27th January 2017 23:21:31 Hours
One more most enthusiastic and prestigious project of the Sri Lanka Army, ‘Colours Night - 2016’ that recognizes and acclaims exceptional skills of Army sportsmen and women, glittered in the Nelum Pokuna auditorium Friday (27) evening in the presence of a gathering of distinguished invitees, including the Minister of Sports, Defence Secretary, Secretary to State Ministry of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, Commander of the Army, Commander of the Navy and Commander of the Air Force.
A representative group of those Army sportsmen and women who excelled at formation, inter-regiment, regimental, defence services, national and international levels in the years 2015 & 2016, received laurels and were felicitated during the mammoth and colourful ceremony that included a variety of cultural feats of high standards.
During the ceremony at Nelum Pokuna, a selected representative crowd of 100 achievers who have earned Gold, Silver and Bronze medals representing 34 fields of sports, received laurels and the remainder is to be distributed later at regimental level ‘Colours Nights’.
During the first leg of the awarding ceremony, Best Para Sportsman, Best Sportsman and Best Sportswoman in the years 2015 and 2016 were awarded laurels and cash awards of Rs. 1 million each by the day’s Chief Guest, Hon. Minister of Sports Dayasiri Jayasekera (MP) after he was accompanied by the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva to the stage.
Afterwards, two athletes, Mrs Susanthika Jayasinghe and Warrant Officer II, U.P Pradeep Sanjaya invited to the stage were presented with laurels in recognition of their outstanding performances in athletics. Cash awards of Rs. 5 lakhs each were awarded to Mrs Susanthika Jayasinghe and Warrant Officer II, U.P Pradeep Sanjaya.
Lighting of the traditional oil lamp, observance of a two-minute silence in honour of fallen War Heroes, recital of the Army song, followed by eye-catching entertaining cultural and dancing feats, coloured the evening and added a flavour of magnificence and dignity.
The day’s Chief Guest, together with the Commander of the Army posed for a group photograph with best achievers before the Minister of Sports, got off from the stage.
The same ceremony saw the renowned Sri Lankan cricketer, Warrant Officer II S. Prasanna and Corporal M.P Pathirana hailed on the occasion as the Best Sportsman (2016/2015) and Private I.E Senanayake, Corporal N.G Rajasekera awarded as the Best Sportswoman (2016/2015) respectively while the Sergeant H.M.D.P Herath and Sergeant Y.P.A.P Jayalath were awarded Colours for their multiple skills in Para Sports events, both at home and abroad.
The ceremony covered award of colours to those excelled in Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Billiard & Snooker, Carrom, Boxing, Cricket, Cycling, Elle, Gymnastics, Netball, Para Games, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Kabadi, Karate, Motor Sports, Weight-Lifting, Power-Lifting and Body Building, Rowing, Shooting, Soccer, Squash, Swimming & Water Polo, Parachuting, Rugby Football, Tennis, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Wrestling, Wushu and Volleyball.
Secretary to Ministry of Defence, Secretary to State Ministry of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army also joined in to award Colours to the achievers.
Director General Sports, Sports Ministry officials, senior Army officers and spouses, retired senior officers, relatives of laureates, sportsmen/women and a large gathering of distinguished invitees were present in the event.
