Indian Army's Largest Contingent of Sportsmen Arrives for Friendly Encounters
October 06, 2021(MEDIA RELEASE)
Ushering in a new chapter of sporting interests and sound bilateral ties and co-operation between sportsmen of both Indian Army and Sri Lankan Army, the largest ever contingent of 61 sportsmen of the Indian Army under the 'Army to Army Sports Exchange' project arrives in Sri Lanka early next week to participate in friendly Hockey, Basketball, Volleyball and Cricket tournaments with their counterparts in the Sri Lanka Army.
Despite pandemic setbacks in 2021, this 6-day long expanded sports exchange programme in this way receives an inspirational boost to the field of sports as conceptualized by General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, and would help bring Sri Lanka Army sports to new heights as the leading local institution that grooms the most number of athletes and sportsmen/women of national and international standards.
Although the Indian Army sportsmen in the past have participated in several friendly matches of Volleyball, Kabaddi, Basketball, Hockey, etc with their Sri Lanka Army counterparts, never had there been such a large contingent of 2 Officers and 59 sportsmen (61) of the Indian Army arriving here for an undertaking of this magnitude. Director Sports of the Army Brigadier Nalin Bandaranayaka as directed by General Shavendra Silva who is also the Chairman, National Sports Selection Committee (NSSC) has coordinated the entire sports programme in Sri Lanka during their stay.
Accordingly, sportsmen of both Armies will vie with each other separately in Hockey (artificial ground at Colombo), Basketball and Volleyball at Panagoda Army Sports Village and receive their awards before they join a one-day cricket encounter at Dombagoda cricket ground of the Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps Regiment.
The visiting Indian Army team would also tour Galle, Pinnawala, Kandy and Sigiriya for familiarization and sight-seeing during their stay in Sri Lanka before their departure. (ENDS)
Courtesy - www.army.lk