Athletic Nationals final day washed out by rain

By Susil Premalal

Heavy rains forced a postponement by Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA) of the final day’s events at the Centenary Athletic National Championships yesterday.

The events that could not be held and the awarding ceremony will take place at the Mahinda Rajapakse Sports Complex in Diyagama on April 23, SLA president Maj. Gen. Palitha Fernando (Rtd) told the Daily Mirror.
After consultations between members of the SLA executive committee and national level coaches, it was decided to put off the 12 events to April 23.

Three Sri Lanka records, two junior records and one national championship record were set at the National Championship, which served as a final selection trial for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
The Sri Lanka records were set by Navy’s Gayanthika Abeyratne in the women’s 800 metres (2:01.44), Army’s Nilani Ratnayake in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase (9:40.24) and Sachini Kaushalya Perera in the women’s pole vault (3.71m).

Junior records were set by Kandy’s Amasha Hettiarachchi in the women’s 400m hurdles (1:00.23) and Tharushi Karunaratne of Sri Lanka School Association in the women’s 800m (2:04.40), while Army’s Sarangi Silva set a meet record in the women’s long jump (6.52m).