The achievers are as follows;
In year 2015
S/N | Game | Rank | Name | Regiment |
1. | Archery | Private | K.A.S Shashipaba | Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps |
2. | Athletics | 2/Lieutenant | R.P.W.L Dayarathna | Sri Lanka Light Infantry |
3. | Athletics | Corporal | M.G.A Premakumara | Gamunu Watch |
4. | Athletics | Lance Corporal | H.K.K Kumarage | Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers |
5. | Athletics | Corporal | N.G Rajasekara | Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps |
6. | Athletics | Private | H.L.N.D Lekamge | Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps |
7. | Badminton | Private | P.W.O Madushanka | Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps |
8. | Basketball | Private | H.M.T Chandima | Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps |
9. | Baseball | Lance Corporal | H.M.C Dumith Kumara | Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers |
10. | Baseball | Recruit | K.K Tharaka | Gamunu Watch |
11. | Boxing | Lance Corporal | M.V.I.R.S Bandara | Corps of Engineer Services |
12. | Billiard & Snooker | Sergeant | S.G Susantha Wickrma | Corps of Engineer Services |
13. | Cricket | Private | S.P Weerasinghe | Sri Lanka Army Service Corps |
14. | Cricket | Private | M.D.N Hansika | Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps |
15. | Cycling | Lance Corporal | H.A.D.G Pushpakumara | Sri Lanka Army Service Corps |
16. | Para Athletics | Sergeant | Y.P.A.P Jayalath | Commando Regiment |
17. | Wheel Chair Tennis | Corporal | R.A.L.S Ranaweera | Gajaba Regiment |
18. | Wheel Chair Tennis | Lance Bombardier | D.S.R Dharmasena | Sri Lanka Artillery |
19. | Elle | Lance Corporal | W.D Chathuranga | Sri Lanka Signals Corps |
20. | Elle | Lance Corporal | M.A.S.D Kumara | Sri Lanka National Guard |
21. | Gymnastic | Lance Corporal | H.M.A.K.G.D.K Herath | Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment |
22. | Hockey | Private | V.H.K.H Thilakasiri | Sri Lanka Army Service Corps |
23. | Hockey | Private | M.J.A.P Upeksha | Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps |
24. | Karate | Lance Corporal | W.R.S Fonseka | Sri Lanka Engineers |
25. | Karate | Lance Corporal | N.G Lal Kumara | Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment |
26. | Karate | Private | K.D.R.J Appuhamy | Gajaba Regiment |
27. | Karate | Private | K.W.M.R.A.H Bandara | Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps |
28. | Motor Sports | Lance Corporal | H.M.J.S Premarathna | Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment |
29. | Weight Lifting | Lance Bombardier | A.G.S Abewickrama | Sri Lanka Artillery |
30. | Power Lifting | Lance Corporal | W.D.G.S Wickramarathna | Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps |
31. | Rugby Football | Private | H.A.N.D Munasinghe | Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps |
32. | Rowing | Lance Corporal | T.A.N Somarathna | Sri Lanka Armoured Corps |
33. | Rowing | Lance Corporal | P.P.T.S Weerasinghe | Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police |
34. | Shooting | Brigadier | D.S.D Welikala | Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment |
35. | Shooting | Major | C.S Rathnayaka | Sri Lanka Army Service Corps |
36. | Shooting | Corporal | M.P Pathirana | Sri Lanka Engineers |
37. | Shooting | Private | A.I.D.E Kulathunga | Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps |
38. | Soccer | Private | N Madushani | Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps |
39. | Swimming and Water Polo | Lance Corporal | T.H.K.S.I De Silva | Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment |
40. | Swimming and Water Polo | Lance Corporal | T.M.C.L Jayasinghe | Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police |
41. | Table Tennis | Captain | S.K Liyanage | Sri Lanka Signals Corps |
42. | Taekwondo | Sergeant | H.M.A Karunarathna | Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps |
43. | Volleyball | Private | H.L Senarathna | Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps |
44. | Wrestling | Private | S.M.A.P Senarathna | Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps |
45. | Wrestling | Lance Corporal | D.P.C Piyathissa | Sri Lanka Engineers |
46. | Wrestling | Lance Corporal | W.S.C Fernando | Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment |
47. | Wushu | Lance Corporal | R.P.N Madusanka | Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment |
48. | Wushu | Lance Corporal | N.H Sampath | Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment |
49. | Wushu | Lance Corporal | K.W.A.N Shanika | Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police |
