World Aquabike championship event in March 2017

Sri Lanka will play host to the opening round of the Aquabike World Championship in March next year, securing a spot to market the destination to attract increased travellers during the sporting event at Galle Face.

In this regard, Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara together with Lanka Powerboat Association President, Prassane Ranaweera visited Abu Dhabi to sign an agreement with the President of H2O powerboat racing, Nicolo Di San Germano on December 9, a media release issued by the Lanka Powerboat Association stated.

Each round of the Aquabike World Championship involves four days of breathtaking action, entertainment and spectacular night shows.

A guaranteed crowd favourite, delivering a true ‘ WOW’ factor which takes the audiences breath away it is scheduled to happen from March 24th - 26.

It is an event that combines speed, skill, artistry and sheer raw power producing adrenalin-fuelled non- stop action, edge- of the- seat racing and improbable feats of artistry and acrobatics, the release said.

The LPA says it has been privileged to have been in lengthy discussions with the UIM and H2O Racing regarding the opening round of the Aquabike World Championship. “We are proud to say that we have been successful in being awarded the highly prestigious and rare opportunity for Sri Lanka to host the opening round of the 2017 Aquabike World Championship,” Mr. Ranaweera said in the statement.

H2O Racing is the worldwide promoter of three leading World Championships sanctioned by the world governing body of power boating, the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM).

The UIM is the international governing body of power boating. The sport governs all power boating disciplines including Aquabike, Circuit, Offshore, Pleasure Navigation and Radio- controlled. The UIM was established in 1922 and is headquartered in Monaco. The UIM operates in more than 60 countries across Asia, Africa, Americas, Europe and Oceania. The Federation is recognised as the sole competent authority in Powerboating by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), by the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF) and by Sportaccord.

Lanka Powerboat Association aims to promote power boating in Sri Lanka under the auspices of the UIM.

The Lanka Powerboat Association was founded in October 2011, and, with a successful application to join the UIM, Sri Lanka became the 57th member country. As a result, Sri Lanka is eligible to host UIM events to showcase the sport and the country to a national and a worldwide audience, making a contribution to the growing Sri Lanka tourism industry.

The UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship is the most acclaimed and prestigious international series promoting personal watercraft in a competitive racing environment, and one of the fastest, most spectacular, demanding and entertaining sports on water.