The 10th South Asian Games, scheduled to be hosted by Sri Lanka in August, has been postponed as the Indian Ocean island nation concentrates on rebuilding after the recent tsunami tragedy, the sports minister said Thursday.

Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Jeewan Kumaratunga said that the eight-nation games would be pushed back by a year due to the tragedy.

More than 30,000 Sri Lankans were killed in the disaster that claimed over 150,000 lives worldwide. India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka participate in the games.

Source: Xinhua