Several foreigners from some 2000 of them reported to be stranded in Sri Lanka due to the Covid-19 virus are expected to take part in the Open and National Surfing championship that will be held in Arugam Bay on September 26 and 27.
This championship is organized by Lanka Sportreizen and sponsored by Mobitel and Lin Asia Holdings that will have an Open event where the foreigners can participate and the Nationals where only local surfers will contest.
The Surfing Federation of Sri Lanka will also assist a great deal with the organizing.
“Most of these foreigners are in Sri Lanka enjoying the sun and surfing. Some of them will certainly enter to participate in this event. The waves in Arugam Bay are very active during these two months and ideal for surfing,” said Tilak Weerasinghe the Chairman of Lanka Sportreizen at a media briefing held at the Sports Ministry Auditorium on Friday.
The Open event will be held on September 26 and the Nationals the next day.
About 80 surfers will be allowed to participate at the Nationals as only four men will be sent out to surf at a time.
This event will be conducted to coincide with the World Tourism Day that falls on September 27.
Weerasinghe also said that Sri Lanka had organized several surfing event where foreigners participated and planned with the World Surf League to conduct an event in September in the East which had to be abandoned due to the outbreak of Covid-19.
Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa said that he will generate revenue through sports and raise US$ 1 billion in the next five years by way of merchandising, manufacturing sports equipment and sportswear for the international market.
He also said that water and adventure sports will attract tourists to the country and help boost the economy that has fallen to low levels in recent times while professionalism will be introduced.
“Some parents are afraid to send their children to participate in water sports and that it was a burden on their finances. This attitude should be reversed. Sportsmen in a family bring honour and revenue to the family,” said Minister Rajapaksa.
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Minister of Spots and Youth Affairs Namal Rajapaksa praised the media for publishing sports stories even at a time when the sportsmen were indoors during the corona virus pandemic.