Kulawansa to head SL Olympians until 2025

(From left): Julian Bolling, Ruwini Abeymanna, Sugath Thilakarathna, Sriyani Kulawansa, Damayanthi Darsha, Nimmi de Soysa, Anuruddha Rathnayaka and Mahesh Perera   

By Susil Premalal

Three-time Olympic representative Sriyani Kulawansa was re-elected President of the Sri Lanka Olympians (SLO) for the period of 2022 to 2025 at their Annual General Meeting held at the NCC Auditorium in Colombo.   
Kulawansa had the distinction of representing the country at the Olympic Games in 1992 (Barcelona), 1996 (Atlanta) and 2000 (Sydney).   

Meanwhile, former Secretary Damayanthi Darsha, who has also represented the country at three Olympics (1992 Barcelona, 2000 Sydney , 2004 Athens), was elected as the Vice-President.   

Former Vice-President Sugath Thilakarathna, who represented the country at two Olympic Games in 1996 (Atlanta) and 2000 (Sydney), was elected Secretary.   

A total of 102 athletes have represented the country at the Olympics since 1948 with only 73 living and out of them only 49 are currently residing in Sri Lanka.   

SLO President Kulawansa and Vice-President Darsha said that they were able to look into the welfare of the Olympians even during the pandemic and also introduced an insurance scheme with many of them having already reaped benefits.   

The SLO is also planning to attract more schoolchildren for the participation at Olympic Games while targeting the 2028 and 2032 Games.   

The new office-bearers:

President: Sriyani Kulawansa.   
Vice-President: Damayanthi Darsha.   
Secretary: Sugath Thilakarathna.   
Treasurer: Nimmi de Soysa.   
Committee Members: Julian Bolling, Mahesh Perera, Anuruddha Rathnayaka and Ruwini Abeymanna.