STF and Field Force – champions at Police Athletic Meet

Chinthana Wasala

Special Task Force (STF) won major honours at the 60th Sri Lanka Police Inter-Division Athletic Meet which came to an end at the Police Ground Bambalapitiya yesterday.

The STF was well ahead of other teams that took part in the meet, showing their supremacy by obtaining 191 points to account for the Men’s Team Championship while women’s team championship was won by the Field Force Headquarters with 89 points.

PC L.G. Darshana (STF) and PC N.S. Jayathilake (SL Police College) won the joint championship for Best Athlete (Men). Best Women’s athlete was PC N. Nadeeshani (Kelaniya Division).

PC M.S. Pushpakumra (Colombo Central) and WPC Lasanthi Deepika (Field Force HQ) accounted for the Challenge Trophies for the Best Performances in the meet for men and women respectively.

The two day meet saw the participation of over 1600 athletes from all over the country. This year’s meet was organised under the close supervision of Inspector General of Police Jayantha Wickramaratne after four years as it has not been held from 2004.

The Police Football team which won the FA Cup after defeating the Civil Security Forces Team were honoured at the conclusion of the meet.

The Chief Guest at the Closing Ceremony, IGP Jayantha Wickramaratne addressing the gathering, promised to boost his assistance towards the development of sports in the Police and he wants to see more Policemen and women among the top athletes in Sri Lanka and the International arena.

The Challenge Trophies were distributed to the winners by 14 retired Senior Police Officials including three former IGPs who contributed their best for the sake of Police Sports. This was made possible according to an idea of IGP Jayantha Wickramaratne as a step to honour them for their contribution towards the Development of Sports in the Police and their achievements in sports.

Winners of Challenge Trophies:

Shot Putt (Men): SI M.S. Pushpakumara (STF)

200m (Men): PC N.S. Jayathilake (SL Police college)

400m (Women): WPC Lasanthi Deepika (Field Force HQ)

Best Performance Track events: WPC Lasanthi Deepika (Field Force HQ)

Best Performance Field events: PC M.S. Pushpakumara (Colombo Central)

Best performance Jump events: PC M.S. Pushpakumara (Colombo Central)

Best Outstation Team: Batticaloa Div.

Best Outstation Athlete (Women): WPC D.M. Weerakkody (Ampara Div.)

Best Outstation Athlete (Men): PC D.G.M. Dharmarathne (Galle Div.) and PC L.K.L. Chandimal (Batticaloa Div.)

Tug-of-war Champion: Batticaloa Division

Best Performance Throwing Events: SI H.D.A.M.M. Hapuarachchi (STF)