Promising Prospects For Sri Lanka Skeet Shooting On The International Arena

The National Shooting Sport Federation (NSSF) of Sri Lanka under the patronage of the Ministry of Sports and Recreation conducted the Skeet Nationals recently, with over 20 competitors from Sri Lanka Police, Sri Lanka Air Force and several civilian clubs.

The Award Ceremony of the Skeet Nationals which was held at Waters Edge was attended by Chief Guest Jagath Wijeweera (Additional Secretary – Ministry of Defence) where the following awards were presented:

Individual Awards:

1st place – Shirantha Peries – National Champion

2nd place – Shankar Dharmaratne

3rd place – Shehan Patterson

Team Awards:

1st place –  Clay Target Shooting Club

2nd place –  Sri Lanka Air Force   Shooting Club

3rd place –  STF  Shooting Club

Jagath Wijeweera and Maj. General G.P.R.De Silva while addressing the gathering congratulated the winners and pledged their fullest support to develop them further with adequate training, equipment and international exposure in the coming years to qualify for the Olympics in 2012.

Although Skeet Shooting gained Olympic status in 1968, Skeet Shooting in Sri Lanka is a comparatively new discipline introduced in the year 2000 and since has been struggling along with  issues concerned with a shooting range, guns and ammunition.

With the state of the art Skeet Range set up in Kalutara, the NSSF under the able guidance of Major General G.P.R. De Silva (President – NSSF Interim Committee) is now geared to launch this gentlemen’s sport into the international arena with the  hope of bringing glory to Sri Lanka targeting the next Olympics in 2012.