Sportsmen and sportswomen who shone distinctively in international sports events representing the Sri Lanka Army were felicitated at the Commander’s office at the Army HeadQuarters last morning (20).
The sport stars were awarded with appreciative compliments and cash incentives in order to encourage them further.
Army Commander Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage commended the achievements of these sport stars and talked to each one of them in the presence of the Director Sports of the Army.
These international achievers included Sergeant M.M Theekshana, the widely known Sri Lankan cricket player of the Army who is a member of the Sri Lankan Cricket team who won the Asia Cup Championship – 2022, Corporal T.T Algama, Corporal K.B.Y De Silva and Corporal M.A.I.J Perera, all of them in the Sri Lankan National Netball team who won the Asian Netball Championship – 2022 and the Bodybuilder, Corporal R.A.D.P Rajapaksha who won the Bronze Medal in the Asian Bodybuilding Championship – 2022.
In recognition of their achievements, the Army Chief instructed respective authorities to promote these achievers in rank in an attempt to stimulate them further.
Accordingly, Private M.M Theekshana was elevated to the rank of Sergeant, Private T.T Algama, to the rank of Corporal, Private K.B.Y De Silva to the rank of Corporal and Private M.A.I.J Perera to the rank of Corporal.
The Army Commander also awarded financial incentives to Sergeant M.M Theekshana, Netball Team Members and Bodybuilder Lance Corporal R.A.D.P Rajapaksha extending his best wishes for their future.
Major General WASS Wanasinghe RSP USP NDU, Commander, Security Forces Mullaitivu, Major General WBSM Abeysekera RSP USP, Director General Financial Management and Brigadier KAWNH Bandaranayake USP, Director, Army Sports were also present during the occasion.
Sri Lanka comprehensively defeated Afghanistan by 9 wickets to win the third and final One-Day International at the Sooriyawewa International Stadium in Hambantota to seal the series 2-1.
Chasing a paltry target of 117, the Lankans reached the target in 16 overs losing the wicket of Pathum Nissanka.
Opener Dimuth Karunaratne top scored with an unbeaten 45-ball 56 while Nissanka hit 51 off 34 deliveries.
The pair put on 84 runs for the opening wicket.
Earlier after opting to bat first, Afghanistan was bundled out for 116.
Former skipper Mohammad Nabi top scored for the Afghans with a run-a-ball 23.
Sri Lanka Cricket has appointed a four-member Technical Committee for the fourth edition of Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023 scheduled to commence on July 30.
The Technical Committee members are:
Bandula Dissanayake – Chairman Shane Fernando – Member Tharanga Paranavitana – Member Tyron Wijewardena – Member/Secretary
The role of the technical committee is to ensure that the tournament is conducted according to the rules and regulations set by Sri Lanka Cricket.
Sri Lanka has won a Gold medal in the 4x400m Mixed Relay event at the 20th Asian U-20 Athletics Championships, being held in Yecheon, South Korea.
Tharushi Karunarathna, Jayeshi Uththara, Vinod Ariyawansha and Shehan Dilranga took part in the event representing Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lankan team finished first place with a time of 3:25.41 followed by South Korea taking the Silver (3:28.30) and India taking the Bronze (3:30.13).
Earlier today, Tharushi Karunarathna clinched the Gold medal in the Women’s 800m event while Malith Yasiru won the Bronze medal in the Men’s Triple Jump event.
This brings Sri Lanka’s total medals tally to five (2 Gold, 1 Silver & 2 Bronze).