50. | Wushu | Private | G.M.L Udayangika | Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps |
In year 2016
S/N | Game | Rank | Name | Regiment |
1. | Archery | Private | R.D.Y Thamodani | Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps |
2. | Athletic | Lance Corporal | H.E.M.I.G Herath | Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers |
3. | Athletic | Recruit | W.K.H Eesan | Sri Lanka Artillery |
4. | Athletic | Craftsman | A.L.M Ashrof | Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers |
5. | Athletic | Private | M.A.S.S Jayathilaka | Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps |
6. | Athletic | Lance Corporal | W.V.L Sugandhi | Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps |
7. | Athletic | Private | U.V.K Madhirika | Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps |
8. | Badminton | Colonel | P.S Thilakarathna | Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps |
9. | Basketball | Lance Corporal | T.M.A Suwaris | Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps |
10. | Baseball | Gunner | M.K.G.T Wijesinghe | Sri Lanka Artillery |
11. | Billiard & Snooker | Lance Corporal | M.M Mubeen | Corps of Engineer Services |
12. | Boxing | Corporal | W.R.T Weerakkodi | Sri Lanka Army Service Corps |
13. | Boxing | Gunner | J.P.N.N Jayaweera | Sri Lanka Artillery |
14. | Carrom | Signalman | M.S Kalaldeen | Sri Lanka Signals Corps |
15. | Cricket | Lance Corporal | A.J.C De Silva | Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps |
16. | Cycling | Lance Corporal | R.T.C Dayananda | Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers |
17. | Gymnastic | Private | H.M.A.K Dissanayake | Gajaba Regiment |
18. | Handball | Private | K.D Padmakumara | Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps |
19. | Hockey | Corporal | M.G.H.P.K Dharmarathna | Engineer Services Regiment |
20. | Judo | Lance Corporal | T.G.R Madusanka | Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers |
21. | Kabaddi | Corporal | A.P.G.M Chathuranga | Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps |
22. | Kabaddi | Private | W.M.N.D Wijethunga | Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps |
23. | Karate | Lance Corporal | M.D.S Wimalasiri | Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police |
24. | Karate | Lance Corporal | D.M Sarathkumara | Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment |
25. | Motor Sport | Gunner | T.K.R.N.S Kumara | Sri Lanka Artillery |
26. | Netball | Private | J.K.K.P Jayaweera | Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps |
27. | Parachute | Lieutenant Colonel | N.P Hettiarachchi | Commando Regiment |
28. | Para Archery | Corporal | M.G.S Bandara | Sri Lanka Light Infantry |
29. | Para Athletic | Warrant Officer II | A.P.K Hettiarachchi | Gamunu Watch |
30. | Para Athletic | Sergeant | H.A.C.S Hettiarachchi | Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment |
31. | Para Athletic | Sergeant | H.M.D.P Herath | Gajaba Regiment |
32. | Para Athletic | Lance Corporal | K.G.G Ekanayake | Sri Lanka Light Infantry |
33. | Wheel Chair Tennis | Corporal | D.M Gamini | Gamunu Watch |
34. | Bodybuilding | Private | T.N.U.K Thennakoon | Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps |
35. | Rugby | Corporal | M.A Karunaratne | Gamunu Watch |
36. | Rowing | Lance Corporal | E.P.N Prasad | Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police |
37. | Rowing | Private | P.G.S.C Karunarathne | Mechanized Infantry Regiment |
38. | Shooting | Captain | P.K.J.S Gayanga | Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment |
39. | Swimming & Water Polo | Lance Corporal | W Vimal Kumara | Sri Lanka Army Service Corps |
40. | Swimming & Water Polo | Private | T.W Ganegoda | Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps |
41. | Swimming & Water Polo | Private | I.E Senanayake | Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps |
42. | Squash | Lieutenant Colonel | S.H.P.D Tilakarathna | Sri Lanka Signals Corps |
43. | Table Tennis | Recruit | E.D Warushavithana | Sri Lanka Signals Corps |
44. | Taekwondo | Private | K.S Sanjaya Bandara | Sri Lanka Army Service Corps |
45. | Tennis | Corporal | M.D.L Fernando | Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment |
46. | Volleyball | Private | W.D.S Fernando | Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps |
47. | Volleyball | Recruit | K.T.W Perera | Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps |
48. | Wrestling | Rifleman | P.D.N Pradeep Kumara | Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment |
49. | Wushu | Bombardier | R.C Rathnasiri | Sri Lanka Artillery |
50. | Wushu | Lance Corporal | H.V.A Nishantha | Sri Lanka Signals Corps |