Girls Best Athlete Oshini Kodikara receiving the award from the chief guest.
Gampaha District emerged victorious for the eighth consecutive year, securing 166 points. Hurdler Ayomal Akalanka and Oshini Kodikara were adjudged as the Boys’ Best Athlete and Girls’ Best Athlete, while Janidu Lakvijaya and BS Lakshima claimed the titles of Men’s Best Athlete and Women’s Best Athlete on the final day of the 34th National Youth Sports Festival at Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday.
The overall standings saw Colombo District as the Runners-up with 96 points, and Urban Youth District secured the third position with 77 points. The winning Gampaha District team was awarded Rs 200,000, the Runner-up Colombo District received Rs 150,000, and Urban Youth District bagged Rs 100,000 in prize money.
Individual recognitions came with cash prizes of Rs 250,000 each for the four Best Athletes: Ayomal Akalanka, Oshini Kodikara, Janidu Lakvijaya, and BS Lakshima.
Eight athletes set new meet records during the four-day event, earning Rs 10,000 each in cash prizes. Notably, Janidu Lakvijaya, the national record holder in the Men’s 110m Hurdles, competing in the Over-20 Men’s 110m Hurdles, broke the meet record twice, first in the heats with a time of 14.07 seconds and again in the finals with a timing of 13.86 seconds, missing his own national record by just 0.06 seconds.
Other remarkable records included BS Mendis of Gampaha District setting a new meet record in the Over-20 Women’s 400m with a timing of 54.24 seconds, R Tharanga of Kalutara District establishing a record in the Over-20 Men’s Javelin Throw with a distance of 77.58m, and Tharindu Dasun from Galle District reaching a height of 2.15m in the Over-20 Men’s High Jump.
In the Under-20 category, HK Chathumika of Polonnaruwa District set a new meet record in Boys’ Long Jump with a distance of 7.42m, and H Nethsara of Urban Youth District clocked 48.64 seconds in the Boys’ 400m, setting another new record. Additionally, Matara District’s Under-20 Boys’ 4X100m relay quartet clocked 41.38 seconds in the heats, establishing a new meet record.
The awards ceremony, graced by National Youth Services Council Director General and Chairman Pasindu Gunaratne and the guest of honour Western Province District Secretary KG Wijesiri, marked the conclusion of an eventful and record-breaking festival.
Men’s Best Athlete Janidu Lakvijaya receiving the award from the chief guest.
Women’s Best Athlete BS Lakshima receiving the award from the chief guest.
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