Saman and Niranjali win two kilometre sea swim

D.C. de Silva Kahawa Special Correspondent

SWIMMING: The Sixth annual two kilometre sea swim organised by the "Reef Fishers Aquatic Sports Club' affiliated to Hikkaduwa 'Mamas' Hotel took place on Sunday and 160 swimmers men and women took part. Participants were in the age groups of under 14, 15 and 19 years. Ambalangoda Aquatic Sports Club swimmers bagged the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places at the Boys' event.

Saman Weerakkody, Kelum Sameera and P.H. Sumudu came 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively at the event.

Niranjali Kaushalya of Kalutara Vidyalaya won the first place in the Girls' event while Sumetra Wijeratne of Mahamaya Balika Vidyalaya, Kandy won the 2nd place and Muthu kumari Bandara of Dharmasoka College finished third.

Participants, winners were awarded shields, cups, cash awards and certificates by the organisers.

The 2nd place winner of the Girls' event from Kandy Mahamaya B.M.V. Sumetra Wijeratne was in the South Asian Games Pool for swimming. She said she was participating in swimming contests from her 6th year and has participated in 12 contests, is also significant.

When the swimming coach Steve Siegel from California, USA, living in Japan was interviewed by the Daily News he said," he would make all arrangements to hold an international level swimming meet in 2007, in Hikkaduwa, hoping to promote truism in Hikkaduwa.

"I will invite all the internationally famed swimmers of the world to participate at the coming mega swimming event in Hikkaduwa," Steve Siegel said.

'I love Sri Lanka very much, I have visited Sri Lanka many times, and stayed in 'Mamas' with Nelson Dias, the hotel's owner,' he said.

He also thanked P.W. Gunawardane the Secretary of the Hikkaduwa 'Reef Fishers Aquatic Sports Club' for taking pains to organise the annual event.