85th Police Sports Festival Concludes Successfully at Bambalapitiya

The 85th Police Sports Festival was successfully concluded at the Bambalapitiya Police Grounds.

Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala attended the closing ceremony as the Chief Guest. Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala, Ministry Secretary Ravi Seneviratne, Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasuriya, and several senior police officers were also present.

Addressing the ceremony, Minister Wijepala extended his warm congratulations to all the athletes who participated in the Police Sports Festival.

He said that creating a proud, dignified, efficient and disciplined police service had been identified as an essential priority.

The Minister said sports help develop important qualities such as discipline, teamwork, leadership and patience. He added that these qualities are important for making lawful and correct decisions, while sporting skills also contribute to developing healthy and physically fit police officers.

He expressed his appreciation to the IGP and all senior police officers who had provided leadership towards achieving these objectives.

The Minister further said the government was taking steps to establish a strong sports culture, adding that the Police Sports Festival had produced a large number of talented athletes capable of representing Sri Lanka from the national level to the international level.

He also expressed his appreciation for the achievements of police athletes while they continued to carry out their substantial responsibilities.

According to the Minister, during the past two years, special measures had been taken to strengthen the Police Service and improve its professionalism.

He said promotions that had been delayed for five years would be granted this year based on seniority. Steps had also been taken to introduce a formal system for granting promotions annually.

He added that a formal transfer system was currently being developed and that arrangements had been made to send police officers for overseas training. He said such opportunities would continue to be expanded from senior officers to junior ranks.

The Minister further stated that the Cabinet had decided to provide a risk allowance in the upcoming Budget in recognition of the commitment and risks undertaken by police officers.

He said the government was also working to improve the infrastructure required by the Police Service and to ensure its qualitative development.

The ultimate objective, he said, was to provide the public with a specialised, friendly, efficient and professional police service, which he described as the expectation of the people.

Competition Results

More than 4,000 athletes representing 69 police divisions competed in 30 sporting events over three days.

The President's Cup, awarded to the overall champion of the Police Sports Festival, was won by the Special Task Force, which secured 261 points.

The Prime Minister's Cup, awarded to the runner-up, was won by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which secured 168 points.

In athletics, the overall women's championship was won by the Criminal Investigation Department, while the overall men's athletics championship went to the Special Task Force.

Best Athletics Performers

The following athletes were selected as the outstanding female athletes:

• Sub-Inspector H.T.C. Hemamali

• Women Police Sergeant S. Darshani

• Women Police Constable D.M.K. Dissanayake

Police Constable T.G.S. Wijethunga was selected as the Best Male Athlete.