23rd Mahaweli Games:

Kasun sets first record

Anushka WITHANAGE and Sarath WELAGEDARA - Aelahera Group Corr.

Kasun Kalhara of the Mahaweli ‘B’ zone established the first new meet record at the 23rd Mahaweli Games at the Mahaweli Ground, Bakamuna yesterday when he won the men’s 400m with a timing of 48.7seconds.

The opening ceremony of the 23rd Mahaweli Games took on a festive air with over three thousand athletes in attendance under the patronage of Minister of Mahaweli Development Maithripala Sirisena.

It was a treat for the Villagers as the Sri Lanka Army band played the National Anthem and the athletes marched with elegance.

The Drill display by the students of Mahasen Central College added glamour to the event and more colour was added by the floating balloons.

D.A.A. Viraj Amarasinghe (Moragahakanda) and G.G. Chamila Prasadini (Moragahakanda) lit the Olympic Torch while Chaturanga Kumara read the Olympic oath

The zones which the athletes represent are Mahaweli ‘B’ zone, Mahawel ‘H’ zone, Walawa zone, Huruluwewa zone, Medirigiriya zone, Mahaweli ‘L’, Victoria, Mahaweli ‘C’ and Moragahakanda under the Mahaweli Authority.

This annual event is a great opportunity for sportsmen and women from rural areas to enter the National arena.

Today’s events are Men’s and women’s Cycle race, 800m, 100m, Tug-o-war, 5000m, 4X100m Relay, Netball and 4X400m Relay.

The meet will continued today at 9:00a.m at the same venue.

Winners: 1500m (Men’s): S.T.D.C.Priyankara (Victoria) 4.13.2

1500m (Women’s): N. Kumari Jayarathna (Huruluwewa) 5.13.2

Shot Putt (Men’s): W.M.S.K. Walisundara (Maham

High Jump (Men’s): K.N. Nirmal Kumara (Huruluwewa) 1.83m

Long Jump (Men’s): W.D. Chathuranga Sampath (Mahawel ‘H’) 6.67m

Discus Throw (Women’s): Iresha Sdamali (Mahaweli ‘B’) 39.03m 200m (Women’s): K.R.Rasika Sanjeewani (Mahaweli ‘B’) 26.9 sec

Discus Throw (Men’s): Nishantha Harjans ((Mahaweli ‘B’) 39.22m

Triple Jump (Men’s): Akila Indrachapa (Mahaweli ‘B’) 14.25m

Long Jump (Women’s): R.G.Shanika Kumari Mhanama (Mahaweli ‘B’) 5.01m

Javelin Throw (Men’s): K.S.P Perera (Mahaweli ‘B’) 58.60m

400m (Men’s): Kasun Kalhara (Mahaweli ‘B’) 48.7sec (New Meet Record)

100m (Women’s): K.R.Rasika Sanjeewani (Mahaweli ‘B’) 59.7m