Queen’s Baton Relay for CWG’10 arrives in Sri Lanka

Colombo: The Queen’s Baton Relay for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, to be held in Delhi from October 3-14, arrived from Maldives here today.

The Baton touched down at the Bandaranaike International Airport, where the Indian High Commission and senior Sri Lankan Tourism Ministry officials were present. After Colombo, the flame will travel through different places of the island country including adjoining Negombo, Wennappuwa, Kurunegala, Kegalle, Pinnawela and Rambukkana. Hemasiri Fernando, President of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Sri Lanka, said the arrival of the QBR "in our community" is being celebrated with great enthusiasm and many athletes will participate during it’s stay in Sri Lanka."We look forward to see many local people join the festivities and turn out to cheer on Baton bearers, including past and present athletes," Fernando said.The Baton is on its way to 190,000-kilometer journey, during which it will pass through 71 countries and territories that make up the Commonwealth of Nations. Sri Lanka is the 67th stop for the Baton and from here it will enter Bangladesh. The seeing off ceremony in Sri Lanka will be held at Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium here on June 19. The Baton would enter India from Pakistan through Wagah border and then embark upon a 100 day national tour starting on June 25 before reaching its final destination Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on October 3. PTI