More than 150 competitors will contest the Red Bull Outrigger Boat Race scheduled to be held on April 7 at the Diyatha Uyana in Battaramulla to coincide with the upcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year.
Organisers said it will be the ultimate outrigger race in the country conducted in three categories, two for men and one for women. The two races for men will feature a race where one man will operate one boat and in the other, two men will man one boat for the second race.
The women’s race will have two athletes riding one boat and the races will be run over a distance of 400 metres.
The organizers have also drawn up plans to reinvent the sport of outrigger boat racing throughout the country that will have an appeal to both locals as well as foreigners while bringing all communities together and taking the sport to the world.
Red Bull has also also draws up plans to make the occasion a “perfect family outing” during the holiday season creating an atmosphere that will make the outrigger boat race a much looked forward to annual event in Sri Lanka’s sports calendar.
The boat races are expected to draw the attention of adventure sports enthusiasts, paddle associations, corporate bodies and villagers bordering waterfronts to take to the sport.
Spectators will also be treated to a dragon race that will feature eight boats.