The canoeing competition of the international women’s adventure sports event, ‘Le Raid Amazones’, kicked off in Kalutara on Thursday (05), with Minister of Tourism Vijitha Herath officially flagging off the event.
According to Sri Lanka Tourism, the competition commenced and concluded at Malli’s Seafood Restaurant, with Minister Herath attending the event to encourage the participants.
The 2026 edition of Le Raid Amazones officially commenced in Sri Lanka on November 02, following a two-year hiatus, and will continue until November 10.
This year’s event features 250 French female contestants and 55 international staff members, with Connaissance De Ceylan (Pvt) Ltd serving as the official ground handling partner.
The event is primarily centred in Kalutara, with several competitions also scheduled to take place in Galle and Bentota.
Participants will engage in adventure sports activities, including trail running, canoeing, cycling and running, designed to test their endurance and physical strength.
A special feature of this year’s event is a treasure hunt near the historic Galle Fort, where participants will search for hidden items using clues.
Sri Lanka Tourism said the competition routes have been designed to showcase Kalutara’s natural landscapes, coastal attractions, cultural heritage and local communities.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Railways has arranged a special scenic train journey between Kalutara and Galle exclusively for the participants, featuring entertainment activities along the route.
The delegation arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on November 02 aboard a SriLankan Airlines flight operated by an all-female cabin crew, highlighting the event’s focus on women’s empowerment and equality.
The participants were welcomed with traditional dance performances and cultural activities organised with the support of SriLankan Airlines and Sri Lanka Tourism.
Founded in 2001 by Alexandre Debanne of ZBO France, Le Raid Amazones is an international women-only multi-sport adventure challenge combining endurance sports, cultural experiences and destination promotion.
Sri Lanka has previously hosted the event in 2004, 2009, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023, attracting hundreds of international participants and generating extensive global media exposure.
Sri Lanka Tourism said the event aims to strengthen the country’s position as an international tourism destination while promoting adventure and sports tourism, particularly in Kalutara and surrounding areas.
According to Sri Lanka Tourism, the 2023 edition generated publicity valued at approximately USD 50 million, including more than 300 international media articles, a reach of one million people, over 65,000 engagements and 650,000 video views.
Authorities expect this year’s event to generate significant international publicity while showcasing Sri Lanka’s potential as a leading tourism destination. (Newswire)
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