The 12th Defense Services Games, where the three armed services engage in sportsmanship, ceremonially commenced at the Sri Lanka Army Indoor Stadium in Panagoda with the gracious presence of Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne. 

The Defence Services Games will begin on 26 October 2022 and last through October of the following year, with a total of 39 sports; 36 sports disciplines under the men’s category and 32 under the women’s category and with the participation of more than 4000 men and women representing Sri Lanka Army, Navy and Air Force. 

The opening ceremony was attended by the incumbent President of the Defence Services Sports Board and the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana along with Chief of Defence, General Shavendra Silva, the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, special invitees, senior officers, brother and sister officers and sportsmen and women.