He said that it was the aim of the Government to keep Sri Lanka in a prominent place in sports by providing essential human and physical resources to every institution related to the sport field under the Government’s sport policy.

He was participating in the ceremony to felicitate the South Asian Games, 2016 Sri Lankan medal winners   yesterday (26) at the Temple Trees.

Cash awards amounting to more than Rs. 600 Lakhs were presented to the medal winners and their coaches and the President launched the official website of the “Presidential Sports Awards Ceremony, 2015.”

According to the President, elements such as selfishness, dividing into groups, tug-of-war prevailing in the fields of the politics, media and art are main obstacles for the victories. If we want to move forward as a country we should eliminate disharmony among ourselves and unite as a one nation, he added.

The President said that the Government and the people should extend their honour to the sportsmen and women who won the medals amidst many difficulties.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe, Ministers Dayasiri Jayasekara, Ravi Karunanayake, Sagala Rathnayake, Deputy Minister H.M.M Haris, Sport Ministers of Local Governments, Secretary to the President, P.B  Abeykhoon, Ministry Secretaries, Sports instructors, parents of the medal winners and many others participated at this occasion.