Chungwon Choue, the World Taekwondo President, was among those to attend in the country's capital.

It follows the launch of the programme in July under the theme "road to champions".

The aim is to "empower" children in Sri Lanka, with 60 homeless boys in Colombo and 23 homeless girls in Kegalle reached.

Backed by the Asia Development Foundation, the project is run by the Sri Lanka Taekwondo Federation (SLTF).

Hundreds of people attended the Opening Ceremony at the Indoor Stadium of the University of Kelaniya, including all 83 children involved.

They performed a demonstration, with one boy and one girl also giving a presentation on their experience in the programme.

Choue presented a plaque to Kanchana Jayarathna, the President of the SLTF, while medallists from last year's South Asian Games in Nepal watched on.

"Through taekwondo education and training, I strongly believe that you will grow up as good global citizens and I wish some of you will be champions of international taekwondo championships," Choue said to the youngsters.

"As part of its efforts to fulfill its social responsibility for mankind, World Taekwondo is going all out to help empower the powerless, such as refugees, orphans and victims of natural disasters, around the world." 

World Taekwondo Cares projects are also running in Cambodia and Nepal, with plans to expand to Indonesia and Mongolia.

Choue later met with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa during his visit to the country.

He presented him with an honorary black belt which required the politician to break a board.

This was broadcast nationwide in Sri Lanka.

The South Korean also met with Sri Lankan Olympic Committee (SLOC) President Suresh Subramaniam and Professor DM Semasinghe, the vice chancellor of the University of Kelaniya.

It is hoped a major in taekwondo will be available to students at the university in the future, while the SLOC hopes to form its own sports university where the sport would feature.