: Indian High Commission in Colombo hosted a reception at Hotel Cinnamon Lakeside this evening to mark the arrival of the Queen's Baton Relay 2010 Delhi in Colombo for the XIX Commonwealth Games, to be held in Delhi from October 3-14, 2010. Queen's Baton which arrived in Colombo this morning would travel through Colombo, Negombo, Wennappuwa, Kurunegala to Kandy tomorrow, with a grand ceremony opposite Dalada Maligawa.
On June 19 the Baton will travel through Galle to the Pinnawela Elephant orphanage before being brought back to Colombo by a special train. There would also be a grand closing ceremony at Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium.
The reception today also included a road show by the Ministry of Tourism of the Government of India to highlight tourism opportunities in India, a press release by the High Commission said.
Welcoming the Queen's Baton Relay, High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha thanked the guests for their presence and joining in the festive spirit of the Games.
High Commissioner expressed India's high appreciation for the painstaking preparations made by the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka and the full support extended by the Government of Sri Lanka.
He observed that he was particularly happy that this event was taking place immediately after the most successful state visit of the President of Sri Lanka to India. This landmark visit has further enriched and reinforced close bonds between the peoples of India and Sri Lanka.
The Relay will conclude after the final Baton-bearer enters the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the 19th Commonwealth Games on 3 October 2010 where the Queen's message will be removed from the baton and read aloud, thus signifying officially the opening the Games.
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