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Friday, 2 October 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The 18th Sri Lanka Army Para Games was worked off at the Diyagama Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium recently, powered by the country’s premier connectivity provider, Dialog Axiata PLC.
At this year’s games, 450 disabled servicemen competed for top honours in 14 disciplines, which included athletics, archery, badminton, cycling, shooting, table tennis, power lifting, wheelchair marathon, tennis, basketball, swimming, seated volleyball, beach volleyball and seven-a-side softball cricket.
Dialog Axiata is a long-standing partner of the Sri Lanka Army Para Games over the past two decades as part of its philosophy for inclusion and empowerment, and to give wing to differently-abled personnel to excel on the national and international stage. Dialog is also the proud sponsor of the Sri Lankan Paralympic Contingent, tying up once again to power the national Paralympic team for the next two years.
The Sri Lankan team powered by Dialog, will take wing to the 2015 IPC World Athletics Championship in Qatar this month. Dialog first sponsored the Sri Lanka Paralympic contingent in the year 2000, followed by 2004 and 2008, including sponsorship of the National Sports Festival for the Disabled.
The soldiers from the Sri Lanka Light Infantry, the oldest military regiment in the country, was adjudged overall Champions at this year’s games, whilst the Gajaba Regiment and Vijayaba Infantry Regiments took honours by emerging first runners up and second runners up.
This year’s Sri Lanka Army Para Games also included disabled servicemen and athletes from Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, India and Nepal as a special feature. Gunasekaran Anandan, a serviceman from the Indian Army was adjudged the best foreign participant. The closing ceremony was graced by Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Eng. Karunasena Hettiarchchi, as the Chief Guest.
