Sri Lankans support commonwealth games bid: poll

June 26, 2011 (LBO) - A bid for the 2018 commonwealth games by Sri Lanka's Hambantota city has received 63 percent backing in a nationwide poll, while the people in the immediate area had backed it 86 percent, a statement said.

The survey was conducted by The Nielsen Company among 2,600 males and females aged 14 to 70 in March and April this year, a statement released by the bid committee said.

"Many of those surveyed felt that the games would result in Sri Lanka being highly regarded by people from across the world," the statement said.

"It was also felt that the games would bring in tourism opportunities for the country as well as being a channel for Sri Lanka to showcase its sporting talent."

Sri Lanka is bidding against Australia and the effort has attracted some fire from critics who have questioned the volume of money being spent on it. The statement said 87 percent of respondents said they were somewhat or fully supportive.

In Hambantota the percentage was 86 percent.

An evaluation committee from the Commonwealth Games secretariat is now in Colombo.