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Sri Lanka Army

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Medalists in Paralympics Return Home to Red Carpet Welcome

The Warrant Officer 1 Dinesh Priyantha Herath of Gajaba Regiment (GR) , Gold Medalist in Paralympic Games - 2020 in Tokyo, Japan, together with the Bronze Medalist, Corporal Dulan Kodithuwakku of Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police( SLCMP) and his team was just as happy to return home on Tuesday (7) evening to a warm red carpet welcome at the Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport saluted by a gathering of Ministers, Senior Army Officers, Sports Ministry officials and distinguished invitees.

The Warrant Officer 1 achieved his dream of winning the Gold Medal in the Javelin Throw in the just -ended Paralympic Games in Tokyo and became a world class athlete while bringing honour and admiration. Due to the prevailing epidemic threat, only a restricted number of invitees were at the airport. Representing the Commander of the Army General Shavendra Silva, the Chief of Staff of the Army, Major General Priyantha Perera along with few senior officers were at the venue.

Javelin thrower of the Army, Warrant Officer 1 Dinesh Priyantha Herath who won the bronze medal at the last Rio Paralympic Games captained the nine member Sri Lankan team to Tokyo Paralympic Games-2020.

Gold Medalist Dinesh Priyantha Herath of Gajaba Regiment (javelin) including Corporal M.G Sampath Bandara of Sri Lanka Light Infantry (archery), Sergeant Sampath Hettiarachchi of Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment (javelin), Corporal Palitha Bandara of Sri Lanka National Guard (shot put), Staff Sergeant Mahesh Jayakody of Special Forces (rowing), Sergeant Ranjan Dharmasena of Sri Lanka Artillery (javelin), Corporal Samitha Dulan of Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police (javelin), together with their coaches, managers and administrative officials on the eve of their departure called on General Shavendra Silva, Chairman of the National Sports Selection Committee (NSSC), Chief of Defence Staff, Commander of the Army and Head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID- 19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) at the Army Headquarters and received his instructions and best wishes.

The Tokyo Paralympics-2020 featured around 4,400 athletes competing in 539 medal events in 22 sports over the course of the Games. Six athletes from Sri Lanka and two of them got direct qualifications while only woman competitor Kumudu Priyanka qualified by Universality place for the Tokyo Games. Sri Lanka’s Paralympians have made giant strides since making their debut in Atlanta1996 , winning two bronze medals through athletes Pradeep Sanjaya (London 2012) and Dinesh Priyantha Herath (Rio 2016).