Bandara, Chandrawathi win Nestomalt Marathons first stage

Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura Additional District Group Corr.

The Nestomalt Mini Marathons were held on Saturday in Anuradhapura with over 500 participants for the Open and the School categories. The marathons were conducted by the Athletic Association of Sri Lanka with the support of Sri Lanka Police and the Education Ministry. The Nestle Lanka Ltd sponsored these events.

The Nestle Sri Lanka Limited Managing Director David Faudan and Senior Manager Promotion and Outdoor activities Bandula Egodage along with other top executives of Nestle Lanka participated as the guests of the program.

The Open event was won by U. Indika Bandara (Gampola) and D.M.P. Bandara, Wattegama finished as the first runner-up. The second runner-up being K.A.M. Pathmasiri, a resident at Kiriwattuduwa. M.A. Chandrawathi attached to the Mahawilachchiya Civil Defence Force bagged the open marathon for women. S.N.D. Silva of Army Sports Club secured the second place while Niroshani Amarasinghe also of Army was placed third.

K. Anura Sanjaya, Palugaswewa Vidyalaya won the school 10 kilometre event while S.M. Bandula Kumara representating Talawa, Mahabellankadawala MV. and Udayanga Pradeep, Etaweeragollewa MV in Medawachchiya finishing second and third.

Thilini Wathsala, Ethakada MV, Kebithigollewa bagged the girl's marathon title and M.N.S. Jayawardana attached to Wilachchiya MV and S.M.P. Samaranayake, Anuradhapura M.M.V. emerged runners-up. The first three placed runners in the Open Marathon were offered cash prizes of Rs. 10,000, Rs. 7,500 and Rs. 5,000 respectively in addition to trophies, medals and certificates. The first ten competitors who finished the marathon were presented with Nestomalt gift packs and certificates.

The school category winners were awarded Rs. 5,000, Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 2,000 respectively.

The Senior DIG Jayantha Gamage DIG (NCP) Kithsiri Dayananda, District Sports Director K. Abeysundara, the Anuradhapura Municipal Commissioner Sampath Dharamadasa were present at the start of the marathon at Salgadu Esplanade, Anuradhapura.