Sri Lankan Paralympians return home

The Sri Lanka Paralympics Squad at the airport   

By Susil Premalal

The eight-member Sri Lankan Paralympics Squad returned after their participation at the 2024 Paris Paralympics Games in France.

Sri Lanka secured a solitary Silver Medal at this event with 2020 Tokyo Paralympics Games Bronze Medalist Samitha Dulan setting up a new World record in the F64 Men’s javelin throw by clearing a distance of 67.03m.

This was also the fifth medal for Sri Lanka in the history of the Paralympics Games and their total medals tally now stands as one Gold Medal, one Silver Medal and three Bronze Medals.    
Meanwhile, Indika Gamage (T44 Men’s 100m - 11.67s) finished fifth, Palitha Bandara (F63 Men’s shot put - 14.15m) was placed fifth, Pradeep Somasiri (T46 Men’s 1,500m - 4:01.84s) ended ninth, Janani Dhananjana (T47 Women’s long jump - 4.96m) finished ninth and Anil Prasanna (T63 Men’s 100m - 13.03s) was placed sixth in the heats.  

In addition, Naveed Raheem (S09 Men’s 400m swimming freestyle - 4:47.71s) was placed 10th in the heats and Suresh Dharmasena (wheelchair tennis - Men’s Singles) was eliminated from the first round.

The Sri Lanka Paralympics Squad was welcomed at the Katunayake Airport by officials of the Ministry of Sports, National Paralympics Committee of Sri Lanka, sponsors, relatives and family members.        

The Sri Lanka Paralympics Squad included six athletes, one swimmer and one wheelchair tennis player.