The 36th National Youth Sports Festival commenced on October 30 at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Diyagama.
The three-day festival will continue until November 1.
The opening ceremony was held under the patronage of Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake and Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage.
Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs Dinindu Saman Hennayake, National Youth Services Council Chairman and Director General Attorney-at-Law Supun Wijerathna, and National Federation of Youth Clubs Secretary Mithin Gihan Priyasad also attended the event.
Organised annually by the National Youth Services Council, the National Youth Sports Festival aims to identify sporting talent among Youth Club members across Grama Niladhari divisions and provide them with opportunities to progress to the national level.
Member of Parliament Aruna Panagoda, officials of the National Youth Services Council, youth leaders of the National Federation of Youth Clubs and other invited guests were also present at the opening ceremony.
