Selecting Sri Lanka to hold the Raid Amazones adventure program will send a positive message to the world that Sri Lanka is a safe destination Minister of Tourism, Prasanna Ranatunga said.

The Minister mentioned this while participating at the inauguration of the Raid Amazone adventure program which commenced in Sigiriya on March 16. Over 600 athletes take part in the Raid Amazones adventure event, the largest tourism event in the country since the Covid-19 pandemic.

The tournament will be held in Kaudulla, Medirigiriya, Wewala, Kandalama, Sigiriya and Maha Wilgamuwa areas. The first stage is featuring 253 contestants and 63 staff from 14th of March to 22nd of March, while the second round will feature from 28th of March to 6th of April with 216 contestants, also including 63 staff members. The crew includes six doctors, a rescue crew, rescue swimmers, photographers and videographers.

As a popular annual adventure sports competition that originated in France, the tournament includes running, rowing, mountain biking, mapping and compass-assisted cross-country skiing, and archery. Sri Lankan Airlines is the host airline for this year’s tournament and the theme icon is Sigiriya. A special uniform has been designed by them especially for this event, highlighting the unique features of Sigiriya Fort. Sri Lankan Airlines has decorated a special aircraft to bring foreign athletes to Sri Lanka to participate in the tournament.