SLA 'Gunner Supercross 2010' Draws Massive Crowds

The fifth ‘Gunner Supercross 2010’, the year’s flagship in the Regiment of Sri Lanka Artillery (SLA) at Thamankaduwa, Minneriya racing track during the weekend, pulled a record crowd of more than 20,000 fans and many veterans in motor racing. 

The Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, along with his spouse, Mrs Manjulika Jayasuriya graced the occasion as Chief Guest.

Organized by the SLA in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Association for Racing Drivers and Riders (SLARDAR), the event took place on Sunday (24) for the fifth time after a lapse of two years. SLA’s commitment to the Wanni Humanitarian Operations in the past did not permit the Regiment to have the event uninterruptedly.

The day’s event commenced with the flag-off given by the Commander of the Army precisely at 9.00 a.m as the crowd burst into a thundering applause.

Four Championship events and twenty two other events for Motor Cars and Motor Cross Bikes attracted the mammoth gathering of spectators throughout the day, including an event for under 16 Riders. Prior to the start, the Chief Guest laid the foundation stone for a new SLA shopping complex and a swimming pool in the SLA camp complex. Two DI Trophy events and the CEAT Sri Lanka Trophy event under CC 1000, CC 125 and less than CC 3000 categories respectively grabbed the attention of the massive crowd since they were so thrilling.

The overall Championship went to the Indian Rider C. S. Santhosh and Sri Lanka’s veteran, Pasindu Peiris.

Gunners Juniors Club, a forum of children of Artillery officers and soldiers on the occasion made a donation of Rs. 1 million towards the ongoing ‘Brave Hearts’ project which has undertaken the construction of the Anuradhapura ‘Abimansala’, the holiday resort for totally dependent War Heroes.

Mr Lalith Heengama, representing the main sponsor, Mr Kumara Samarasinghe, co-sponsor (SINGER), Mr Randeep Narang, Chief Executive Officer (CEAT), Mr M. Gafoor, co-sponsor (Bank of Ceylon) and a large gathering of senior officers and members of the SLARDAR were present to witness the year’s unprecedented motor racing event.