Gampaha and Kandy share overall title at 36th National Youth Sports Festival

Gampaha and Kandy districts jointly won the overall championship of the 36th National Youth Sports Festival with 130 points apiece. Galle District finished third with 106 points.

The festival, organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the National Youth Services Council and the Sri Lanka Federation of Youth Clubs, was held from October 30 to November 1 at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Diyagama.

A total of 21 new swimming records and nine new athletics records were established. Gampaha's A.W.G.J.S. Wijethunga was named the Best Female Athlete, while Kegalle's M.D. Chathuranga was named the Best Male Athlete. Chathuranga also established a new record in the men's 400-metre hurdles with a time of 50.06 seconds.

Each joint champion district received a cash prize of Rs. 200,000, and Galle received Rs. 100,000 for third place. The best male and female athletes were each awarded Rs. 1 million.

The closing ceremony was attended by Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa and Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage.