training session.
The training was organized under the guidance of Uditha Peris who is the founder of the National Ethnosport Committee and the Sri Lanka Ethnosport development officer of World Ethnogames Confederation in collaboration with the National Ethnosport Committee which is directly linked to world Ethnosport Committee, Sri Lanka Unifight Federation, Traditional Wrestling Committee and the Kotta Pora Federation of Sri Lanka.
During the training session, Sri Lankan folk games like Kotta Pora and Angampora were introduced to representatives of UNESCO which is backing the promotion of such sports the world over.
The National Ethnosport Committee is also drawing up plans to push Kotta Pora as a competitive Ethno sport in the international arena with the collaboration of the Ministry of Sports, Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Defence and all state and private sector organizations.
The Ethnosport training session according to the organisers was conducted free of charge in Panadura and anyone interested has been requested to contact Uditha Peiris for further details on 0785167721.
Sri Lanka Ethnosport Committee, No. 18-1, Sri Premananda Mawatha, Bekkegama, Panadura.