The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) will hold a series of meetings in Kuala Lumpur this week from May 6 to 11 and the formal lodgement of bids by 2018 candidate cities, Gold Coast of Australia and Hambantota Sri Lanka will take place on May 11.

The CGF says bid lodgement by the candidate cities is a vital step in their hopes of securing the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Representatives from Sri Lanka are to make a 20-minute presentation at the formal lodgement ceremony in Kuala Lumpur.

Following the lodgement the Commonwealth Games Evaluation Commission will visit the venue and produce a detailed report which will be circulated to all Commonwealth Games Associations (CGAs) and made public.

The CGAs then have the opportunity to visit each candidate city once to view facilities, venues and receive presentations from the bid committee, the CGF says.
The CGF General Assembly, consisting of representatives of all 71 member nations and territories will vote on the final decision when it meets in St Kitts & Nevis in November 2011.

India hosted the Games for the first time in 2010 and Glasgow in Scotland has been selected to host the 2014 Games. The 2018 games will be hosted in a country from Oceania or Asia.

Foreign Employment and Welfare Minister, Dilan Perera, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Sports Ministry Secretary U.R. Senevirathne, Governor of the Central Bank, Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Commanders of the three security forces with the Chief of Defense Staff, Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetileke and the Inspector General of Police Dr. Mahinda Balasuriya also participated in the occasion.