The 47th edition of the National Sports Festival, the island nation’s biggest sporting event, concluded last weekend at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo, where more than 5,000 athletes from all over the nation took part in 30 sporting disciplines, spanning three days.
The Western Province clinched the overall championship with a medal tally of 115 gold, 78 silver, and 89 bronze. The Central Province ended as the second best out of nine provinces.
Sri Lanka’s star and 400 m Asian champion Nadeesha Ramanayake, who represented the Southern Province, was crowned the best female athlete of the festival.
K.M.D. Dharshana of the Central Province, who excelled in the 400 m hurdles, won the best male athlete award.
In addition, according to reports from Sri Lankan athletics circles, the 47th National Sports Festival 2023 had been upgraded to World Athletics Competition Category E, thus becoming the only Category E competition in South Asia in 2023.
This will be beneficial for athletes to improve world rankings and Paris Olympic Games qualifications.