Sri Lanka Army, pioneers in producing a wide assortment of athletes of both national and international standards, had its annual inter regimental marathon run on Sunday (9) with the participation of 121 runners drawn from fifteen regiments across the country.
Sri Lanka Army Athletic Association, chaired by Major General Daya Ratnayake, Chief of Staff organized this marathon run for the 45th consecutive year after it had been officially inaugurated in the year 1951.
Last Sunday’s 21 km long marathon run started off from Rajagiriya junction covered Nawala road, Kotte road, Parliament roundabout, Battaramulla junction, Kottawa, Jayawadanagama road, Thalangama Hospital, Koswatta junction, Parliament road, Thalahena junction, Malabe junction, Kaduwela road, Arangala junction, Ananda Bodhi Mawatha, Athurugiriya junction, Oruwala road, Homagama road, Old junction, Temple road, Godagama junction, Avissawella road, Meegoda road, Colombo road, Main entrance to Panagoda Army cantonment and Centre for Physical Training at Panagoda Army cantonment.
Warrant Officer-II A.M Ajith Bandara of Sri Lanka Army Service Corps ended the run triumphantly and received the trophy for the first place. Lance Bombardier B.U Vijitha Kumara of Sri Lanka Artillery Regiment and Gunner K.G.I.K Wijethilake of Sri Lanka Artillery Regiment won second and third places respectively.
Sri Lanka Artillery received the overall championship trophy in the tournament. Sri Lanka Service Corps and Sri Lanka Light Infantry were adjudged second and third runners up in the tournament.
In the past Army athletes, Warrant Officer-I R.A Wimalasena Perera, Warrant Officer-I V.K.L Samarasinghe, late Lieutenant K.A Kaunaratna represented Sri Lanka in 5,000/10,000 m events in an Asian Sports Meet. They won two Bronze medals for Sri Lanka.
Athletes Corporal S.L.B Rosa, Major T.M Nandasena, Captain W Ariyasena, Captain K.D Sepala, Captain M.M Piyadasa, Captain K.A Dayananda, Staff Sergeants Susiripala Gunawardana, L Harishchandra and Indrajith Cooray, in addition to national marathon runner, Ajith Bandara who won a Silver medal in the SAG were all from the Army.
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