The 5th Gampaha District Swimming meet got under way at the Regent International College swimming pool in Gampaha yesterday. Regent International is organizing this year’s meet. This meet which was first held in 2004 has been held for five consecutive years.

Bimsara Senanayake in action at the 50 M freestyle event. – Pic by Sanka Vidanagamage

Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union has sanctioned this meet and is being held for both clubs and schools in the Gampaha District. Organizers of this meet are conducting this meet to improve the swimming skills of swimmers and spot new talent in the Gampaha District and promote swimming in schools in the Gampaha District as well.

The heats were worked off yesterday and the finals of all the competitions will be held today starting at 8.30am. Twenty three schools and 10 clubs are taking part at this year’s meet.

The chief guest at today’s finals will be Heshan Unamboowa who represented Sri Lanka at the South Asian Swimming Championships held in Pakistan last year where he was able to win 2 Golds, 6 Silvers and 1 bronze.

Last year Regent International won the boys championship while Vihara Maha Devi Balika Vidyalaya Kiribathgoda took away the girls championship while the overall championship went to Kelaniya Swimming and Life Saving Association Kelaniya.