Maxwell De Silva (pictured), the general secretary of the Sri Lanka National Olympic Committee, has been given a tour of the University's Graham Sports Centre at Maiden Castle on the outskirts of the city.

The partnership between the University and Sri Lanka ahead of the games came as a result of previous links.

Dr Peter Warburton, the university's director of sport, said: "Ever since Durham University launched Project Sri Lanka in response to the 2004 Tsunami, that provided support in terms of manpower, research, expertise and fund-raising for the regeneration effort, we have had close ties at all levels with Sri Lanka.

"Over the last three years an element of this has been the provision of sporting expertise in terms of visits from staff, students and alumni.

"We have a team of eight sports students out there at the moment working closely with Sabaragamuwa University and surrounding villages delivering an all-round sport programme.

"Our sport science staff also work across all Sri Lanka's universities and their PE staff evaluating fitness levels, training methods and delivering fitness programmes through workshops."

Durham University's facilities are currently being upgraded after receiving £6.7 million ($10.6 million/€7.6 million) investment.

The improvements include a refurbishment of the centre, which will see a £1 million ($1.6 million/€1.1 million) high-specificiaton power rowing tank being installed.

Sri Lanka sent a team of eight competitors, who participated in six sports, to Beijing in 2008.

The country made its Olympic debut at London in 1948, when Duncan White won their first medal, a silver in the 400 metres hurdles.

Since then the only medal that Sri Lanka have won came at Sydney in 2000 when Susanthika Jayasinghe claimed a silver in the 200m.

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