Dec 03, Nawalapitiya: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa was the chief guest at the Quadrangular South Asian International Football tournament which commenced at the Jayathilake Playground in Nawalapitiya this afternoon.

Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Maldives and Sri Lanka compete in the under-23 tournament. The winners will receive the Mahinda Rajapaksa Trophy. This is the first occasion that such an international tournament being conducted outside of the capital.

President Rajapaksa congratulated the Maldives team which beat Sri Lanka 3 to nil to win the preliminary match played today.

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and a number of invited guests participated in the occasion.

(Photos by Chandana Perera)