The closing ceremony of the National Youth Sports Fest 2025 was held today 21st of December. The sports festival was held under the patronage of the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage, Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs, Dinindu Saman Hennayake, and Deputy Minister of Sports, Sugath Thilakaratne.
Youth from 26 districts participated in the sports festival, and the Kandy District won the overall championship of the sports festival. The runner-up was Gampaha District and the third place was won by Colombo District.
Sayuri Lakshika Mendis from Gampaha District won the awards as the best female athlete, while KAD Malshan from Gampaha District won the awards as the best male athlete. The best male and female athletes were presented with two motorcycles sponsored by YAMAHA.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage said that the Youth Sports Festival will contribute to creating a sports culture among the youth. The Minister also stated that the Youth Sports Festival, like the National Sports Festival, is being given the necessary value.
Deputy Minister of Sports Sugath Thilakaratne said that he appreciates the efforts made by the National Youth Services Council to develop sports among the youth by providing the necessary facilities to the athletes. He also stated that bringing regional and district level winners to the national level with the participation of 150,000 sportsmen and women is a boost to the development of sports.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman of the National Youth Services Council, Director General of Youth Affairs of Sri Lanka, Attorney-at-Law Supun Wijeratne said that sports provide an approach to overcoming the challenge of Sri Lankan nation building. The Chairman noted that the Northern Province, including the Jaffna District, has achieved exceptional achievements in this year’s sports festival, and that Jaffna is among the top 10 districts in the bonus points table.
He also stated that several special steps are to be taken in the sports sector by developing the Heiyanthuduwa Center of the National Youth Services Council next year.
Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara, Colombo Thisrik MP Aruna Panagoda, Colombo District MP Chandana Suriyarachchi, Kandy District MP Thanura Dissanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports Aruna Bandara, Chairman of the National Youth Services Council/Director General of Youth Affairs of Sri Lanka Attorney-at-Law Supun Wijeratne, Maharagama Mayor Saman Samarakoon, Chairman of the Homagama Pradeshiya Sabha Kasun Ratnayake, members of the Board of Directors of the National Youth Services Council, Director of the National Youth Corps Gamini Wickramapala, Council Director of the National Youth Corps Anjana Sampath Amarasinghe, Director of the National Youth Services Council Manula Chamal Perera and officials of the National Youth Services Council participated in these games.
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