General: 2016 Presidential Sports Awards on May 19 at BMICH

The 2016 Presidential Sports Awards Ceremony will be held on May 19 at the BMICH, with President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as Chief Guests. 

The Sports Ministry and the Sports Development Dept (SDD) are conducting this event for the second successive year, with the Sports Ministry making the awards. 

Altogether, 56 Sports Awards will be presented and are for outstanding achievements in Sports in 2016., of which 25 awards will be for Sports Legends of the Year, 11 awards for Specialised Sports Fields, 16 awards for Sports Journalism and Publications, and 3 awards for National Sports Associations as Gold, Silver and Bronze. 

Those aspiring for these awards should be Sri Lankans and in a sport recognised by the SDD. Apart from that, it should be an international event while representing a junior or senior National team. 

Presidential Sports Honorary Titles presented will be: Kreedabhimani, Kreeda Deshothara, Kreeda Keerthi, Kreeda Lanka Pradeepa, Kreeda Bhushana, Kreeda Rathna and Kreeda Prabha, selected by a special panel of judges, with Saman Amarasinghe as Chairman- Selection and Technical, Presidential Sports Awards, in charge of nominations. 

Applications for the above awards could be accessed on the official website: www.presidentialsportsawards.lk, and are open from April 1 till 4.30 pm on April 28. 

"This time, the organisers hope to get the assistance of the public as well, to overcome whatever setbacks of the previous year, said Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera. 

Sports Awards for Under-16 Boys and Girls are also on the cards.