A netball game brought home to Krishnakamuri, aged 25, exactly what it could mean to live in peace.
"This is the first time I have played a game with people from different districts," she said. "This must be what peace is like."
She was one of around 1,200 participants in World Vision Lanka's Sports for Peace programme, which invited young people to take part in regional heats and finals in sports including cricket, volleyball and netball.
Teams were formed irrespective of language, ethnicity or religion. Only a few years ago, a tournament like this would have been impossible because of the history of violence between Sinhala and Tamil.
Aged between 12 and 30, all of the participants had grown up in a time of conflict and most had been directly affected. Their involvement in the tournament showed not just their sporting skills but also their ability to lead the way in the efforts for lasting peace.
Many who took part were sponsored children or young people who had been involved in World Vision peace-building clubs. Excited by the opportunity to travel and meet their counterparts from other regions, they forged lasting friendships with those they once regarded as enemies.
A pitch for peace
As the finals drew to an end, all competitors declared the programme a success.
Nandana, 27, a volleyballer from Horowpathana, said: "We do not need the media to promote peace, when we are doing it through meetings like this!"
Eashna, 22, from Paddipalai, was excited to be away from home for the first time. "Through this programme, our team was able to travel to many places in the country, which would have been impossible before."
The bonds on and off the field had special significance for Jayaweera, 27, an army soldier who had been wounded in battle. He said: "Soldiers do not chase after civilians - in our war, civilians chased us. I never had anything against the Tamils. This has helped me to find Tamil friends."
Many participants expressed their hope that Sri Lanka could respect the ceasefire, making it safe to have further sports programmes in the future. The young people want to meet again, and to ensure others have the same opportunities.
“This cease-fire, and World Vision since, has definitely created a huge difference in our lives,” says Sivamadhi, aged 24, from Wellaweli. “We would never have had an opportunity where the Sinhalese and Tamils played group games like this, if it were not for these two things.”
