Associated Press

Colombo, January 6:

The 10th South Asian Federation (SAF) Games, scheduled to be hosted by Sri Lanka in August, has been postponed as the Indian Ocean island nation concentrates on rebuilding after the recent tsunami tragedy, the sports minister said.

Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Jeewan Kumaratunga, said that the eight-nation games would be pushed back by a year due to the tragedy. “This is not a time to host the games with big celebrations so we decided to wait for another year,” said Kumaratunga.

“Once the country overcomes the present setbacks as a result of the Boxing Day tidal waves, Sri Lanka could plan out and host the 19-discipline Games in a big way in 2006,” he said.

Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan participate in the games.