Athletics selectors name eight for Commonwealth Games

By Susil Premalal

Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA) has received the names of eight athletes from the National Selection Committee as suitables to participate in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England (from July 28- August 8). 

They were selected based on the performance at the 100th National Athletics Championship held at Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Diyagama, according to Wimalasena Perera, Chairman of the national selection committee. 

Among the four men and four women for the Commonwealth Games are three foreign based athletes. 

Sri Lanka athletes are aiming for top eight place and medals at the Games. 

In the history of Commonwealth Games athletics, Sri Lanka has won three medals comprising one gold, one silver and one bronze medal. 

Duncan White won a gold medal at the 1950 Auckland Games (440 yards, hurdle) while at the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Games Sriyani Kulawansa won a silver medal in the 100m hurdles (women) and Sugath Thilakaratne a bronze medal in 400m (men). 

Sri Lanka has not won a medal in athletics at the Commonwealth Games for the past 24 years.