Squadron Leader Samantha Weerasekera of SLAF has been appointed as Deputy Chef de Mission of the Sri Lankan contingent for the upcoming 16th Asian Games which will kick-off next week in Guangzhou, China.

The appointment confirmed by the Ministry of Sports and National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka will see Squadron Leader Weerasekera joining  the team from the island for the course of the Games which will last from 12th to 27th November, 2010.

The 16th Asian Games will see Sri Lanka compete in 23 disciplines of a total of 55. A total of 54 countries are scheduled to participate in this year’s event which is held every four years and is considered the mega sports event for the continent.

Squadron Leader Weerasekera has served in the same capacity at the South Asian Games 2010 in Dhaka earlier this year. He is also familiar with the Asian Games topography owing to his experience as the Ambassador of the Sri Lankan team at the 15th Asian Games held also in Dhaka in 2006.

Presently functioning as the Secretary of SLAF Hand Ball in addition to being a National Olympic Committee Member, Squadron Leader Weerasekera  was part of the winning team which clinched victory at the Defence Services Tennis Championship in the consecutive years of 2009 and 2010. He is also the Assistant Secretary of the Sri Lanka Tennis Association.