By Susil Premalal reporting from Badulla

Western Province (WP) athletes, Thivanka Perera and Lakshika Sugandhi stole the limelight on the final day of the 45th National Sports Festival which concluded at the Vincent Dias Stadium in Badulla yesterday (27).

Thivanka was named Best Athlete in the Men’s category for his fine performance in the high jump final where he produced an effort of 2.12 metres.

Meanwhile, Lakshika was named as the Best Athlete in the Women’s category for winning the 100m hurdles with a superb time of 13.90 seconds.

Both athletes were rewarded for their performances with a luxury motorcar each.

WP also retained the Overall Championship for another year having collected a total of 99 Gold Medals, 78 Silver Medals and 91 Bronze Medals.

Central Province (CP) took the runners-up position in the overall championship with 51 Gold Medals, 38 Silver Medals and 60 Bronze Medals.

North Western Province (NWP) were placed third in the overall championship with 32 Gold Medals, 33 Silver Medals and 44 Bronze Medals.

The Men’s Athletics Championship went to Southern Province (SP) while the Women’s Championship was won by WP.

Sports Minister Harin Fernando was the Chief Guest and distributed the awards.

Results (all finals):

5,000m Women: 1. G. M. S. R. Wijewickrama (SGP) 15.09.61s, 2. Upul Kumara (UVA) 15.09.64s, 3. R. M. S. Pushpakumara (WP) 15.09.87s.

10,000m Women: 1. H. M. N. N. Nandasena (EP) 36.21.9s, 2. A. N. L. Ariyadasa (SGP) 36.28.0s, 3. Sharmalee Anusha (Uva) 38.44.2s.

Hammer Throw Women: 1. A. W. S. M. Amarasinghe (SP) 44.85m, 2. H. A. A. A. Lakshika (WP) 44.15m, 3. S. N. Ratnasiri (SGP) 42.18m.

High Jump Women: 1. Dulanjali Kumari Ranasinghe (WP) 1. 67m, 2. Muditha Madushani (NWP) 1.58m, 3. D. K. V. S. Abeyratne (SGP) 1.50m.

100m Hurdles Women: 1. Lakshika Sugandhi (WP) 13.90s, 2. Ireshani Rajasinghe (NWP) 14.0s, 3. W. A. S. Anuththara (WP) 14.69s.

100m Hurdles Men: R. R. D. Ranatunga (SGP) 14.4s, 2. K. W. S. Randeera (WP) 14.8s, 3. W. M. U. Kumara (SGP) 14.9s.

400m Women: 1. K. G. D. M. S. Kumarasinghe (CP) 55.61s, 2. M. O. Udayangani (Uva) 57.28s, 3. Shayama Dulani (SP) 58.05s.

400m Men: A. M. L. P. Gunaratne (Uva) 48.00s, 2. R. M. Rajakaruna (WP) 48.24s, 3. Y. M. W. G. S. D. Gunaratne (CP) 48.70s.

Triple Jump: Men: 1. Safreen Ahameel (SP) 15.42m, 2. I. D. D. S. S. Jayasinghe (SGP) 15.32m, 3. L. W. C. Kumarasiri (WP) 15.28m.

1,500m Women: 1. N. M. C. Dilrukshi (NWP) 4.33.87s, 2. W. M. P. N. Kumari (CP) 4.38.14s, 3. W. P. E. R. Dulakshi (SP) 4.41.14s.

Javelin Throw Men: 1. D. S. Ranasinghe (SP) 72.03m, 2. R. N. Kumara (NCP) 66.17m, 3. W. B. R. M. Fernando (NWP) 63.91m.

1500m Men: 1. G. R. Chathuranga (SP) 3.57.88s, 2. H. M. E. U. B. Herath (CP) 3.58.45s, 3. R. A. S. Lakmal (NWP) 3.59.68s.

100m Men: 1. K. S. Wickremasinghe (SP) 10.85s, 2. Y. C. M. Yodasinghe (SGP), 10.91s, 3. P. A. Kumara (NCP) 10.99s.

100m Women: 1. Amasha de Silva (CP) 12.13s, 2. Lakshika Sugandhi (WP) 12.31s, 3. S. H. Henderson (WP) 12.57s