Havishka Perera shatters rowing record at nationals

By Susil Premalal   

Teenage sensation Havishka Perera stole the limelight with a magnificent performance at the 39th Senior/Intermediate/Junior Rowing Nationals, held at the Diyawanna Rowing Centre in Battaramulla.  
The 15-year-old schoolgirl from the British School in Colombo, clocked eight minutes and 39s in the schoolgirl scull event - an all-time best timing by a schoolgirl rower.  
In addition, Perera won the Gold Medal in the Under-18 Girls’ Single scull event with a time of eight minutes and 46s and went on to clinch the Best Rower Award at this meet.  
She is currently training with the Sri Lanka Junior Rowing Pool and has seen a great amount of improvement in her two years of rowing.  
Since 2022, Havishka has won many national medals and represented Sri Lanka at the Asian Junior Rowing Championships last year in Thailand. Over 350 athletes including competitors from the tri-forces, universities, clubs and schools participated at the rowing nationals.