The fifth Defence Services Games was ceremonially declared open by the Secretary to the Treasury Dr PB Jayasundara this evening at the Sugathadasa Outdoor Stadium.

The sportsmen and women of the Army Navy and Air Force compete for supremacy in twenty nine sporting disciplines, and the event is held annually. This year the event is hosted by the Sri Lanka Navy. The Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Air Force Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonatilleke, the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General  Jagath  Jayasuriya and the host Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe  the Commander of the Navy graced the occasion. The games opening included a sky diving display by the tri services paratroopers, a band display and a march past of the sportsman and women of the respective sporting disciplines representing the three services.