75th Annual Mount Lavinia Sea Swim at MLH on a grand scale

Thursday, 23 February 2012 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU) will hold its 75th Annual Mount Lavinia Sea Swim in association with the Mount Lavinia Hotel in a grand scale on 4th March 2012.

The popular sea swim event reaches a significant milestone this year growing with the Mount Lavinia Hotel’s substantial history covering 200 years and holding a very important place in the historical records and heritage of Sri Lanka.

The sea swim is expected to draw over 500 swimmers between the ages of 12 years and 70 years or even older when they line up for the starter’s gun at the iconic Mount Lavinia Hotel bay at 8:30am on the 4th of March.

“Open Water swimming has grown in popularity over the years and is now an Olympic Sport since the Beijing 2008 Olympics. The Mount Lavinia Two Mile Sea Swim is an excellent feeder system for those taking on this tough long distance swimming event as well as a nostalgic recreational event. We are glad that Mount Lavinia Hotel has been a staunch supporter of the event enabling us to reach this significant milestone.” said Nethru Nanayakkara, General Secretary of SLASU.

The two mile sea swim which is iconic with the Mount Lavinia Hotel and its location is incidentally one of the oldest open water swimming competitions in Asia having seen participants passing down the title from generation to generation. Its rich heritage includes unique records of history of winners within the same family, father and son combinations, and repeat victories.

Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union is the governing body of Aquatic Sports in Sri Lanka for the aquatic sports of swimming, diving, water polo, synchronized swimming and open water swimming. Entries for the competition are received through affiliated clubs and schools.