Tour de Air Force Cycle Race from March 4-6

By Susil Premalal

The Cycling Union of Sri Lanka Air Force (CUSLAF) will conduct the 23rd annual Tour de Air Force cycle race from March 4-6 covering the areas of Colombo, Puttalam, Anuradhapura, Dambulla and Katunayake.

Top riders attached to the air force of India, Bangladesh and Pakistan will be invited for this event, Secretary CUSLAF Air Commodore Kithsiri Leelarathne told the Daily Mirror yesterday.
The race will begin on March 4 from opposite the Air Force Headquarters in Colombo and the first day of the race will conclude in Puttalam. 

On the second day, the race will be held from Puttalam to Dambulla via Anuradhapura and the third and final stage will be from Dambulla to Katunayake Air Force Base covering a total distance of around 400 to 450km.

The event will be conducted to mark the 71st Anniversary of Sri Lanka Air Force with the Women’s race, held for the 11th occasion to be worked off on March 6 from Dambulla to Katunayake.

Cash awards will be presented to the top 15 riders in the Men’s race and to the top 10 riders of the Women’s race in addition to special cash awards to the best sprinter and the best mountain champion.

Sonal de Silva of Sri Lanka Ports Authority won the overall championship in the Men’s race in 2021 while Udeshini Niranjana of Sri Lanka Army was the winner of the Women’s race.