The benefits you get by participating in games and outdoor activities during your leisure, are numerous. Increased physical activity, reduction of stress, freshness of mind, joyfulness, law-abidingness, patience, fairness, having a good sense of responsibility, willingness for team work and leadership are some of these benefits that help in the development of one's personality.

Folk games are games that have been popular within a particular society for many generations. Their development is influenced by the social, religious, cultural and economic backgrounds of the society.

In grade 6 you learned about engaging in minor games in order to enjoy yourselves.

Since folk games are in harmony with culture, people naturally find it easy and enjoyable to participate in them. Folk games also strengthen your feelings for your nation and make you value and protect your cultural heritage. Unlike games from foreign countries which may need expensive sports equipment, locally available, inexpensive equipment can be used for folk games.

• Simplicity

• Brings joy and happiness

• Participation is easy

• Equipment required is minimum and inexpensive

• Competition is much less

• Allows group participation

• Existence of a religious or cultural background

• Makes no discrimination based on gender in most games

• Has an aesthetic touch

• Brings physical and mental relaxation

• Creates unity

Folk games can be divided into two groups

1. Outdoor folk games

2. Indoor folk games

Folk games can be further grouped according to the type of participation,equipment required and other factors.

Coppara Coppara Pipingya

The seated children and person going round chant alternatively;

Those seated in the circle : Coppara Coppara Pipingya

The person going round : Passa baluwoth desanya

Those seated in a circle : Ko nano panawa

The person going round : Yata leeye panawa

those seated in a circle :Kalagedi? Kalagedi?

The person going round : Bothala? Bothala?

The person going round the circle quietly places the twig behind one of the persons who are seated. The person behind whom the twig was left, chases the person who was going round and tries to hit him with the twig. If he is unable to catch the person, the person who was going round will complete the circle and sit down. If any of the persons who are seated look back they too get a blow. The person who gets the blow is the next to walk round.

Iniweta Peralima

This game is like cattle breaking through a strongly built fence. One team forms a fence by holding hands of each other. The other team acting like cattle claps and sings their part of the song given below and moves forward. The children who form the fence give their reply with their part of the song.

Cattle : Ahasata inimang badina gonek athe

Fence : A lakune gong apa dutuwe nathe

Cattle : Bandiye ralage gong banak athe

Fence : A lakune gong apa dutuwe nathe

Cattle : Amberum galayata gombanak athe

Fence : A lakune gong apa dutuwe nathe

Cattle : Thambili walla gene yanna gonek athe

Fence : A lakune gong apa dutuwe nathe

Cattle : Karate udin panalaya ada yanne

Fence : Avata mokadei yanna no dennei

After singing the song the cattle team say "ottui"(ready) and simultaneously they try to topple the fence. The fence team tries their best to protect the fence.

If they topple the fence by any chance, the cattle team wins the game.

Mewara keliya

A few of the girls in the game go outdoors and hide a bangle. They huddle around the place while trampling it with their right foot. One or two others come and go round the group singing a song inquiring about a lost bangle. The other group swear that they have not seen any such thing.

Those in round : Sare sadisi pethi pera nelana kala wala giyado mage meweraya

Others: Nano numba pal numbe daruwan pal ape dutuwe nathe mewaraya

Those in round :Koswathukande kos kadana da wala giyado mage mewaraya

Others: Nano numba pal numbe daruwan pal ape dutuwe nathe meweraya

Those in round : Mungwathukande mung kadana da wala giyado mage mewaraya

Others: Nano numba pal numbe daruwan pal ape dutuwe nathe mewaraya

Those in round : Kahawathu kande kaha kotana da wala giyado mage meweraya

Others: Nano numba pal numbe daruwan pal ape dutuwe nathe meweraya

Those in round :Kotana polana kala pol ambarana kala wala giyado mage meweraya

Others: Nano numbe pal numbe daruwan pal ape dutuwe nathe mewareya

Those in round :Kalei gosilla dara kadana da wala giyado mage meweraya

Others: Nano numbe pal numbe daruwan pal ape dutuwe nathe meweraya

Those in round :Nanna yana thena naana thenedi wala giyado mage mewaraya

Others : Nano numba pal numbe daruwan pal ape dutuwe nathe mewaraya

Those in round :Ala wathukande ala kotana da wala giyado mage mewaraya

Others: Nano numbe pal numbe daruwan pal ape dutuwe nathe mewaraya

Those in round : Lindata gohilla wathura adina kala wala giyado mage mewaraya

Others: Nano numba pal numbe daruwan pal ape dutuwe nathe meweraya

Those in round : Gedera wate athugagena yana kala wala giyado mage meweraya

Others: Nano numba pal numbe daruwan pal ape dutuwe nathe meweraya

Those in round : Menna methanadi me sabayedi wala giyado mage meweraya

Others: Nano numbe pal numbe daruwan pal ape dutuwe nathe mewaraya

After singing the song one or two of those who were going round shout "Ottui"(ready) and then bend to pick the bangle. At the same time the others bend to pick the bangle. When every one struggles to take the bangle a lot of time is spent. As the others who keep trampling the bangle stay huddled together, they take time to bend. However whichever group is quicker picks up the bangle. Those who get the bangle win.

Ath hangeema (hiding hands)

This folk game that does not need any materials can be played by two.

Olinda keliya

Eluwan kema (goat game)

Eluwan kannai mang awe - elu beti kaapang thun deerei

Saawun kannai mang awei - sa beti kaapang thun deerei

Gonun kannai mang awei - a beti kaapang thun deerei

Muwan kannai mang awei - a beti kaapang thun deerei

Ge goma gala gath mage eluwa

Numbata kohinde mage eluwa

Daranuwa deela gath mage eluwa

Numbata kohinde mage eluwa

Ilapatha deela numbata koindo

Appa deela numbata koindo

Aiya deela numbata koindo

Ira gala deela numbata koindo

Sanda gala deela numbata koindo

Onchili warama (song of the swing)

Udama udama weda okkome welle

Wasina wasina wesi e gala palle

Duwana duwana naw samudura elle

Apith padimu den ran onchille

Ata dena ata kona wadi w eya lla

Sita gena dennek polu pagalla

Wawlan lesa kerakena onchilla

Apith padimu den ran onchilla

Padina kalata angano onchilla

Andina saluwa thada kara enda galla

Thadina athin wela alla galla

Sondina warala benda gena padapalla

Folk games are games that have developed in certain religious, cultural and social settings.

Folk games are both simple and aesthetic and can be played in groups thus creating not only fun but also unity.

Folk games can be classified in many ways including indoor and outdoor games, games with equipment and without equipment and in accordance with the composition of the teams taking part in them such as pairs, groups, etc.