Athletes in the Matara district were honoured at their annual Colours Awards ceremony conducted by the Matara District Athletic Association held last week at the Grand Navro Hall Beach Road Matara.
Altogether 39 school athletes received Colours along with 47 junior athletes.
Minister of Power Dullas Alahapperuma was the Chief Guest on this occasion and encouraged the young athletes to pursue with their hopes and dreams while special merit awards were bestowed on Asian high jump medal winner Manjula Kumara Wijesekara who is a product of Vijitha MMV Dickwella, South Asian medal winners Tharanga Vinodini, Safreen Ahamad and Asian Cross Country medal winner Hasanthi Madumali from Sujatha Vidyalaya Matara.
Also felicitated were senior coaches Nihal Abeywickrema and DSK Gamage while special merit awards were presented to National athletic coach YK Kularatne, Ruhunu University senior sport consultant KH Keerthi Kumara and Matara district athletic coach Lal Abeywickrama. Former Southern Province Sports Director Felicia Jayawardena and newly appointed Director General of the Sports Medicine Institute of the Sports Ministry Dr Lal Ekanayake who is the present President of the Matara District Athletic Association were also among the special merit award recipients.
The new web site of Matara district Athletic Association was launched by the Chief Guest Minister of Power Dullas Alahapperuma at this occasion.